This is an article in the Niagara Anglican by Michael Thompson, rector of St. Jude’s Oakville.

My baptism in 1956 has meant that I have sought truth first of all within the Christian faith, in its scriptures, communities, practices, and habits. And because I have not exhausted the depth of those scriptures, communities, practices and habits, I simply have not looked elsewhere. There is enough here for me.

I do, however, wonder what might have happened had my parents initiated me into another way. Would I have sought truth there, and found enough to keep me lifelong searching? I do know that the deepest truth and truest depth disclosed to me in Jesus is the boundless costly compassion of the living God.

Of the living God who has called me to follow Jesus. Who may for all I know call others to follow other paths.

To begin, I’ll say something positive: at least Michael Thompson says he follows Jesus, something that should not be too surprising since he is a vicar in the Anglican church. But, then, it is the Anglican Church of Canada and specifically the Diocese of Niagara – one of the most liberal dioceses in Canada.

The problem is, though, to say on the one hand that “deepest truth and truest depth disclosed to me in Jesus is the boundless costly compassion” and on the other “the living God […..] [w]ho may for all I know call others to follow other paths” are inconsistent statements.

On the face of it, the first statement apparently shows that Michael believes that Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross was an expression of God’s boundless love for us since it provided forgiveness of sin and a path to reconciliation with him – although he doesn’t actually say that last part explicitly. To then say that God may call some people to follow a different path to salvation makes a mockery of Jesus’ sacrifice: it wasn’t actually necessary – there are other paths. From Matt 26:38ff: “Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Would even a human father – let alone the Father – make his son go through such agony if there were an “other path”?

Michael Thompson was at one of the discussion meetings St. Hilda’s had when we were deciding whether to join ANiC. We have a number of enthusiastic evangelists in our congregation, so they asked him what he actually believes. The answer, essentially, was that he doesn’t really have a firm grip on what he believes; and he rather envies our certainty.

The fact is Christianity is a religion which, if true, makes all other religions and “paths” false. No-one is forcing Christianity on anyone; you are free to accept or reject the claims that Jesus made. But if you accept them, you are not free to talk about the possibility of “other paths”. Particularly if you are a leader in a Christian church, Michael.