Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
UK Prime Minister David Cameron is delivering a bold Easter message in which he calls upon the British to reflect upon what Christianity brings to the nation and calls for more evangelization and protection for persecuted Christians.
“Easter is not just a time for Christians across our country to reflect, but a time for our whole country to reflect on what Christianity brings to Britain,” Cameron said during an interview with BBC Radio.
He went on to speak about the “countless acts of kindness” carried out every day across the UK by “those who believe in and follow Christ . . . The heart of Christianity is to ‘love thy neighbor’ and millions do really live that out.”
During his annual Easter reception held on the evening of April 9 at No. 10 Downing Street, he told the crowd: ” . . . I am proud of the fact we’re a Christian country and we shouldn’t be ashamed to say so.”
He spoke of several things he wanted to focus on, one of which was to expand the role of faith and faith organizations in the country.
“I think we’ve made some good steps forward; free schools, allowing church schools to expand – I think these are important steps. . . . Whether its providing services for children at risk of exclusion, whether it’s teaching prisoners to read, whether it’s dealing with breakdown, whether it’s provision of food banks, there are some extraordinary organizations run by faith groups and Christians in our country and I want to see the possibilities for that to expand.”
He also wants to see more done to raise the profile of the persecution of Christians around the world. “It is the case today that our religion is now the most persecuted religion around the world. I think Britain can play a leading role in this. We have met our obligations in terms of the aid we give to countries around the world. . . . We should stand up against persecution of Christians and other religious groups wherever and whenever we can, and should be unashamed in doing so.”
Cameron went on to express a desire for more evangelization. “What we . . . need more of is evangelism,” he said.
“More belief that we can get out there and actually change people’s lives and make a difference and improve both the spiritual, physical and moral state of our country, and we should be unashamed and clear about wanting to do that.”
In a country which just passed a controversial same-sex marriage law, Cameron called for people to work together on issues that challenge their beliefs.
“I hope that even when people will disagree and challenge with this idea or that idea, there is a genuine attempt to try to lift people up, rather than count people out. That is what it’s all about, and I welcome the debate that there is with church leaders and faith communities about some of these issues because in the end, actually, I think we all believe in many of the same things. The dignity that comes through work, the support people want to give their families, not writing anyone off, always giving people a second chance – these are really important to all of us.”
How refreshing it would be to hear a similar call for unity on this side of the pond where all dissent is now quashed beneath stifling IRS scrutiny and special interest groups are given free rein to ruin people’s lives just because they disagree on an issue.
Christians in the land-of-the-free and home-of-the-brave have been following the Crucified faithfully in the long and arduous climb to Calgary. Thankfully, the time for Resurrection is near!
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
