David
Cameron’s Message for Easter 2015
April 5th, 2015
Easter is a time for Christians
to celebrate the ultimate triumph of life over death in the resurrection of
Jesus. And for all of us it’s a time to reflect on the part that Christianity
plays in our national life – that church is not just a collection of beautiful
old buildings, it’s a living active force doing great works right across our
country. When people are homeless, the church is there with hot meals and
shelter; when people are addicted or in debt, when people are suffering or
grieving, the church is there. I know from the most difficult times in my own
life that the kindness of the church can be a huge comfort.
Across Britain, Christians don’t
just talk about ‘loving thy neighbour,’ they live it out ... in faith schools,
in prisons, in community groups. And it’s for all these reasons that we should
feel proud to say: this is a Christian country. Yes, we are a nation that
embraces, welcomes and accepts all faiths and none, but we are still a
Christian country.
That’s why the government I lead
has done some important things, from investing tens of millions of pounds to
repair churches and cathedrals to passing a law that reaffirms the right of councils
to say prayers in their townhood.
And as a Christian country, our
responsibilities don’t end there. We have a duty to speak out about the
persecution of Christians around the world, too.
It is truly shocking that in 2015
there are still Christians being threatened, tortured even killed because of
their faith, from Egypt to Nigeria, Libya to North Korea. Across the Middle
East, Christians have been hounded out of their homes, forced to flee from
village to village, many of them forced to renounce their faith or brutally
murdered.
To all those brave Christians in
Iraq and Syria who are practising their faith, or sheltering others, we must
say, ‘We stand with you’.
This government has put those
words into action – whether getting humanitarian aid to those stranded on Mount
Sinjar or funding grassroot reconciliation in Iraq.
In the coming months, we must
continue to speak as one voice for freedom of belief. So this Easter, we should
keep in our thoughts all those Christians facing persecution abroad and give
thanks for all those Christians who are making a real difference here at home.
On which note, I’d like to wish you and your family a very Happy Easter. |
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