Is the focus on Christianity, and by association immigration, a distraction tactic? Not surprisingly, their statements created an indignant response from the atheist and humanist community, but even they missed the point. Whilst reminding Britons that their country was one that helped the poor and needy, loved its neighbours and upheld the Christian morals of love, goodwill and selflessness, these party leaders have been responsible for some of the most heartless, dog-eat-dog, austere, difficult and painful experiences this country has faced since the War. And unlike the War, this enemy has come from within. When party politicans laugh at the mention of 2 million families relying on food banks, you know its a country in trouble.
Here are the highlights of their messages:
"This Christmas I think we can be very proud as a country at how we honour [Christian] values through helping those in need at home and around the world" -Cameron
"We need the same sense of compassion in the face of the suffering and hatred that afflicts parts of our world. I am proud that the Labour movement has such deep roots in the Christian tradition of social activism and solidarity in the United Kingdom." -Miliband
"At the heart of this festival is the birth of Jesus Christ, a time of joy and celebration for Christians around the world. Yet the core values this story represents – love, charity, hope – are universal, speaking to and uniting people of all faiths and none".-Clegg
Maybe in their lives of affluence, they have been unaware of the difficulties that have plagued so many people. The house prices, the NHS cuts and the pension changes for firemen and teachers; the homelessness on our streets. According to Homeless.org, around 2,414 people sleep rough evey night, and over 27, 000 homelessness applications were made in 2014. Of the accepted applications (13, 900), only 50 per cent of these were given accommodation. Of course, these figures cannot account for hidden homeless people: so the stats are much higher2.
What is the response to homelessness? In May 2013, the Met Police did a night raid on a homeless group in North London; confiscating blankets, clothes, and food donations3.
The Regent Street Tesco garnered well-deserved scorn after installing "anti-homeless" spikes outside the store, which was vandalised by the London Black Revs in protest. One of the more vocal protestors of the spikes was Boris Johnson, who pledged to end homelessness and rough sleeping by 2012, and yet under his office as London Mayor, rough sleeping has not only risen, but the house prices of London has increased. In Boris's London, a rent of £2, 800 a month is "affordable".
The lack of compassion, care and empathy from these politicans is very much Biblical. Jesus says that during the final days of earth's history: And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold (Matthew 24: 12). The Bible also says in 2 Timothy 3: 1-5:
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
So perhaps the policitians were enacting Christian lessons more than they realised? And not the type that they believed, either.
The Bible is clear: our Britain is far from the real, Bible-based Christianity it tries so hard to possess. God is not mocked and those of us who know what our Christian duties are should show the world what it really means to be filled with the love of Christ. Let's not rely on politcians to skewer the image!
There is some hope. This year, the Love Activists took over the abandoned RBS building in Central London to give Christmas lunch to the poor and needy. A Christan value, definitlely, but one that was only made necessary by the austere measures of the so-called champions of Christianity in the first place--our politicians.
3 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-seize-possessions-of-rough-sleepers-in-crackdown-on-homelessness-8631665.html
2http://www.homeless.org.uk/facts/homelessness-in-numbers/statutory-homelessness