David Cameron has sent out his Christmas message, and with his best wishes for the season comes an unusually Christian tone.
He quotes from the Bible (the Gospel of John in the New Testament if you’re interested) as well as recalling the successes of the Jubilee, the Olympics, and the Paralympics in 2012. He also praises the work of British troops and emergency service workers.
The overtly Christian tone of the message is something of a surprise – he told the Guardian in 2008 that: “I believe, you know. I am a sort of typical member of the Church of England… As Boris Johnson once said, his religious faith is a bit like the reception for Magic FM in the Chilterns: it sort of comes and goes.” The reminder of the Christmas story and the reference to “Jesus… the Prince of Peace” in the message, though, comes across as the words of a man whose faith does rather more than “come and go”.
Tim Montgomerie of ConservativeHome has suggested that the religious content of the message could be an attempt by the Prime Minister to reach out to religious members of his party who feel alienated by his support for gay marriage.
You can read the full text of his message below:
“Christmas gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect on the important things around us – a time when we can look back on the year that has passed and prepare for the year ahead.
2012 has been an extraordinary year for our country. We cheered our Queen to the rafters with the Jubilee, showed the world what we’re made of by staging the most spectacular Olympic and Paralympic Games ever and – let’s not forget – punched way about our weight in the medal table.
But Christmas also gives us the opportunity to remember the Christmas story – the story about the birth of Jesus Christ and the hope that he brings to the countless millions who follow him. The Gospel of John tells us that in this man was life, and that his life was the light of all mankind, and that he came with grace, truth and love. Indeed, God’s word reminds us that Jesus was the Prince of Peace.
With that in mind, I would like to pay particular tribute to our brave service men and women who are overseas helping bring safety and security to all of us at home; their families who cannot be with them over the holidays; and to all the dedicated men and women in the emergency services who are working hard to support those in need. When we are celebrating with family and friends, they and many others are all working on our behalf and deserve our thoughts and appreciation.
So however you celebrate this time of year, it is my hope and prayer that you have a happy and peaceful Christmas.”
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