The Church of England has warned Christians to resist “populist forces seeking to exploit the faith for their own political ends” after Tommy Robinson announced a Christmas event in London. The far-right activist has urged supporters to attend a carols event next weekend aimed at “putting the Christ back into Christmas“. Church officials have reportedly become unsettled by the number of church symbols and slogans adopted by Mr Robinson’s political campaign, with participants of his march in the capital earlier this year chanting “Christ is king” and calling on passersby to defend “God, faith, family [and] homeland”.
Speaking ahead of the carol event, the Right Reverend Arun Arora, bishop of Kirkstall and the Church’s co-lead on racial justice, urged believers to “resist the capture of Christian language and symbols by populist forces seeking to exploit the faith for their own political ends”. The Church of England is also expected to launch a poster campaign confronting the use of Christian symbols in Robinson’s hardline nationalist agenda.
The posters are set to be displayed on bus stops around the country, with messages including “Christ has always been in Christmas” and “Outsiders welcome”. Local churches have also been encouraged to download the print-outs and share them with congregations in an effort to combat anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Over 100,000 took part in Mr Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom march earlier this autumn, in what was billed as a “free speech” rally and included an appearance from Elon Musk, who hit out at the so-called “woke mind virus” via video link.
Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, announced the upcoming carol concert earlier this month, heralding it as “a new Christian revival in the UK – a moment to reclaim and celebrate our heritage, culture and Christian identity”.
The political activist and co-founder of the English Defence League (EDL) converted to Christianity during his recent prison stint, but Rev Arun Arora argued that his conversion did not give him “the right to subvert the faith so that it serves his purposes rather than the other way around”.
“Whether in the warnings of the prophets or the teachings of Jesus, there is an unambiguous call to ensure justice for the weakest and most vulnerable,” he continued, as per The Independent.
“As we approach Christmas and recall the Holy Family’s own flight as refugees, we reaffirm our commitment to stand alongside others in working for an asylum system that is fair, compassionate and rooted in the dignity of being human.”
The Church Mission Society has also announced a UK-wide Shine Your Light initiative, coinciding with Robinson’s event on the weekend of December 13, encouraging 200,000 Christians to sing carols in their local communities.
CEO Andy Roberts said: “Shine Your Light is a great opportunity to get into our neighbourhoods, especially paying attention to those people pushed to the edges of society. This year has witnessed so much conflict at home and overseas; and there are many reasons to be anxious about the future.
“So let’s raise up the eternal love and hope of Jesus. It’s a kingdom treasure that can be received by everyone. Let’s sing together to promote peace, mercy and compassion; and transform lives.”