PEACE on earth, and goodwill to all men.
I wish it were so.
Only this week, a hate-filled terrorist drove a lorry through a Christmas fair in Berlin.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the dead and injured.
This is yet another assault on our way of life which, without doubt, is Christian based.
But it’s not just in Berlin that Christianity is under attack, and it’s essential we take note of just exactly what is happening around the world.
Twenty years ago, seven per cent of the Middle East was Christian.
It’s now under two per cent.
Widespread persecution is so great that former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey believes Christianity is “heading for extinction” in its birthplace, with almost no word of protest from the west.
Take Cairo, for example, where only last week Islamists killed 25 worshippers in an attack on St Mark’s cathedral.
Ironically, though, the few Christians left in Western Aleppo positively welcome Assad’s brutal intervention against the murderous, Islamist ‘rebels,’ who were persecuting them.
Although this level of intolerance is not experienced here in the UK, we must be on our guard.
Two weeks ago, nursing sister Sarah Kuteh was dismissed by Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust for offering to pray with her patients before surgery.
Her case echoes many others.
It’s astonishing that incidents like this can happen in our country when we so often preach religious tolerance and freedom of speech.
We must celebrate and defend the fact that we can attend church, sing carols or perform nativity plays without fear.
Elsewhere, such choices are a matter of life and death.
On Sunday we celebrate the birth of Christ.
Be proud, this is our country and our way of life.
May I wish you a Happy Christmas and New Year.