Dozens of British Christian leaders and bishops have condemned the misuse of Christian symbols during Tommy Robinson’s far-right march last Saturday.
An open letter signed by a group of bishops and Christian leaders detailed how they disapproved and condemned the actions of far-right protesters as “co-opting and corrupting” Christian symbols like the cross.
“We are deeply concerned about the co-opting of Christian symbols, particularly the cross, during Saturday’s ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally,” the open letter said.
The rally, which was held in the name of “free speech”, “British identity”, and “Christian values” included protesters dressed as crusaders parading large wooden crosses and images of Jesus on flags.
The bishops and Christian leaders acknowledged the “diverse motivations” for the march, including the right to free speech and concerns of immigration, but they maintained their view that the rally “included racist, anti-Muslim and far right elements.”
Despite their different theological leanings within the spectrum of Christianity, the letter stressed its stance “against the misuse of Christianity.”
The letter was signed by bishops of Winchester, Southwark, Manchester, Bradford, and Croydon.
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The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rt Revd Dr Rowan Williams, and other senior figures of the Methodist, Baptist, and Evangelical churches also signed the letter.
“Corrupting” of the cross
Within Christianity, the cross is seen as the “ultimate sign of sacrifice for the other,” and is representative of the teachings of Jesus, one of which is famously cited in Christianity as “love thy neighbour”.
These teachings also command Christians to love their enemies and welcome strangers.
However, Christian academics and bishops have said that Tommy Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon’s “Unite the Kingdom” rally did the opposite of that.
“Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable.”
Despite the cross being a symbol of sacrifice, atonement for ones sins, as well as a love for humanity, within the Christian understanding, this sentiment was not echoed at the protest on Saturday 13 September.
Instead, the cross was seen and used as a revival of the crusader spirit and the “holy desire” to cleanse and drive Muslims out of somewhere they don’t belong.
Pictures and videos have emerged of protesters wearing crusader costumes, somewhat justified in their eyes through the fact that they brandished the St. George’s cross on the front.
The celebration of the crusades and the hijacking of Christian symbols, particularly the cross, is not something unique to the UK or Tommy Robinson’s supporters.
These sentiments of a neo-crusader spirit aimed at clearing out unwanted Muslim migration in the West can be seen throughout far-right groups across the western world.
The far-right hijack Christianity as a sort of blanket justification or spiritual legitimisation for their hateful Islamophobic views.
Despite this, various British Christian leaders from all leanings, liberal or conservative, maintain that this is not what Christianity is about.
To celebrate the crusades and parade the cross in such a manner is to also celebrate the tens of thousands of Muslims and Jews that were massacred in the siege of Jerusalem by Christian crusader forces in 1099.
The open letter signed by the most prominent Christian leaders and bishops in the UK concluded with the following remark: “As Christian leaders we are proud of our country and commit ourselves to work with others building a more United Kingdom where the values of love, humility and compassion shine through in every community; and we do so unapologetically in the name of Jesus Christ.”
