#15 Should we Pledge Allegiance to a King?
On being a disciple and paying homage with our lives
Pic: Royal.uk
This weekend, millions of people will watch the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and the Queen Consort live from Westminster Abbey in London. It promises to be an unparalleled display of British grandeur and ceremonial splendour that will go down in the history books forever.
Whilst the excitement of the celebrations start to unfold, the inherent controversy surrounding the monarchy will probably continue to dominate the conversation amongst many. On one side, royalists will find solace in its rich heritage, deep-rooted traditions, and sense of cultural identity. Conversely, detractors will argue that the monarchy perpetuates notions of privilege, social inequality, and the erosion of democracy.
When I was thirteen years old, I had to write an essay to practice the skill of debating as part of my English studies. The topic was the relevance of the royal family and the title given to us by our English Teacher was “The Monarchy is an anachronism and should be abolished…”
I was instructed to write an argument against the monarchy, even though I was quite interested in them myself. One sentence I wrote in that essay as a teen has always made me chuckle when I remember it:
“Some people think that we should keep the monarchy because it brings in money through tourism. But just because penguins bring tourism to the Antarctic, it doesn't mean we want to appoint a Penguin as the head of the country….”
It's not an argument I have ever heard before or since, but I felt it was clever at the time!
The official ascent of the King to the throne this year marks the beginning of the new Carolean era of royal leadership. I have no doubt that the coronation itself will be an engrossing and emotional moment for the nation, and my personal prayer is that people will discover something hopeful amidst the spiritual symbolism.
Yet even the Order of Service won't be without its contentious moments.
I read in the News this week that in the original version of the ceremony, the Archbishop of Canterbury was to call on all Britons to swear allegiance to the King:
"All who so desire, in the Abbey and elsewhere to say together: I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty and to your heirs and successors according to law. So, help me God."
This concept was greeted with a range of reactions, from “mild bemusement to plain disgust” as one Newspaper put it. The backlash caused the Archbishop to come out and clarify that the allegiance pledge to the King is 'an invitation, not a command'.
And in a last minute update it now apparently will say… "For those who do want to take part, some will want to say all the words of the homage; some might just want to say 'God Save The King' at the end; others might just want it to be a moment of private reflection."
In other words the Palace are saying… “Don't worry, you won’t be forced to do anything when it comes to following this type of King.”
This will all be followed by the playing of a fanfare.
Many love the idea of a spectacle.
Few appreciate the idea of submission.
Paying Homage to the King
For Christians, the idea of pledging allegiance to a King has always been a core part of our own history and tradition. Confessing Christ as King (or Lord) is not just an invitation or a command, it is a necessity.
When a Christian first declared “Jesus is Lord” in the early Church, they were in effect paying homage to their King. Rather than being seen as a tokenistic gesture, this was taken seriously and caused massive waves amongst the Roman Empire. The controversial nature of declaring “Jesus is Lord” reflected the clash between Christianity and the prevailing religious, political, and social systems of the day. In some ways, it is a shame that this phrase has lost its cultural potency today.
To pledge allegiance to Christ was akin to saying Jesus was more preeminent than all other rulers and authorities. This was a form of rebellious, dangerous treason in the eyes of the Empire. It is no wonder that so many Christians were persecuted and opposed.
What if who you pledged your allegiance to determined how you lived your life?
Often when people decide to become a Christian, they start with a homage that has such a dynamic effect it can change a person’s destiny.
As the scriptures say:
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10
According to this verse, for a person to be ready to follow Jesus, they simply need to remember their A-B-Cs:
Admit that they need Jesus Christ (this is the foundation of repentance).
Believe what Jesus Christ has done for them through his life, death and resurrection.
Confess their faith before God and others.
There is power in declaring who your King is.
For most people, whether you choose to repeat words in a coronation ceremony or not will reflect your feelings in a moment, but it probably won't impact the rest of your life. Yet this original homage to Christ was not meant to be lip-service but life-service.
Saying “Jesus is Lord” and then living like you mean it is the heart of every disciples' journey.
Pic: Royal.uk
A response of revelation, not obligation
One example of where we see this potent declaration played out to transformative effect is found in the story of Thomas in the New Testament.
The irony of the popular “Doubting Thomas” label is that doubt was prevalent amongst many of the disciples, not just Thomas, even up to the point of the ascension. He was merely brave enough to voice what others were feeling. Can you imagine having a ‘wobbly moment’ and being labelled like that for the rest of time?
The book of John records Thomas’s desire to see proof of his King alive after the resurrection:
So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’ John 20:25
Later, we see Jesus graciously revealing himself as the answer to Thomas’s request:
Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:27
This declaration of “MY LORD” by Thomas was not driven by a sense of duty. Nobody forced him to do it out of pressure, process, ritual, or ceremony. His allegiance came from a personal revelation of who his King was and what he had done for him.
Thomas was left with no doubt he could trust this King to rule well. This was not a King who would ride by in a golden carriage and wave at his subjects from afar. This was a King who showed up to him in person and said “Reach out your hand”. Thomas’s personal revelation led to a pledge of allegiance that lasted a lifetime.
So should we pay allegiance to ‘our’ King? For Christians, the answer is always YES.
Every. Single. Day.