The Reformation in England was not a smooth operation. The mess has yet to be cleaned up. Among the results of the Reformation in England is that the reigning monarch over the nation is technically the reigning ruler over the church. When Henry VIII began his reign he was so committed to Roman Catholicism that he published a book in its defense. The Pope, in gratitude, granted the king a title, Defensor Fidei, “Defender of the Faith.” When the issue of the issue of his wife led the King to look for a new wife the Pope would not grant the title, “Single and looking to mingle” and thus a Reformation was born. Henry maintained his title of Defender of the Faith, named himself head of the Church of England, both of which roles have been passed down to every King or Queen of England.
Until now. King Charles III has let it be known that he will not assume the title of “Defender of the Faith” but has instead determined he will be “Defender of Faith.” He has already begun to fail at his legacy. The Bible does not teach that a nation’s civil ruler is the ruler of the church in that nation. In fact, you’ll recall that the first king of Israel lost his throne precisely because he took on himself the role reserved for the priests in offering sacrifices. In like manner, the Bible does not teach that a woman, even if she is queen, even if she is, as all accounts suggest, a faithful, believing, child of the King queen, should be head of the church. At least, however, she knew the difference between the faith and faith. At least she proclaimed the reign of Christ rather than submitting to the reigning folly of our day, postmodernism.
Faith is a transitive verb. For those of you who have forgotten the Queen’s English, that means it requires an object. One cannot merely have faith. One must have faith in something or in someone. As such, faith is likewise not an unqualified good. The people of Germany had faith in their Fuehrer. Some people have faith that the monarchy will soon be banished from the United Kingdom. Will King Charles busy himself with defending these faiths? Will he defend the faith of countless Muslims who believe Israel will and should be blown off the map?
The truth is that the king’s shift reveals the one faith he is determined to defend, that faith which dominates the western world. Its creed says, “Each of us creates his own truth. Nothing is objectively true.” For all the weaknesses of the English Reformation, at least it affirmed that there was truth, and it was to be defended. England’s new king, sadly, has already surrendered. May he repent and turn to the true and living God, in submission to the one true King.
Very informative…thank you. I second that prayer..