As Charles III ascends to the throne, the words of the National Anthem of the UK and New Zealand* take on a new meaning.
Charles is an inauspicious name. Charles I was pro-Catholic, married a Catholic wife, and steered the Anglican church towards catholicism. He also levied taxes without permission of parliament, and so for both religious and financial reasons was opposed by many people. The people rose up to try and pressure him to change his policies, but when Charles resisted with force the English Civil Wars began, which involved considerable and complicated religious strife between Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Puritans, and ecumenical Christians who wanted freedom for all (Oliver Cromwell being in the last category). This ultimately resulted in Charles' execution and the brief establishment of England as a Commonwealth. After Cromwell's death, in the hope of ensuring political stability Parliament invited his son Charles II to return to the throne, but with reduced powers.
Charles III has long promised to be coronated as the "defender of faith", rather than the "defender of THE faith", and is an open admirer of Islam if not a closet Muslim himself. So once again we have a King Charles, head of the Church of England, who may not be Anglican - and may not even be Christian. Secondly, Charles III is a vocal supporter of the climate cult and every other NWO agenda. His mother was apolitical, but Charles is likely to be unable to restrain the temptation to remain politically active to some degree - as a promoter of policies that are divisive and destructive. The political situation is unstable, the risk of civil war is as high as it was in the reign of Charles I, and the peacemaker Queen Elizabeth II is now replaced with the more divisive King Charles III.
But what are we called, as Christians, to do in circumstances such as these?
Our ancestors, faced with problematic rulers, have not at first sought to depose them - but to improve them.
God save our gracious King!
Long live our noble King!
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King.
O Lord our God arise,
Scatter his enemies,
And make them fall!
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
God save us all!
Thy choicest gifts in store
On him be pleased to pour,
Long may he reign.
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the King.
* Yes, God Save The King is still the official national anthem of New Zealand. However, we also have a second national anthem, God Defend New Zealand, added in 1977 as an alternative option. Both are intended to be used alternately depending on the context, but in practice the second is now used exclusively to the point where most people wouldn't even realise the first was still official.
Charles is an inauspicious name. Charles I was pro-Catholic, married a Catholic wife, and steered the Anglican church towards catholicism. He also levied taxes without permission of parliament, and so for both religious and financial reasons was opposed by many people. The people rose up to try and pressure him to change his policies, but when Charles resisted with force the English Civil Wars began, which involved considerable and complicated religious strife between Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Puritans, and ecumenical Christians who wanted freedom for all (Oliver Cromwell being in the last category). This ultimately resulted in Charles' execution and the brief establishment of England as a Commonwealth. After Cromwell's death, in the hope of ensuring political stability Parliament invited his son Charles II to return to the throne, but with reduced powers.
Charles III has long promised to be coronated as the "defender of faith", rather than the "defender of THE faith", and is an open admirer of Islam if not a closet Muslim himself. So once again we have a King Charles, head of the Church of England, who may not be Anglican - and may not even be Christian. Secondly, Charles III is a vocal supporter of the climate cult and every other NWO agenda. His mother was apolitical, but Charles is likely to be unable to restrain the temptation to remain politically active to some degree - as a promoter of policies that are divisive and destructive. The political situation is unstable, the risk of civil war is as high as it was in the reign of Charles I, and the peacemaker Queen Elizabeth II is now replaced with the more divisive King Charles III.
But what are we called, as Christians, to do in circumstances such as these?
And our Anthem is a prayer - that has even more meaning when the King may need salvation not only from his physical enemies, but even from eternal damnation. It is not a praise of the king, as much as it is a sincere request to God that the King would be praiseworthy. That he would "ever give us cause" to sing this from our heart. If the king is behaving in a manner that makes us less inclined to ask God to save him - then that is when he needs our prayers even more.1 Timothy 2:1-3 said:I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Our ancestors, faced with problematic rulers, have not at first sought to depose them - but to improve them.
- The English parliament did not initially seek to depose Charles I, but to persuade him to change his policies.
- The American colonists did not initially seek independence from King George III, but only sought changes in taxation policies and parliamentary representation.
- The Maori rebels in the New Zealand land wars continued to pray for the welfare of Queen Victoria as per the Anglican Book of Common Prayer for a very long time through the war - praying for the very monarch whose troops were fighting against them.
God save our gracious King!
Long live our noble King!
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King.
O Lord our God arise,
Scatter his enemies,
And make them fall!
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
God save us all!
Thy choicest gifts in store
On him be pleased to pour,
Long may he reign.
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the King.
* Yes, God Save The King is still the official national anthem of New Zealand. However, we also have a second national anthem, God Defend New Zealand, added in 1977 as an alternative option. Both are intended to be used alternately depending on the context, but in practice the second is now used exclusively to the point where most people wouldn't even realise the first was still official.
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