Changes to the monarchy don’t happen often, so Coronation 2023 was a hugely historic event, the first in 70 years, but not everybody was celebrating this time round. So, what should Christians make of it?
The Coronation of King Charles III certainly was a personal triumph for the man known as the longest serving Prince of Wales in history, but was this State event good for the United Kingdom of Great Britain? Right at the core of our nation we are a kingdom, and we are currently united. However both terms are in jeopardy.
There are those who want Britain to become a republic and others who desire to see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland apart from England. Some love the royal family, but not the current king due to his ‘marital failings, questionable beliefs and connections’. There are also members of the Royal family that seem to want to tear it apart… So it’s important to consider an appropriate Christian response to King Charles III and the Royal family.
In Daniel 2:21 we see that it is God who sets up kings and kingdoms. “He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” So, who are we to question God’s plans and purposes? As believers, we are called to: “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.” (1 Peter 2:17).
So, no matter how you feel about King Charles, he is our sovereign and placards saying ‘Not my king’ are not only disrespectful, but sadly counter productive to the future of our nation. What would a kingdom be without a king? As king, Charles is representative of the nation. This is the premise behind the national anthem, ‘God save the King’. The implicit plea of the song is that God will save not only our sovereign but also our nation.
Like Charles III we are all in need of salvation. This is why God sent us only son, Jesus that we may have eternal life. Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth famously talked about this in one of her Christmas messages. “God sent into the world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general (important though they are) – but a Saviour, with the power to forgive.”
She was a genuine believer. See The faith of Queen Elizabeth 11 (1926–2022) He is said to be less so, although he is ‘a devout Anglican’. This may stand him in good stead as a religious leader, ie. the head of the Church of England. But does he have an intimate relationship with Jesus as Lord and Saviour?
King Charles has said he wants to be the defender of faiths rather than the ‘Defender of the faith.’ Whether he truly believes that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, is another matter. He seems to have an ‘all roads lead to Rome’ outlook and some have expressed concerns that Coronation 2023 will take us closer to the fulfilment of End Time prophecy. See Urgent Coronation Prophetic Warning by Emma Stark.
It is well documented that Charles is a founding member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and ‘the Great Reset’ which seeks to bring about global government. Proponents of Bible Prophecy see this as a forerunner to the reign of the antichrist. Could there be a shift away from genuine Christian truth towards a State religion that seems Christlike yet is far removed from Biblical doctrine?
Coronation 2023
We shall have to wait and see what kind of a monarch King Charles will be. At the core of Coronation was a deeply religious service with many references to our Lord Jesus Christ. So it’s hard to consider that there could spiritual forces at work to influence our nation away from God. Let us not be deceived though, but prayerful and alert.
Over and above all the pomp and ceremony of Coronation 2023, it was encouraging to see Jesus Christ acknowledged as the King above all kings, who came to serve. What an example for the newly crowned king to follow. May King Charles rise to the occasion and serve his people, just as we are called to serve others.
Let us pray for King Charles, for blessing upon him, his family and this nation. May he know the salvation that can be found in Christ alone and may he lead this nation back to God, certainly not further away from God. As 1 Timothy 1:4 says: “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
