From a sovereign about The Sovereign

If there was ever a 'Christmas message' by the present Queen Elizabeth II that spoke of her personal faith then the most recent must rank very high. But what of the future..??

The Coronation ceremony for Queen Elizabeth II

on 2 June, 1953 was as follows:

Extract from the Queen's Christmas message, 2011

"Finding hope in adversity is one of the themes of Christmas. Jesus was born into a world full of fear. The angels came to frightened shepherds with hope in their voices: 'Fear not', they urged, 'we bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

'For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.'

Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves - from our recklessness or our greed.

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.

Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It can heal broken families, it can restore friendships and it can reconcile divided communities. It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God's love.

In the last verse of this beautiful carol, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, there's a prayer:
 

Comment:

The British monarch carries the epithet 'Defender of the Faith'. Ironically it was a title first bestowed on King Henry VIII by the then Pope, and in respect of monarch's duty to support the Roman Catholic Church. However the title travelled with King Henry when he adopted the Protestant faith.

Of course in terms of biblical Christianity the title is meaningless unless the monarch, at any one time, has a personal faith in God through Jesus Christ.

In this context the Queen's message should give great encouragement.

However the Queen will not live for ever, and it is likely that the transition to her successor will not be without trauma. Prince Charles (the first in line to the throne) has already stated that he would like to be known as 'Defender of Faith' . This would open up the whole spiritual arena. Additionally there are several significant pressures at work which would aim to remove the present constitutional arrangements of nation, under Parliament, under sovereign, under God.

In no particular order, there is a very powerfully republican (anti-royal) sentiment running which is kept in check mainly by the very high public regard for the present Queen.

Then there is the Roman Catholic Church, with substantial political support, which would want to rescind the Act of Settlement which currently requires the monarch (and spouse) to be of and preserve the Reformed Protestant faith. (And of course from a humanistic point of view it seems unfair that the monarch needs to be so constrained in terms of personal faith and whom he or she should marry).

Added to this are the nationalist ambitions of the Scottish National Party which inevitably impact on the present constitutional arrangements.

Meanwhile, while Queen Elizabeth is the Supreme Head of the Church of England, the Scottish reformers distanced the monarch from any 'headship' role relating the church - proclaiming Christ Jesus as the only one to hold that position.

Putting all these things together, whenever the present Queen dies or abdicates in favour of her successor there is likely to be tremendous upheaval across the United Kingdom.

 "And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, And knowledge to men of understanding.

(Daniel 2:21)

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

(Acts 17:26)

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