Three Little Letters
Recently, millions of people were probably watching at least a portion of all of the pageantry that was involved in the coronation of the new monarch of the United Kingdom (and 14 other Commonwealth realms). It is sort of interesting for me to watch a person who is only a couple of months or so younger than I am starting a new career!
When I began thinking about this post, I thought about trying to list all of the titles that King Charles III now has. I finally gave up. I was unable to separate official titles from other designations.
I do remember, though, that there was some concern before he became king about one of his titles, designations, or whatever. Traditionally, the monarch is anointed with oil and agrees to be “The Defender of the Faith.” Some time ago, Prince Charles (as he was known then) let it be known that he might drop the word the. According to what I’ve read, he tried to modify that comment somewhat. He apparently will attempt to defend the faith as defined by The Church of England, but he also intends to defend all faiths.
In other words, the fairly newly crowned monarch is, at least in one way, a thoroughly modern monarch. His stated goal should fit in well with our modern, pluralistic age. I don’t know if all of this started with the 1967 book I’m OK — You’re OK, but the thinking that this title suggests sums up fairly well the thinking of a great deal of people today.
We seem to be losing (or have already lost) the difference between opinion and truth. It is one thing for two people to have different opinions. It is quite another thing for them to claim to have different truths. The document that declared our independence from England did not claim to be based on opinions, but on self-evident truths.
As I thought about the conversations and concerns about what the now-King of England planned to defend, I could not help but think of Bible verses such as Philippians 1:27 where we read about “…the faith of the gospel.” It seems to me that to accept the idea (much less to defend the idea) that just about any faith is fine denies what the Bible teaches. By the way, from what I’ve read, King Charles III did not/does not limit the possibilities to “faiths” which would fit under the broadest of umbrellas of what the world would call Christianity. Instead, Muslims, Buddhists, etc. would all be included.
As politically incorrect as it may be, please let me direct your thinking to another passage inspired by the Holy Spirit and penned by the apostle Paul:
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Eph. 4:4-6)
The and one — two little words – each with three little letters. But what a difference those letters make in those two little words.
There is no record of any kind of pageantry related to Paul. In fact, he suffered much more than most of us can identify with. It could be that at least one reason for that was that he was not quite as open-minded as many today – even some in very high places. He knew what his purpose was. Interestingly enough, it involved one of those little three letter words and it involved defending something.
…I am put here for the defense of the gospel. (Phil. 1:16)
From where I sit, we need more people like him.
AUTHOR: Jim Faughn