Out with the old and in with the new! Prince Charles will be crowned the new King of England on Saturday with all the traditions expected from the British Monarchy. He has made his mark already with changes including a “slimmed down” monarchy and his much publicized ‘inclusive’ approach to the role.
One tradition scrapped from the coronation is the loyalty oath taken individually by dukes and lords. This ‘Homage of the Peers’ is said to have taken a whole hour during Elizabeth’s coronation as each lord bent the knee before her and swore to be her loyal subject. Charles decided it would be much more ‘inclusive’ to instead ask the entire Commonwealth to ‘swear to me’ through an ‘homage of the people’, a move that has not gone over well in the UK.
The Coronation, at its heart, is a religious ceremony where Charles ascends to lead the people of the United Kingdom and become the ‘Supreme Governor’ of the Church of England. The church obviously believes it is OK to incorporate oaths in the ceremony, but how does this fit with God’s Word?
Swear Not
“But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest you fall into condemnation.”
James 5:12
Jesus said:
“But I say to you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt you swear by your head, because you can not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these comes of evil.”
Matthew 5:34-37
Why is the Church of England ignoring these verses in the book they supposedly read, understand and teach? Why is Charles ignoring these verses as the newly appointed ‘Supreme Governor’ of the Church of England?
Charles’ Oath
Charles will take multiple oaths during the coronation ceremony. But before taking his oaths, he will be presented with a Bible and told:
“to keep you ever mindful of the law and the Gospel of God as the Rule for the whole life and Government of Christian Princes, receive this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is wisdom; This is the royal law; these are the lively Oracles of God.”
Coronation Liturgy
Now, if only someone would just open the book! Charles perhaps? But no, it will remain closed and they will proceed. Charles will place his hand on the Bible, the very book he is ignoring, at which point the Archbishop of Canterbury will proceed to present Charles with multiple oaths. He will swear to govern the people, to cause law and justice to be executed in all his judgements, to maintain the Laws of God, to maintain the Protestant reformed religion and to maintain the Church of England. These oaths by the king (or queen) are the only part of the coronation that are required by British law in accordance with the Coronation Oath Act of 1688. Man’s law has been put above God’s Law.
More Oaths
Later on in the service after Charles has been crowned and seated on his throne, the Archbishop of Canterbury will pledge an oath to Charles. This is followed by an oath to Charles from his son, prince William. And lastly, the oath that has caught some off-guard, will be the ‘Homage of the People’ where they are expected to say:
“I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.”
This is of course according to man’s law, not God’s Law, or there wouldn’t be any oaths to begin with.
Oaths as Tradition
Some may say ‘what’s the big deal?’ lots of people take an oath to their country, or ‘this is tradition’ and so on. To which Jesus said:
“Full well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition.”
Mark 7:9
This is not a good start for the new monarchy.
An Ancient Oath
Way, way back in the time of Enoch, the 7th from Adam, there was a group referred to as the ‘fallen angels’. These weren’t angels like people imagine with wings that fly around and do magical things, but people. An angel is a messenger or a person that has a message. That message can be in line with God or not in line with God, at which point the messenger would be ‘fallen’. They have ‘fallen away’ from God.
These particular messengers knew they were going against God and that their actions were a crime. The leader, Samyaza, was concerned that he alone would suffer ‘for so grievous a crime’, but his followers said:
“… We all swear; and bind ourselves by mutual execrations, that we will not change our intention, but execute our projected undertaking.”
Enoch 7:5-6
Through those fallen angels, the whole earth was ‘filled with bloodshed and iniquity.’ They taught sorcery, violence and corruption. When God’s Righteous asked what should be done, God responded:
“In My Name, conceal yourself. Then explain to him (Noah) the consummation which is about to take place; for all the earth shall perish; the waters of a deluge shall come over the whole earth, and all things which are in it shall be destroyed. And now teach him (Noah) how he may escape, and how his seed may remain in all the earth.”
Enoch 10:3-5
God’s wrath was dolled out against the wicked through the flood. He told the Righteous Noah this would happen and how to escape. At no point is your wrath or anger at the injustices and wickedness to be dolled out. God alone takes vengeance on the wicked, Romans 12:19-21 & Deuteronomy 32:35-43. If you pour out your wrath, God will withhold His.
In God’s Name
Today we see that the wickedness has once again risen up. Violence, corruption, a false teaching of God’s Word and a complete ignorance of His teachings have permeated the world and its leaders. Just like in the time of Noah, you too should conceal or wrap yourself in God’s Word. Read it, contemplate it and become it. God’s wrath will once again be poured out on those who have ‘through mutual execration’ or abhorrence for His Law, gone against Him, 2 Peter 3:3-7. The powers of this world may not outright say they abhor God’s Laws, and in fact they claim to follow them, but all of their actions fall right in line with the actions of those fallen angels.
An Acceptable Oath
The only oath that is acceptable is one made between God and Abraham. God made an Covenant or oath with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that if they would keep His Laws, His Commandments and His Statues, then God would multiply their seed as the Stars of Heaven, Genesis 26:3-5. Only those who return to God and keep ALL His Words can return to that Oath or Covenant. There is NO swearing involved!
The Church of England, through which Charles is swearing, is a church of traditions, not the righteous Congregation of God.