All posts by Kameel Majdali

Articles, Education, Faith, Prophecy, Teaching

Crown Chronicles Part 03: Elizabeth II – The Christian Queen

 

Many books, articles, assessments, and tributes have been written about Queen Elizabeth II since 1952. One of the least emphasised aspects of her personhood and reign is the most important of all: Elizabeth II is an overtly Christian Queen.

Of her many titles, she is called the Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England. While these titles have been bestowed on her predecessors over the centuries – some of them notably undevout – there is anecdotal evidence that the Queen takes her Christian faith most seriously. In this third and final part of The Crown Chronicles in commemoration of the Queen’s platinum jubilee, we offer this assessment of Elizabeth R. – Christian.

The Conspicuous Christian

While only God knows the heart of each person, the Queen’s Christian track record is impressive. She goes to church weekly, even on holidays and makes it a point to pray daily. While at Sandringham, she attends the local church, quietly sits in a pew at the front, and requires no special attention. Her annual televised Christmas message speaks forthrightly about faith in Jesus Christ.

Political commentator Andrew Marr said these words:

There are no reliable recorded incidents of the Queen losing her temper, using bad language, or refusing to carry out a duty expected of her (The Servant Queen, 6).

These comments are in relation to her public persona but there is no evidence that she is different in private. A solid Christian faith makes such impeccable conduct possible.

One of the key functions of the crown in the political arena is to protect democracy through the separation of powers. No branch of government has more power than any other because the crown stands in the centre. Thus it is a symbolic reminder of the sovereignty of God; the Prime Minister, chief of the armed forces, and parliament, all recognise there is a power higher than them to whom they must give account. And yet, the monarch herself acknowledges a greater power than herself: Almighty God.

The Christian Coronation

This recognition was manifested at the coronation ceremony, which, for Elizabeth II, occurred on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey. In every way, the coronation is a Christian anointing service. The Queen held a sceptre representing authority, with the Star of Africa diamond as the centrepiece. This diamond is valued at GBP 400 million. Yet the Moderator of the Church of Scotland did not focus on the value of the sceptre or diamond, but on “The most valuable thing this world affords” – The Bible. Yes, the Word of God is of greater value than the world’s biggest diamond. 

Part of the coronation ceremony was ‘secret’ – where the crowned monarch was hidden under a canopy. She wore a simple white dress devoid of any royal symbols. She sat before God as an ordinary person without any trappings of high status. This demonstrated her complete dependence on God. Under the canopy she was anointed with oil, thus reflecting her need for the equipping and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. 

Another crucial part of this Christian service was the coronation oath. The monarch swears “To maintain the laws of God and the profession of the Gospel.” It was a recognition that Her Majesty’s kingdom is a Christian realm and that she as monarch and the government she leads must maintain it (Gardner, 61-62). 

A Christian Country

Sir Winston Churchill was reported to have said: ‘It is the policy of the Conservative Party to defend the Christian religion in the United Kingdom’ (Gardner, 45). Former Prime Minister David Cameron, who called himself “committed” but only “vaguely practising” Christian, said in 2011: “We are a Christian country and we should not be afraid to say so … the Bible has helped to give Britain a set of values and morals which make Britain what it is today.” Cameron called for “a revival of traditional Christian values to counter Britain’s “moral collapse”.

Christian Character in Public

After the coronation, the Queen amply demonstrated Christian character in the following areas:

Servant Leadership: Even in her nineties she works full-time. In her 2012 Christmas message the Queen said: 

This is the time of year when we remember that God sent his only Son ‘to serve not to be served.’ He restored love and service to the centre of our lives in the person of Jesus Christ. It is my prayer this Christmas Day that his example and teaching will continue to bring people together to give the best of themselves in the service of others (The Servant Queen, 23). 

As Christians, we should all have a servant or ministry mindset, just like the Master Himself (Matthew 20:28).

Consistency: The Queen exhibits old-fashioned values like faith, family, freedom, and respect for others. She employs 1,200 people whom she treats with respect. Unlike tyrannical bosses worldwide, she makes no unreasonable demands whatsoever. Apparently, she never refers to them as ‘servants.’ Their days off are truly off. Because she embodies the virtues of character, charity, devotion and duty, the concern is that when the Queen goes, so will these values. 

Role Model: The Queen understood from the very beginning that she would be a very public figure, watched with intense scrutiny by the nation and the world. Therefore, the expectation was that she would serve as a great role model. While some of her predecessors failed in this area, the longest reigning monarch in British history has not. Her consistency and personal integrity have been obvious for the world to see. The Queen has never been accused of personal or professional scandal in over seventy years, a remarkable achievement in itself.

Prayer: Despite the respect and affection that the nation, Commonwealth, and outside world hold towards Elizabeth II, she has had big challenges from the beginning. A particularly difficult year was 1992, her annus horribilis where two of her children’s marriages collapsed and Windsor Castle was torched by a major fire. She has remarked that it was the power of prayer – that of others and of her own – that sustained her through all these years.

In summary, Elizabeth II deserves much credit for her faithful and consistent service to the nation and commonwealth since 1952. Her success can ultimately be placed to her fidelity to the Christian faith. She has set an example for all to follow.

Sources:

The Servant Queen and the King She Serves: A Tribute for Her Majesty’s 90th Birthday (2016), Mark Greene and Catherine Butcher, Bible Society, HOPE, LICC

David E. Gardner, The Trumpet Sounds for Britain: Volume 3, Jesus is Alive! Ministries, Southend on Sea, UK

The BBC at bbc.co.uk

(Photo Credit: Joel Rouse/ Ministry of Defence, OGL 3 <http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3>, via Wikimedia Commons)

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Boris Johnson: Why Did He Fall?

He is a highly gifted leader. Educated at Eton and an expert on the classics at Balliol College, Oxford, he had the vision to be another Winston Churchill. People describe him as witty, entertaining, optimistic, populist and pragmatic. He rose to the highest political office in the land and in December 2019 he had an electoral landslide that gave him a whopping eighty-seat majority. His campaign slogan?‘Get Brexit Done.’ He was able to do what his immediate predecessor could not – he got a Brexit deal passed through the United Kingdom parliament. So far, so good.

Yet, on 7 July 2022, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister. To which we ask: what went wrong? How did he go from landslide to train wreck? Whatever the reasons, do they compare with what’s happening ‘across the pond’ (the Atlantic Ocean) or the instability in Israel with five national elections in less than four years?

Without question, his biggest single achievement was delivering Brexit – the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. Though the electorate voted to leave the EU in the June 2016 referendum, there was heavy opposition all the way. The Labour Party was for ‘Remain,’ many Conservatives were the same, and ‘the Blob’ – the entrenched UK bureaucracy – opposed it at every turn. 

Boris thrived on the challenge to ‘Get Brexit Done.’ Instead of taking orders from eurocrats in Brussels, the sovereignty of the UK parliament as the chief lawmaker was restored. From that point, he was set up to be a consequential leader like Churchill and Thatcher. 

So what went wrong? Why did he fall?

Boris’s time at the helm coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic. He himself got a bad case of the virus and had to be hospitalised. Things may have even been ‘touch and go.’ He did credit the revered National Health Service (NHS) as having saved his life. Yet, the bouncy, indefatigable politician with dishevelled hair was now quiet, subdued, and seemingly withdrawn. Of course, that alone was not enough to end his leadership, but his handling of Covid was.

The UK had Australian-style lockdowns, with three months locked in, and six months of freedom, followed by another three months of lockdown. There were stiff penalties for breaching the guidelines, which separated families, enforced isolation and caused relational ruptures. Yet, while Britons were confined in their home and couldn’t even visit dying relatives, it was ‘party-time’ at Number Ten Downing Street. This is the prime minister’s residence and a government office. Dubbed ‘Party-Gate,’ while citizens were locked up, government workers were having social gatherings with drinks and chips in abundance. 

This was a flagrant breach of the Johnson government’s own Covid-19 guidelines. When asked about this later, Mr. Johnson initially lied about it before finally telling the truth and paying his fine. Some people, even those who voted for Johnson, have spoken to this author of their deep resentment of the double standard of ‘rules for thee and not for me.’ This, of course, is not just limited to the UK political elite, but it was a bitter pill for many to swallow. 

Then he hired Chris Pincher as Government Deputy Whip – a man who was the subject of serious allegations of sexual misconduct. First Boris denied knowledge of these allegations and then finally confessed that he knew after all. This led to mass resignations of his chief ministers. Boris’s resignation happened shortly thereafter. 

So what do we make of all this?

Though Boris Johnson led the Conservative Party, there were actions of his government that are not conservative at all (an accusation that can also be levelled at some in the Australian Liberal Party and the American Republican Party). During Covid-19 any notion of past economic austerity was forsaken as a massive spending spree ensued. Boris went as green as green could be, committing Britain to ‘Net Zero’ carbon emissions, which caused energy prices to rise. With looming inflation and recession, this was not the time to raise prices and taxes, including green taxes. Yet during this time, the payroll tax (national insurance) was raised 25 points to fund the NHS and green taxes. The Wall Street Journal denounced ‘Johnsonnomics’ as ‘dumb.’

Commentators have said that Johnson’s eighty-seat majority, including electoral constituencies (districts) that voted Conservative for the first time, was a squandered opportunity. Instead of building on the ‘Brexit bounce’ and carving a new and fresh pathway for the UK, while celebrating its history, heritage, and traditions, Boris Johnson the ‘conservative leader’ gave the appearance of governing like a left-of-centre, tax and spend, progressive globalist. 

Conservative voters resent so-called conservative politicians that don’t govern as conservatives. They don’t like being taken advantage of by backslidden or fake conservatives who think they can always count on the conservative vote, since there is nowhere else for the conservative voter to go. That mindset is a recipe for electoral defeat.

Finally, could the character issue have been the final straw for Boris Johnson? Character appears to be a factor in his fall: lying about Partygate and then lying about Pinchergate may very well have done him in. At least when it came to telling the truth. (Just as an aside:  Boris and his then-girlfriend Carrie moved into Number Ten Downing Street while he was still married to his second wife. It was the first time a British prime minister lived in the official residence with a de facto rather than de jure wife. Boris and Carrie also had a child out of wedlock shortly thereafter. While the couple subsequently [and quietly] married, and had a second Downing Street baby, it appears that such a scenario hardly raised an eyebrow in Britain these days. Cohabitation before marriage is considered acceptable, even among young royals. Yet, when it comes to character, is such a standard acceptable for public figures, when lying is not?). 

Boris had many powerful critics and enemies: the BBC; the Church of England; Scotland’s secessionist first minister Nicola Sturgeon; his former chief advisor turned enemy Dominic Cummings (who vowed to bring him down); the bureaucracy; and Remainers who have now morphed into Rejoiners. Yet, in the final analysis, it is not the enemy from without – but the enemy from within that is most deadly.

Boris Johnson is a gifted, talented man and if somehow he learns his lessons, then he, like his hero Churchill, could make a political comeback. In the meantime, we all would do well to heed the exhortation of Proverbs 4:23: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.



Photo Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Boris_Johnson_official_portrait.jpg attribution Ben Shread/Cabinet Office

 

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Life After Roe: Now What?

Melbourne, a city that has been my home for thirty years, had protests. This is nothing new in the world’s once ‘most liveable city,’ now rated Number Eight. Sometimes Melbourne can host rowdy, even violent protests. Wasn’t it the city that tried to tear down Oral Robert’s gospel tent in 1961? Mobbed British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at Burke Street Mall in 1988? Returned the compliment to then US President George HW Bush in 1992?

This time, the protestors made their views known about abortion – in the United States. They were protesting the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 US Supreme Court decision that mandated all fifty American states must provide abortion services, at least in the first trimester. The 24 June 2022 five to four ruling reversed Roe and returned the matter of abortion to the individual states to decide on their own. California and New York will continue to be major abortion states. Other states will restrict.

Not just the Melbourne protestors were indignant over this American court decision. Australian politicians on both sides of parliament lined up to decry the demise of Roe. Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the European Union also expressed their strong disapproval. 

Why the intense interest? Because ‘Roe’ is more than just about abortion and concerns more than just the United States. It is another major chapter in the culture war, which it kickstarted in 1973. Some commentators say Roe’s reversal is a blow to the liberal world order, with its autonomous sovereign individual – who does what they want, when they want, with no moral obligation to family, faith, or freedom. That may be finally changing.

A note: This article in no wise a criticism of those who are contemplating an abortion or even had one. Many mothers have been under great pressure to terminate their pregnancies and/or are haunted by the decision for years to come. 

Time for Truth

Since Roe came into being in 1973, there have been all kinds of pro-abortion buzz words and phrases, particularly on the Left but sometimes repeated on the Right. Let’s comment:

Jane Roe (a pseudonym): Her real name was Norma McCorvey. She was used as the centrepiece of the lawsuit against her local Texas district attorney Henry Wade for denying her an abortion – which she never had. McCorvey falsely claimed to have been raped – for which she later apologised. So the pretext of Roe was a lie.

Constitutional Right: We were told that Roe v. Wade granted women in America a ‘constitutional right’ to an abortion. This is hard to sustain since there is no direct or indirect, explicit or implicit mention of abortion anywhere in the US Constitution. This is a major reason for returning the issue to the states. If Roe was ‘constitutional,’ it would have been impossible for the Supreme Court to overturn.

As Australian author Kurt Mahlburg said regarding the reversal of Roe: “A new generation of Americans will now grow up understanding that the disposing of unwanted infants isn’t a constitutional “right” but a well-regulated “wrong.”

Reproductive Rights / Health: While this sounds nice, it is a euphemism for the termination of a pregnancy. There is nothing ‘reproductive’ about it – in fact, abortion is the antithesis of reproduction, full stop

Bodily autonomy: Pro-abortion advocates demand that a woman has autonomous rights over her body. Yet the issue was never just about a woman’s body – it is about someone else’s body – the foetus. Of interest is that pro-abortion protestors invoke ‘bodily autonomy’ when it comes to terminating a pregnancy but are fine with vaccine mandates. 

‘War on Women:’ This label has been used against the pro-life movement as if they are harming women by resisting abortion. How can potential motherhood do such a thing? and what about the approximately fifty-percent of all abortions that involve a female foetus?

‘Too political:” The US Supreme Court has been accused of being ‘too political’ by overruling Roe. This, too, is wrong. The 1973 Court, used the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution to create a ‘right to privacy’ out of thin air. It never existed. The 2022 court rightly disagreed. The US court was not being political at all; the correct term is ‘constitutional.’

The common denominator with all the above: they have been misleading, even false. Remember: without genuine truth, neither law, liberty, and justice, are possible, in fact, they are undermined.

Regardless of the semantics, the hard and horrible fact is that Roe v. Wade has been the cause of sixty-three million abortions in the United States, since 1973. These are more than just statistics – the represent lives that were never lived outside the womb. The notion of motherhood and family have also been greatly harmed in the process.

The Worst Court Decision – Ever?

In 1857, the US Supreme Court issued the infamous Dred Scott decision. This ruling declared that Americans of African descent, whether slave or free, were not entitled to US citizenship. Even their personhood was also denied. It has been called the ‘worst decision’ of the American Supreme Court in its history. It was unambiguously racist and served as a catalyst for kickstarting the American Civil War (1861-1865). After the war, the abolition of slavery and newly ratified constitutional amendments helped to nullify the Dred Scott decision

There is a strong case to say that Roe v. Wade surpassed the Dred Scott decision in horror. Like the former, Roe denied the personhood and citizenship of the foetus. Like the former, it initiated the first shots in the half a century, on-going, divisive culture war. Yet, with all the indignity of the Dred Scott decision, the slaves still had their lives and within a decade, their liberty as well. Yet with Roe, the foetuses had no such life or liberty – only death in the womb, and America is worse off because of it. African-Americans are disproportionally represented in the abortion statistics.

Finally, the American states get to decide on life and death vis a vis abortion and the political battle continues, as is to be expected in the democratic process. America’s founding documents say that any rights not clearly given to the federal government in the Constitution must be decided by the states. However, these same documents also make it very clear that it is the government’s responsibility to protect the life and liberty of its citizens. 

Are the pre-born citizens? Do they have the right to life and liberty? If you say ‘Yes’ to these two questions, then there is nothing more to decide. If you are not sure, now is a good opportunity to search the Scriptures, study the issue, and, once duly informed, partake in the democratic process. 

Life After Roe? More political struggle but a new democratic, citizen-initiated game board. May we see a revival of faith, family, and freedom in the post-Roe world; in other words, may there be much ‘Life after Roe.’ 

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God’s Consultancy: Why Study the Book of Proverbs

 

He was no more than twenty-one years old. Yet the weight of the world was on his shoulders. His father had been a successful, acclaimed king, yet the latter part of his reign was soiled with family scandal and sedition. Now, the new young king wanted to learn from both his father’s successes and failures. How could he navigate through the minefield of leadership and life?

At a high place called Gibeon, not far from Jerusalem, the young king had a dream where God offered to give him whatever he wanted. Usually, the normal worldly options include riches, fame/acclaim, and longevity. Yet he asked for none of these things. This king wanted to know how to do his job correctly. So he asked this one thing of God: please grant me a wise and understanding heart.

God was so impressed with this request that it was granted on-the-spot. As a bonus, God gave the young king those things for which he did not ask: riches and fame. If he continued on walking with God, long-life would be granted, too. Some of what God shared with the young king has become a book of the Bible. It is called Proverbs.

Today, in our every-complicated specialised world, it is common for people to pay consultants 100s and 1000s of dollars for advise. Yet, the best consultant of all is found right in the pages of your Bible. For no earthly consultant can hope to match the time-tested, proven, divine wisdom found in Proverbs. It not only promises the very best in this world, including riches, honour and life (Proverbs 3:16) but gives guaranteed hope for the world to come.

Ultimately, we discover that wisdom is not a corpus of knowledge rightly applied. It is a Person named Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). When you have Him in your life, you win everything (Revelation 21:7 AV).

Proverbs is so invaluable we recommended reading it daily. Since there are thirty-one chapters in Proverbs, whatever is the date of the month, that’s the chapter of Proverbs you should read. For example, if it is the 5th of the month, read the 5th chapter.

HEBREW NAME

Hebrew: Mishle Shelomoh (Proverbs of Solomon 1:1) and Sepher Hokhmah (Book of Wisdom); the Greek name is Paroimiai Salomontos (Proverbs of Solomon). We get the name ‘Proverbs’ from the Latin: Liber Proverbiorum.

AUTHORS OF THE PROVERBS

Solomon wrote 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs (I Kings 4:32) and he is the prime author of Proverbs (1:1; 10:1; 25:1). The men of Hezekiah did some editing (chapters 25-29). Also mentioned are Agur (30) and Lemuel (31). It is possible that these two men were actually pseudonyms of Solomon, meaning he very possibly wrote the entire Book of Proverbs.

PORTRAIT OF CHRIST

Jesus Christ is the life-giving, favour-filled wisdom of God (8:35). To embrace Jesus is the wisest thing one can do; to reject Him is the ultimate of folly.

THEME OF PROVERBS

The promotion and triumph of wisdom and the perverseness and insanity of folly. Proverbs is more than just being wise in this world; it speaks of wisdom that endures for all eternity. Folly is not merely viewed as an unfortunate inconvenience; it is seen as a serious liability and the downpayment to hell itself.

KEY VERSES IN PROVERBS

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. 10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many — Proverbs 4:5-10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased — Proverbs 9:10-11

SUMMARY OF PROVERBS

Someone once said a proverb is short in words but long on experience. Proverbs contains many pithy, insightful, and divinely wise sayings. Follow its timeless counsel and you will avoid a lot of grief. Furthermore, you will attract much blessing. Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge are to be eagerly sought. Folly, scorn, and simplicity are faults to be avoided.

When the author of Proverbs speaks of ‘my son,’ the initial impression is that it has to be Rehoboam, son and heir of Solomon, who followed him to the throne of Israel. Writing at a more mature stage of his reign, Solomon is attempting to influence Rehoboam to walk in the same wisdom that he had. Therefore, the first part of Proverbs is directed to ‘sons’ and ‘young men.’ Those who heed its counsel are promised riches, honour, and long-life. Yet there are many pitfalls to avoid. In Chapter 4, for example, it describes the contrast between the dark, nefarious ‘way of the wicked’ and that of the promising, well-lit ‘path of the just.’ These two paths could not be more different. One leads to every increasing darkness, damage, and death; the other to a bright future. Or there is the detailed account in Proverbs 7 about the foolish young man, void of understanding, who gets into serious strife by caving in to the invitation of the adulterous woman. His lack of discretion is fatal. 

The second part of Proverbs addresses issues involving all people, young and old. There are many pithy phrases that make for wisdom in capsule form. 

Finally, the last section is more for leaders. It speaks of self-control, sobriety, having a good name and reputation, warnings against taking bribes, and being careful against wine and strong drink. 

OUTLINE OF PROVERBS

  1. Wisdom for Young Men (1-10)
  2. Wisdom for All People (11-20)
  3. Wisdom for Leaders (21-31)
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The Crown Chronicles Part 02: Queen Elizabeth II – Profile in Leadership

She is the most famous woman in the world – yes, more than Oprah – and her face is immediately recognisable. And no wonder: her image has dominated postage stamps, coins, bank notes, and prominent buildings worldwide for over seventy years. 

As we commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, we would do well to remember that she is a remarkable and unrepeatable leader, a rock of stability in an ever changing world. 

In assessing the reign of the Queen, we will approach it from her position, her fine qualities, and her historic link.

Royal Titles

The monarch inherited a wealth of titles and positions upon her accession to the throne on 6 February, 1952, when she was only twenty-five years old. The weight of responsibility, however symbolic, far outweighed the imperial state crown she received at her coronation.

The main title is Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of this Realm and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the  Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. This tells much – but not all – of the story. Of course she is best known as the Queen of the United Kingdom, which includes Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Yet, she has ‘other realms,’ where she serves as Queen in her own right. These realms include, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Papua New Guinea and elsewhere. As head of state, she is also Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces. Her representatives in the other realms, known as the ‘Governor-General,’ hold the same position. 

Head of the Commonwealth is particularly significant, because the Queen presided over the peaceful dismantling of the British Empire, with most former colonies voluntarily choosing to be part of this multi-national, multi-ethnic global family (the United States and Israel are notable exceptions). It has been said that the Queen’s passion and leadership over the integrity and vitality of the Commonwealth stands as her greatest single achievement. 

Defender of the Faith: This title dates back to at least Henry VIII, when he ‘defended’ the Catholic church against the reformer Martin Luther, only to break away from it a few years later. Like her predecessors, the Queen is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. 

Qualities ‘Fit for a Queen’

Despite the mystique of monarchy, with all the grand trappings, Elizabeth II is a very normal, down-to-earth individual. One source said she is a ‘country girl’ who happens to be a monarch. She has practical mechanical know-how, can ride a horse at length, and despite an abundance of servants, feeds her own corgis. Equally at home with heads of state, celebrities, everyday people, dogs and horses, the Queen’s visibility and her exceptionally long reign, means her imprint is deep and immeasurable.

While many positive adjectives can be applied to Elizabeth II, a few prominent ones come to mind:

Duty: Even in her nineties, the Queen continues to work full-time. Like a Swiss watch, she can be counted upon to fulfil her duties without hesitation, flinching, or tardiness. Personal feelings about any given matter are irrelevant; what ever is required of her is done and done properly. Not one toe or strand of hair has been out-of-place during all these decades. 

She famously declared before the world on her twenty-first birthday in a radio broadcast from Cape Town:

I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong. 

Is this not the essence of servant leadership?

Resilience: Like the British people as a whole, the Queen has shown amazing resilience despite the many challenges over her long life. Who can forget that she and her family lived through the Battle for Britain of 1940, which included the bombing of Buckingham Palace. Then there were the events of her seventy year reign: The Suez Crisis of 1956; the ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland; the dismantling of the empire; the 1982 Falklands War with Prince Andrew in active military service; the pitfalls of the Cold War – where Britain was far closer to the front-lines than its great ally the United States, plus two Gulf Wars. Then there were the family troubles, including separation, divorce, and the fire at Windsor Castle in her annus horribilus of 1992 – the fortieth year of her reign. 

Grace: The Queen is as one who has been immersed in grace. The famous motto: ‘Keep calm and carry on’ describes her regal conduct totally. For example, at the Trooping of the Colours in 1981, a seventeen year fired six shots at close range at the Queen. The skill and grace used to keep the horse on track was widely remarked and admired. 

According to convention, she wisely keeps her opinions private, particularly on politics. Her views are known to the prime minister of the day, but they are duty-bound to keep her confidence.

When a part of the realm considers breaking away from the Crown, the Queen shows a graceful respect to the wishes of the people. Contrast her position to that of George III, who fiercely fought to keep the rebellious American colonies under the Crown – which has greatly evolved since 1776.

Living History

Elizabeth II is the great great granddaughter of Queen Victoria and related to many other British monarchs. She has witnessed much history firsthand – who can forget the iconic photo of the then royal family on 8 May 1945 – VE Day – waving from the balcony of Buckingham Palace to a euphoric crowd below? This is a woman who personally knew famous people like Sir Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, US President John F. Kennedy, Nelson Mandela, Billy Graham, and hundreds more. An invitation to one of her royal banquets is highly coveted. And the wealth of experience she has gleaned over the years should make her a ‘first port-o-call’ in seeking tested sound advice.

Though the Queen does not grant interviews and has no plans to write an autobiography, her much chronicled reign should keep historians busy for decades. She is not just a witness to history – she made history.

In our final article, we will examine the single factor above all else that kept her going for over seventy years: the Queen’s personal faith in the King of kings and Lord of lords. Stay tuned.

 PHOTO: Courtesy of The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

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Winning the War on Truth – Part 01


For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before — Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:24-25

Since we are in the last days (Hebrews 9:26; 1 John 2:18), prophetic awareness is a key to surviving and thriving. Study the pastoral epistles of 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, and you will not only get great leadership tips but also principles of last day living. While there are several key signs we can focus upon, there is one sign that has immediate and practical ramifications. It has to do with the war on truth.

This war is real and it is fierce. Israel, its place in the Bible, today’s world, and end-time prophecy, also hang in the balance.

Why the C?

Warring against truth is nothing new … it has been happening since the days of Eden. Yet, prophetically, what we are seeing today is a frontal assault in overdrive! It is not just that people are lying, more than ever. Or that they do so with a very straight face and without a pang of conscience. It is that there is a strong spirit of deception and delusion that must be proactively resisted.

Let’s consider how the last days’ war against truth came into being:

  1. Relativism: This is facilitated by postmodernism, which is the successor and critic of scientific rational modernism. It believes is ‘radical relativism,’ namely you have ‘your truth,’ I have ‘my truth,’ and no one’s truth is more true than anyone else’s. The proliferation of postmodern relativism is a recipe for philosophical, semantical, and spiritual anarchy.

  1. Low view of truth: Postmodernism is only one of the reasons why many people, including some church goers, have a low view of truth. One popular group of churches in the West make themselves deliberately attractive to postmodern people but it comes at the cost of truth. Go to their website and you will struggle to find a ‘Statement of Faith’ or doctrine. Remember: no truth means no law, liberty, and/or justice.

  1. Delusion: This is what makes the last days particularly dangerous. A spirit of deception and strong delusion will be so potent that the elect have to make a conscious effort to remain ‘in the truth.’ The devil knows his time is short and works overtime to deceive. Fortunately, our weapons are more powerful weapons than his.

‘Post-Truth Vocabulary’

The arsenal against truth is growing. Here is a sample vocabulary lesson on what constitutes the modern version of lies and mendacity:

Spin: Takes the unsavoury issues of life (e.g. abortion), sugar coats and spins them like cotton candy. When signing a grizzly executive order expanding medical research on aborted foetuses, a former US President gave this spin: ‘America deserves the best health care system in the world.’ Spin creates euphemisms, taking sour lemons and makes ‘lemonade.’ Masters of spin – spin doctors – help public officials craft byte-size phrases to get their point across, quickly and persuasively, even if it is not true.

Post Truth: Instead of conveying objective, verifiable facts, post truth seeks to shape public opinion by appealing to narrative, personal belief, feelings and emotion. 

Double-speak: Speaking one way but deliberating meaning something else. Double-speak seeks to obscure, disguise, distort, and divert real meaning by fostering great ambiguity. Political rhetoric can fall under the heading of double-speak.

Smoke and mirrors: An attempt to make you believe something to be true, when it is not. Like a tax-and-spend parliament telling the population that the big spending bill will not add a penny to the national debt or ‘the war to end all wars.’

Gaslighting: This is particularly insidious. It is a form of manipulation, often incessant, to cause a person to doubt their sanity, memory, perception and judgement. The gaslighting person tries to convince the other party that they really did not see what they clearly saw or hear what they clearly heard.

Misinformation: Misleading or incorrect information treated as fact. Less menacing the disinformation but still problematic because it is not truth. We must get our facts right!

Disinformation: A subset of propaganda, false information deliberately and quickly spread with the express purpose to deceive. This is a problematic and evil thing. 

Irrational, unproven, preposterous ideas and policies, void of empirical evidence, are enacted by governments, media and academics. Intimate sexual issues are taught from kindergarteners to university by those who have no Biblical worldview. This practice is backed up by government, big business, and popular culture. 

War on Truth – The Bible Says

Let’s face it, we have never seen such a concerted attack on truth – absolute truth – God’s truth, as we do now. This includes the Bible and what it teaches about Israel. Yet it should not be a surprise to students of the Scriptures. As we have learned, one of the most fundamental signs of the last days is that deception will be manufactured and disseminated on an industrial scale. 

When Jesus’ inner circle asked Him the direct question on what will be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age, His very first words were “Take heed that no man deceive you” (Matthew 24:4). This is not just a polite suggestion; it is a divine command. Deception does not merely distract and divert people from the right path – it can hijack and destroy. That’s why it should be recognised, repudiated and avoided.

Under this banner of deception, Christ goes on to say that many shall come in His name, proclaiming themselves to be the Messiah, and shall deceive many. 

If ever there was a good reason to “follow the cloud (of God’s glory), not the crowd,” this is it. TO BE CONTINUED

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Roe No More – Part 02: What Does it Mean for the World?

 

For some, it was like the dawning of a new day. For others, it was the end of the world. Both sides, looking at opposite ends of the telescope, are focused on a decision that will greatly alter the culture war, like the Supreme Court of the US (SCOTUS) decision of 1973 which started it in the first place. We’re talking about the potential overturning of the landmark decision called Roe v. Wade, which mandated abortion in all fifty American states, even if a state was predominantly pro-life. Justice Samuel Alito’s draft decision on Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (Mississippi), which was leaked to the press, has caused ripples nationally and internationally. Consider the following:

  1. The pro-abortion lobby has vehemently protested, including in front of the homes of the justices – which is illegal, because it is ‘obstruction of justice.’
  2. Some have interrupted church services, like at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, where protestors stripped off their clothing while shouting their pro-abortion views. 
  3. A California man came to the home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh for the express purpose of assassinating him. 
  4. Even the Parliament of the European Union passed a resolution, by a vote of 364 to 154 ‘reminding’ the United States that they should retain Roe v. Wade. German MEP Christine Anderson did some reminding of her own to the EU parliament: “The USA is no longer a colony ruled from Europe. Didn’t you know that?“

If the conservative justices stick with the majority opinion, what will happen if Roe is overturned? What will it mean? Even if they don’t overturn it, abortion is on notice in the United States. 

First, SCOTUS is not making abortion ‘illegal’ or even ‘unconstitutional.’ The repudiation of Roe simply means it is none of their business; it is time to let the states decide, once again.

While the states would be free to legislate how much or how little abortion they will allow, it needs to be pointed out that the US Constitution, Fourteenth Amendment, Section 1, is very clear on the matter of life: 

Nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

America’s birth certificate, the Declaration of Independence of 1776, also says:

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness (emphases mine).

In short, from all appearances, it is the legal duty of local, state, and federal authorities to protect all American lives, liberty, and property. Any other position should be, by rights, declared unconstitutional.

Pro-abortion advocates do not want the states to decide at all. Why? Because the majority of American states lean towards the pro-life position. Women who might contemplate an abortion would refuse to do so if it became illegal. Consider the following trends:

  • The moment Roe is overturned, eighteen states have ‘trigger laws’ that will immediately ban abortion.
  • Another nine states have passed legislation which heavily restricts abortion. At the moment, these bills are held up by the courts, but an overturned Roe would promptly release them for activation.
  • Rates of abortion have been declining for years in the United States, from an annual total of 1.5 million to half that amount. The demise of Roe would result in even further drops.
  • Abortion clinics have been closing en masse across the nation. In 1991 there were over 2,000 clinics but today there are just over 500.
  • There is anecdotal evidence that Generation Z, born after 1996, is the most conservative living generation and will expected to favour life over abortion. They are replacing their pro-abortion ‘baby-boomer’ grandparents’ generation.
  • People who hold a ‘pro-choice’ position do not necessarily favour unrestricted, unfettered abortions at all stages of pregnancy: A third of pro-choice Americans support banning abortion after the pain threshold is reach and 55% want late-term abortions banned completely. ‘Pro-choice’ does not mean what radical activists have been telling us. 

The Bigger Picture

As mentioned, Roe v. Wade, though about babies and abortion, has a greater implication. It is about a return to original interpretation of the US Constitution – ‘it is written’ – rather than the elastic interpretation of the Left, who speak of a ‘living, breathing’ constitution. Attitudes towards ‘life,’ ‘children,’ ‘family,’ and traditional values, will also be bolstered by an overturned Roe.

Roe v. Wade also played a major role in commencing the culture war, pitting cultural Marxists and secular progressives against working class, patriotic, and conservative Americans. The Right is greatly influenced by the Judaeo-Christian teaching. While blue states like California and New York will continue to have their liberal abortion laws post-Roe, their demographics are at stake. Not only are they having less babies, but people are moving out of their states, thus reducing their population.

As revival comes to America and the world, there will be a renaissance of ‘marriage and family,’ and with it, a return to the primacy of the sanctity of life, from birth to old age. Despite incidents to the contrary, we could very well be seeing the dark winter of culture war and mass abortion turn to the spring of pro-life, pro-faith, pro-family, and pro-freedom.

(Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Battle Cry for Free Speech? Elon Musk Purchases Twitter – Part 02

For the longest time we who grew up in the western world took it for granted. But today there is strong evident this same right is under threat. The threat is not external but internal, the result of a half-century culture war.

The political/cultural Left seek to silence their political opponents, rather than debate them publicly; a very undemocratic stance. Why are they doing this? They are afraid their utopian ideas may not be accepted in the town square debate forum nor at the ballot box. So they have used the courts, hate speech laws, media, including social media, and the corporate world to suppress opponents and deliver for them the outcomes that the democratic process will not. 

The road from free speech to censorship had a beginning. When Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 US Presidential election, the Left complained about ‘Russian collusion’ and ‘fake news.’ Pressure was put on social media to ‘moderate content’ and ‘fact-check’ information. ‘Inconvenient’ news stories were suppressed. All these actions meant that conservatives voices were being silenced, no matter how reasonable and factual they may be. Thus the era of social media censorship began in earnest, culminating in the 2020 US Presidential election. 

Again, when free speech dies, so does democracy. No free speech, no freedom; it is that fundamental.

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has shaken the social media world and society at large with his proposed purchase of Twitter. While Musk’s purchase of Twitter is still in process, his proposed reinstatement of free speech is a major move towards cancelling cancel culture, a key facet of ‘wokeism.’ 

Not long ago Musk, who has two million followers on Twitter, had a poll and asked the question: 

Free speech is essential to a functioning democracy. 

Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?

YES 29.6%

NO 70.4%

This poll shows that, despite the pretence of even-handedness, social media is perceived to hinder, not facilitate, free speech.

Remember that Twitter made a historic contribution to speech and the exchange of ideas. People from one side of the world could read and communicate with others on the other side, including the rich and famous. ‘Tweeting’ and ‘tweets’ became household words. Donald Trump with eighty-eight million Twitter followers drew even more attention to the social media outlet. It became his direct microphone to the people, even as President, often bypassing the America mainstream media. 

Cancel culture set in and the censorship started to bite. Trump himself was permanently banned from Twitter after the events of 6 January 2021. Parag Agrawal, the new CEO who took over from Jack Dorsey in November 2021, said that Twitter’s role was not to be ‘bound by the First Amendment,’ but to serve ‘a healthy public conversation’ of the things ‘we believe.’ This makes it sound more like a monologue than dialogue. Twitter content moderation, fact-checking, and story suppression are seen as synonymous with censorship.

Under Musk’s leadership, Trump will be reinstated to Twitter, if he wants. This seems unlikely since he started his own social media company, Truth Social. GETTR, GAB, RUMBLE, PARLOUR, also offer a ‘free speech’ alternatives to Twitter.

Remember that ‘free speech’ is not just a good idea; it is the law of the land. Let’s look at the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances (emphases mine).

Ben Shapiro, a well-known conservative commentator from The Daily Wire, is urging Musk to fire the thousands of Twitter workers since they have ‘cancel culture blood on their hands.’ Ninety-nine percent of them donate to Democratic Party and present a danger of forming a ‘deep state’ among the employees who could seek to undermine his free speech goals.

For decades the far Left, dominated by cultural Marxists and secular progressives, have exercised cultural dominance in major areas of society: in the media, art, entertainment, music, education, corporate board rooms and school boards. Dr. Steve Turley boldly predicts that the dominance of the Left is coming to an end thanks to Elon Musk and his move to buy Twitter. It is viewed as a most consequential event. Even if the sale does not proceed, Musk has strongly rattled the cages of censorship.

Bertrand Russell once put it: “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.”

Musk’s acquisition of Twitter could change all that. People of tradition, family and faith may actually find their voice again.

The position of this ‘quasi-libertarian’ billionaire and ‘free speech absolutist,’ a Democrat who has become a Republic, at the helm of a power social media platform is a cultural earthquake – just like the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade. If Musk succeeds in liberating speech, buckle up for the ride ahead. 

(Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Eternity’s Hymn Book: Why Study the Book of Psalms

 

Psalm 23: A Psalm of David

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

It is the most beloved prose in the English language. Recited at secular funerals, Psalm 23 is part of the largest book of the Bible. 

If we could only have one book of the Bible, instead of sixty-six, that contained the essential message of Scripture, including salvation, which one would it be? The answer is The Psalms. 

The longest book of the Bible, with the longest chapter (Psalm 119 – 176 verses), contains the Bible in miniature. History, prophecy, covenants, personal struggles, victorious living, every type of human experience  – it’s all there in the Psalms. The New Testament has 116 direct quotes from the Psalms. That’s why Martin Luther called Psalms ‘a little Bible.’

Written in order to be sung, the Book of Psalms has been the ‘hymnbook’ of Israel and the church for centuries. David the king authored around half of them. .Some of the psalms are stand-alone

Another great reformer, John Calvin, said this of the Psalms: ‘An anatomy of all the parts of the soul; for no one will find in himself a single feeling of which the image is not reflected in this mirror.’

HEBREW NAME

Called Sepher Tehillim or the ‘Book of Praises.’ In the Greek it is called psalmos or psalmoi, meaning ‘a song, words with music, or a song accompanied by a stringed instrument. ‘

AUTHORS OF THE PSALMS

Psalms clearly has several authors, since it is a compilation of praises and prayers to God. There are 150 psalms or poems set to music and meant to be sung. Here is what we know about the authorship of Psalms and how many they wrote:

  • David, the ‘sweet psalmist of Israel – 2 Samuel 23:1 – (73), nearly half.
  • Asaph (12); 
  • Sons of Korah (10); 
  • Solomon (2). 
  • Moses, author of the Pentateuch, (1 – Psalm 90). 
  • Ethan (1 – Psalm 89);
  • Heman (1 – Psalm 88);
  • Anonymous (50)

PORTRAIT OF CHRIST

The entire gamut of the gospel is represented in Psalm. Jesus tells His disciples after His resurrection that ‘All things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me’ (Luke 24:44ff – emphasis mine). 

The Son of God & King: In Psalm 2, Christ is the Son (v. 7), the king set on the holy hill of Zion (v. 6), who will rule with a rod of iron (v. 9) from David’s throne. Other kingly notations are found in Psalms 21, 45, and 72.

Priestly Messiah: Psalm 40:6, 8; 22; 49; 110.

Suffering of Messiah: Psalm 22 and 69.

Resurrection of Messiah: Psalm 16.

THEME OF PSALMS

The Psalms cover the entire range human experience and emotion from the heights of praise to the depths of depression (Psalm 42; 88). The Psalms teach on praise, thanksgiving, repentance, trust, distress, history, and prophecy.

The bottom line: Psalms takes a person from where they are at, turns their focus off sin, self, and the world and finally puts it squarely on Almighty God Himself, who is worthy to be praised. It takes their eyes off the problem and puts in on the (divine) solution.

KEY VERSES IN PSALMS

Psalm 149

1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. 2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. 4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 150

Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

SUMMARY OF PSALMSPraise,Israel,Christian,

In the Psalms, you can find:

  • Biblical history (42; 63; 80; 84; 137);
  • Confession and Repentance, a key theme in Psalms (6; 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; 143);
  • Times of Distress (4; 13; 55; 64; 88). The psalmist experienced the same challenges and emotions that we all do;
  • Teaching psalms (1, 5, 7, 15, 17, 50, 73, 94, 101);
  • Curses (35, 52, 58, 59, 69, 83, 109, 137, 140). This is before the coming of Christ; now, we are called to ‘bless’ our enemies;
  • Trusting God (3; 27; 31; 46; 56; 62; 86);
  • Praise (8, 29, 93; 100);
  • Thanksgiving (16, 18, 30, 65; 103; 107; 116);
  • Messianic prophecy (2; 16; 22; 24; 40; 45; 68; 69; 72; 97; 110; 118);
  • Pilgrimage psalms (120-134). These were what the pilgrims sang when they made the ascent to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.

OUTLINE OF PSALMS

Psalms, like the Torah or Pentateuch, can be divided into five books: 

Book One   — Psalms 1  –  41

Psalms of humanity, mostly all from David

Book Two   — Psalms 41  –  72

Psalms of Israel, from ruin to redemption

Book Three — Psalms 73  –  89

Psalms of the Sanctuary

Book Four  — Psalms 90  –  106

Psalms of the earth

Book Five  — Psalms 107 – 150

The Word of God (especially Psalm 119)

Why not make it a daily habit to read from Psalms and Proverbs? It will change your life!

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Platinum Jubilee Crown Chronicles – The Crown: More Precious than Diamonds & Pearls

The Crown: More Precious than Diamonds & Pearls

If you go to the United Kingdom, take time to visit the Tower of London with an optional excursion to the crown jewels. It’s costly but worth it. You will not forget the exquisite beauty of the diamonds, pearls, and accessories of the monarchy. The Imperial State Crown, worn at the coronation of the monarch, weighs just over one kilogram, and is replete with 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emerald, and 5 rubies. The glory and splendour of this crown is beyond description.

Now we have this rare occasion of a monarch, the only one most of us has ever known, representing a nation and family of nations, commemorating the remarkable milestone of seventy years on the throne. It is called the platinum jubilee, the first in British history.

In commemoration of Elizabeth II’s seventy year milestone, we offer a ‘crown chronicles’ series of three articles. The first article is about the crown itself. The second part will be about the monarch and the third will focus the role of the Christian faith in the Queen’s life and reign.

Definition: When we define ‘crown,’ it not just a diamond-crusted hat that sits on the monarch’s head. The Imperial State Crown, like all other visible crowns, is a priceless symbol of the abstract but very real thing we call the monarchy itself. The crown means the monarchy and is more than just one individual. This particular crown/monarchy represents the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, other realms, and the fifty-four nations of The Commonwealth. (NOTE: This article will pivot between the crown in Britain & in Australia. They are virtually identical though the exercising of them differs. For example, Britain does not have a Governor-General, while the other crowned realms do).

An Old/New Crown: America’s founding fathers, who codified their grievances against King George III in the Declaration of Independence of 1776, would not recognise the British crown today. It has truly evolved over the centuries. 

At first, the King was a dictator, and absolute monarch. Then came parliamentary government and a power struggle ensued. Some monarchs, like James I (who gave us the King James Bible), insisted in the divine right of kings. Parliament disagreed. An English civil war broke out because of this in the 1640s, resulting in a win for parliament and the execution of James’ son, Charles I. Finally came the formulation we have today:

  1. Parliament makes the laws;
  2. The Crown assents to legislation.
  3. Thus we have a constitutional monarchy.

Geoffrey White defines constitutional monarchy as 

“…a state where the people through parliament are sovereign, but where the monarchy represents that sovereignty and who is ceremonial Head of State. The monarch enjoys position by consent of the people, either through Acts of Parliament or a written constitution” (WHITE 1997:46).

The crown is to be scrupulously neutral in political affairs, thus creating an apolitical head-of-state who represents the entire nation, not a partisan faction. The crown is duty-bound to act on the advice of elected ministers, particularly the prime minister. In addition, Walter Bagehot masterfully put it in 1867 that the role of the crown-monarch retained “the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn.”

The Crown has a source of power which does not need ministerial advice and that’s the exercise of Reserved Powers. They can be used at the monarch’s absolute discretion but apparently there is no abuse; the various legislative, judicial, executive and crown powers are finely tuned and balanced. We will revisit this topic shortly.

What does it all mean? The Constitution, be it British or Australian, is wrapped around a thousand year old crown, which sits at the apex and centre of all governmental power. This ingenious constitutional formula, which evolved over centuries, has a marvellous combination of balance of power, separation of power, continuity of history, heritage, customs, tradition and national identity, thus ensuring safe, stable governance. The genius of the crowned constitution is this: as it stands at the hub of the wheel of power, it denies absolute power to all other governmental branches. The Crown, in essence, becomes a constitutional umpire. 

The 1901 Australian Constitution states that the people of the former British colonies, like Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, etc. agreed to united in one indissoluble Federal Commonwealth both under the Crown of the United Kingdom and the Constitution itself. All this was prefaced by the words: “humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God.” 

The Crown is absolutely central in the Australian Constitution, with the word ‘Queen’ mentioned thirty-nine times; ‘Her Majesty’ eleven times; and ‘Crown’ four times. The people decided on this ‘crowned arrangement’ and it is the people who can change it by constitutional referendum.

Queen & Country

According to the Constitution, the ‘crown’ is represented by Elizabeth II, whose legal status is ‘Queen of Australia.’ The same applies to Canada, New Zealand, and in the other nations where she serves as head of state. Note what the Queen cannot do:

  1. Exercise executive power;
  2. Visit the country except by invitation.

The Queen’s sole constitutional function is to appoint the Governor-General by recommendation of the Prime Minister. The G-G, who is a local Australian, New Zealander, Canadian, etc. – not a British civil servant – exercises all the prerogatives of the monarch, even when the Queen is present in the country. By countersigning the Governor-General’s appointment, the selection process is ‘de-politicised;’ the G-G does not owe his/her job to the PM, but to the Queen, ensuring that they act objectively and with principle.

Reserve Powers: Let’s take a moment and revisit the ‘Reserve Powers.’ These have evolved over the centuries and represents the all-important checks and balances needed for a stable government. Though not rules of law or even codified, they are binding. Only the Crown, be it the monarch or governor-general, can exercise them. Like the heavy-duty emergency brakes that stop a runaway vehicle, the reserve powers are only used when the government is no longer entitled to rule or fails to function. 

The most famous example of the use of reserve powers was the dissolving of the Whitlam Labor Government of November 1975 by the Governor-General Sir John Kerr. While this move was contentious, everything was resolved in a matter of weeks. There were no riots, assassinations, or any bad long-term effect. America was reeling over two years of the Watergate scandal that brought down a US President and would have dragged on longer but for the pardon given by his successor. The reserve power safety-switch for democracy was successful and swift. The G-G said, in essence, let the people decide. The electorate was the ultimate arbiter of the crisis. Australians voted in a federal election and upheld the G-G’s decision. 

While a symbol, the Crown is a very potent one. Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott put it this way: 

“In (apartheid) South Africa and in (republican) Fiji, the establishment of a republic gave freer rein to the enemies of freedom—not because the Queen was herself defending Indian shopkeepers or the residents of black townships, but because the existence of the Crown denied complete power to politicians. The Crown achieves its object simply by existing. The Crown does not need to act—it simply needs to be” (ABBOTT 1995:74).

In summary, the purpose of the Crown is the embodiment of a nation, its people, history, heritage, type of government, culture, civilisation and religion. It sits at the centre and height of the constitutional arrangement, separating all other branches of government while avoiding involvement in the day-to-day running of the state. Its apolitical nature causes it to be leadership beyond politics and representative of all people of the realm. Parliament has the real power but the crown can, in an emergency, intervene in a stalled political system to break the logjam. It is a true national treasure, greater than diamonds and pearls. 

ABBOTT Tony. The Minimal Monarchy And Why It Still Makes Sense For Australia. Kent Town SA: Wakefield Press, 1995.

WHITE Geoffrey. Monarchists, Royalists and Republicans: A New Strategy For Constitutional Consensus. Macedon VIC: White Crest Publication, 1997.