Monarchy a key part of Christian tradition
YOUR anonymous correspondent (‘Royals’ actions may lead to abolition calls’, Write Back, Tuesday, October 29) considers royalty to be contrar y to the “Judeo- Christian tradition of true social justice”.
But his/ her letter shows the need to properly understand the Bible, which is more favourable to kings than he/she thinks, and not just pluck random verses out of context.
Samuel was Israel’s f inal judge, and his tirade against kingship came about as the elders of Israel had turned on him because his republic of law was discredited: Samuel had made poor decisions, appointing inadequate judges who were corrupt and taking bribes (1 Samuel 8: 3).
Samuel’s statements are less principled constitutional theor y and more the gabble of a man at his performance review tr ying to avoid getting the sack.
God even describes himself as a king in the same passage: “They have rejected me from being king over them (1 Samuel 8:7).”
The Book of Samuel argues not against monarchy, but against secularism — disaster will come to those without godliness, whatever their title.
“If both you and the king who reigns over you obey the Lord your God, it will be well (1 Samuel 12:14).”
Thomas Paine is guilty of selective quotation because that is a passage that he conveniently omitted from his Common Sense.
Divine Providence has certainly not ruled in favour of republics.
You only need to have a glance at a histor y of the so- called land of the free to see that Common Sense is nonsense.
The elected leaders of the US have inf licted plenty of “enslavement, conscription to the militar y and economic exploitation” of their own.
Jesus, the “prince of peace (Isaiah 9: 6)”, was himself royalty.
The genealog y in Matthew 1:1-17 take pains to stress that He is descended from the House of David and that it is essential for His authority.
The title ‘ Messiah’ literally means ‘anointed one’.
It’s also curious that your correspondent mentions Marxist theor y.
The Bible never states that God controls a people’s republic, but that he reigns in a Kingdom of Heaven.
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ROBERT FRAZER