THE DELUSION OF THE ‘DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS’ (1400 – 1650 AD)

1 Samuel 8:4-5 “So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, ‘You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.’”

The Bible tells us that we should not be ignorant of the devil’s devices. The mustard seed that was sown in the little obscure village in Palestine had grown by the 16th century and like a mighty oak; its roots were deep. No external pagan force could stand against it so the Prince of Darkness resorted to send forth his minions as counterfeit angels of light robed in righteousness. This evil delusion was the “Divine Right of Kings.”

Just like God warned the Children of Israel in what would happen if they appointed a king over them, so we see that these powerful monarchs did as God said would happen. Eventually they ignored the rights of the people, confiscated their land as well as weapons and forced them into their armies of conquest.

“Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do. He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. And others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.” (Vs. 9, 11, 13-17)

During this time we see the tares being manifested. This was a time that the church was in a decline for almost 200 years. A new paganism was coming in, but not like the pagans of old because they were coming in with religious Christianity garb. Like one of the princes said: “To be successful you must use fear and expedience and not governed by principle. It is safer to be feared than to be loved.” This was the thought that governed those in power during this period.

Basically the “Divine Right of Kings” was a political and religious doctrine of royal absolutism. It asserted that a king is subject to no earthly authority and his right to rule came directly from God. To go against the king and his rule would be to go against God Himself.

During this time there had been a revival of intellectual growth, but education among the common people had not changed. People on a whole were illiterate and not able to read the Bible. We find that monarchs, leading men/women of society, church leaders could make decisions that were even contrary to Biblical teaching, but the common people would not know what the Bible said and so who were they to confront the leadership on decisions that were made.

Eventually this ignorance allowed the monarchy to claim ultimate sovereignty over their land and impose laws and restrictions upon their people in the name of God. Some of the rulers, like James the First, used the “Divine Right of Kings” in a positive way to help the people, but most used it to push their own agenda and fortunes.

Theologically we know that no human being can have or obtain ultimate authority. Only God is truly sovereign. But when there is a lack of Biblical knowledge among the people this authority is not questioned. People assumed that the leaders were telling the truth.

One of the reasons for these weeklies is to look at history and see what we can learn from it. When I take a look at Western Civilization today I see where government has taken the “Divine Right of Kings.” It is not using that title, but the authority is there.

Here in the States we have what is known as “Eminent Domain” where land can be confiscated by the government if it can be used for, what they think might be, the common good.

We now are getting what we call “hate speech laws” where if we were to preach the whole truth of the Word of God some of it is now labeled “hate speech.” We see a ‘dummy-down syndrome’ in our education – especially here in the States – not only in Biblical knowledge, but also in knowledge of our own history and the principles that our country was built upon.

Western civilization (this includes the USA) is moving toward a system where a select elite group will rule and the rest are slaves. Let us learn from the past so that we will not repeat the mistakes in the future.

800 AD TO 1400 AD

Romans 1:18-19 “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.”

It is important to say something about the Crusades that took place during this time. They started in 1077 AD and continued for the next two centuries. Many mistakes were made on both sides, but I think it is important to understand that by the time of 3rd and 4th century Christianity had taken over much of the Holy Land as well as the Middle East.

By the 9th and 10th century, Islam, by force, had taken over these lands and much persecution had followed, and finally Christians in the West responded. It was a defense against Muslim imperialism.

Dr. Paul Johnson, an English historian said: “The Crusades, far from being an outrageous prototype of Western imperialism, as taught in most schools, were a mere episode in a struggle that lasted for 1400 years and were one of the few occasions when Christians took the offensive to regain occupied territories of the holy land.”

We must keep in mind that the lasting answer to the Muslim situation is not military war, but like John Calvin said: “Until the church finds the will and the heart to care for those lost souls bound in Islam with the hope of the gospel, we shall always be at peril.” We must have the heart and the sacrifice to send missionaries into that part of the world.

One of the reasons why Christianity is undefeatable is not because we have the more powerful weapons, but it is because we have the truth. The church is the depository of the truth that must be guarded at all cost. The truth spreads through acts of mercy and kindness, not by the Sword but by the Spirit and the Word of God – appealing to men and women to come back to the knowledge of God. Paul writing to the Romans told us that one of the main problems we have in the world today and why the world is like it is – is because men knowing the truth suppress the truth.

During this time we have several people – a new type of warrior was coming on the scene that seemed to have grasped something of what the cultural mandate is talking about in Genesis 1:28: “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’” One of these new warriors who came on the scene was Alfred the Great (whom I’ve already mentioned) who did the following in building the Western Civilization. He brought in the ‘Just War Theory’ that consisted of the following:

1. War as a last resort. 2. Waged against legitimate civil or individual authority. 3. Re-dressing a wrong suffered. 4. Reasonable chance of success. 5. Goal is peace. 6. Genocide of a population is prohibited. 7. Limited violence to noncombatants.

Also, Alfred the Great brought in the monogamous relationship in marriage. This elevated women, helped to teach children and began to bring in education, etc. We see the rise of the universities and other educational institutions.

Margaret, grand-daughter of Edmund King of England and daughter of Edgar the Aetheling who had been deposed by William I the Conqueror, was a devout Christian woman who reformed the Celtic church through her familiarity with Roman Christian practices and was sanctified as St. Margaret in 1250.

Margaret could have become the Queen of England, but had to flee when things turned against her and she fled by ship for Hungary. However, a severe storm came up and she landed in Scotland instead. Margaret met her future husband, Malcolm Canmore, when she was fleeing with her brother from William the Conqueror’s invading army in 1066. Their ship was wrecked on the Scottish coast.

She married Malcolm III King of Scotland in 1070. Malcolm was the son of King Duncan. Duncan had been killed by Macbeth, and Malcolm in turn defeated and killed Macbeth after living for some years in England. Malcolm had been married previously to Ingibjorg, the daughter of the Earl of Orkney.

Margaret, being a godly person became a leading voice for changes that affected the social as well as spiritual life of Scotland.

One other person that I would like to mention is John Wycliffe who translated the Bible into the English language. Not only did he translate the Bible into the English language, but he trained a group of men who were called “Lollards.” These men went throughout England preaching and teaching the Word of God. It is said that in 30 to 40 years 40% of England were followers of the Lollards.

Yes, this was a period of many turbulent attacks against the Kingdom of God, but it also shows what a few dedicated people can achieve who want to follow the truth.

CHRISTIANITY UNDER SEIGE 600-1400 AD

In 1348 the Black Death coming out of the East reached the shores of Italy and quickly spread throughout the rest of Europe. The bubonic plague had come and many people thought that this was a judgment from God because of their sins.

During this time, as well as with the onslaught of Islam into Europe, we had a problem with the church. Christianity had dominated Europe and had become accepted instead of persecuted. This brought about a certain peace and people’s devotion to the Lord began to wane. The church began to take on pagan characteristics.

We know from pagan rulers that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This began to happen to the church. Church was weak and did not have a strong theology for the kingdom of God.

The spirit of passivity began to set in. Not only did devotion to God and the things of God diminish, but God was taken for granted. The church had become powerful and wealthy. When the plague came the church reacted in several different ways. Some turned to God and prayed for salvation, some turned to debauchery and increased in sinful behavior with the attitude of ‘drink and be merry.” Superstition and scapegoats entered the scene. Religious fervor and fanaticism were some of the ways considered in dealing with the problem of the Black Death. Some even thought that the ringing of the church bells would drive the disease away.

Before this pandemic would runs its course almost ½ of Europe (about 25 million people) would be killed. Today that would be like two billion people. About this time was the start of what is known as the “flagellant movement.” These were people who traveled from town to town whipping themselves with leather thongs hoping to stay the ‘wrath of God.’ It could very well be that these people actually helped in spreading the disease.

People had looked upon the church as being all powerful, but now the reputation of the church declined because the priests as well as doctors did not know what to do. Although there were some doctors and priests who cared for the people unselfishly there were far more of those who left their post and those who had not contracted the deadly disease died. It is said that Pope Clement VI was forced to grant remissions of sins to all who died of the Black Death and allowed “confession” to be to one another and even to a woman.

Just from this one act one can see how the church was moving away from the Word of God. James tells us that we should confess our sins to one another and pray for one another that we might be healed. It would seem from this proclamation that Pope Clement VI and the Black Death was being used to bring people back to a more Biblical practice.

Several things with the church happened after the pandemic. First the new priests were more inexperienced and less educated than their predecessors which in turn led to a worse reputation of the church.

The church charged money for some of their services. The result was that the church became richer. So, because of the inadequacies of the new priests stepping in, the church not having any answers regarding the Black Death and the church becoming richer off her services, people started to question and even revolt against the church. This was actually laying the seeds for the reformation that was going to come.

The view on children had changed when the Black Death had run its course. Children were considered ‘not worth the trouble to raise’ and the birth rate dropped. It is said that it took almost 400 years to raise the population back to pre-Black Death figures.

Looking at this period of time one sees the need for right theology and a close walk with the Lord.

It is amazing to think that one tiny flea riding on the back of a rat changed the course of Europe – socially, economically, politically and religiously.

CHRISTIANITY UNDER SIEGE 600-1400 AD
Christianity as it was just beginning to take root in Europe, was attacked in three different ways: Vikings from the North, plague from the East and Islam from the South. I would like to take the next letters and look at these three attacks that came upon the kingdom of God and see what we can learn from them.

First, we have the Vikings from the North. A key figure in this is Alfred the Great who defeated Guthrum and his Viking armies in 878 A.D. Up until this time when one army defeated another army the five deadly sins were committed. What were they?

1. Human sacrifice.

2. Tyranny / worship of leaders

3. Enslaving or executing enemies

4. Rejection of God’s laws

5. Persecution of the believers

Alfred the Great gave to us what we now call “the just war theory.” He took the Ten Commandments and applied it to British Common Law. He is the one who said: “I need three types of men: men who can fight, men who can build, and men who can pray.” He went out to build Western civilization.

Alfred the Great, when he defeated Guthrum, did not do like other pagan kings did in the past to enslave and execute their enemies, but took Guthrum, brought him to Christianity, received baptism at the King’s own hands and was sent back to his own country. Alfred the Great went out to build Western civilization.

Alfred the Great was probably one of the best kings to rule England. He was just and moral. He brought a rebirth to religion; he advocated scholarly activity, brought about a code of laws. He had great military skills and the ability to inspire men. His testimony in brief was: “I desired to live worthily as long as I lived, and to leave after my life, to the men who should come after me, the memory of me in good works.”

Although King Alfred won many battles against the Vikings, the Almighty also allowed him to be harassed by the Vikings, to be sunk down in adversaries, be depressed by some of his followers so that he might learn that there is only one Lord and that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. It is a lesson that every leader needs to learn, but sadly few do learn that it is God who is in control. He is the One who sets up kings and takes them down. Apostle Paul said: “And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 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. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” Acts 17:25-27

We do not know for sure what religion Guthrum gave up, but we do know that some of them worshipped the one-eyed god of battle, called Odin, and the god, Thor, the hammer-wielding god of thunder. However, with the conversion of Guthrum to Christianity and along with German and Anglo-Saxon preachers – the kingdom of God was beginning to penetrate the men of the North, around 820’s onward.

Several things come out about Alfred the Great that are worth noting.

1. First, we see his piety towards his Maker.

2. Secondly, his devotion to learning and study. Whenever he had leisure time he would have books read to him. He, like Solomon, was a seeker after wisdom.

3. Thirdly, he believed that first things needed to come first. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

4. Fourthly, Alfred the Great surrounded himself with the right company to help him along the path of godliness and ruling justly. Werefrith, who was bishop of the church in Worcester and well versed in Scripture, Plegmund, the Archbishop of the church of Canterbury and a man of great wisdom, Etheistan and Werwulf, the king’s priests and chaplains, these were all godly men around Alfred. When he had free time he had them read books to him so that he might gain in knowledge and wisdom.

We need to pray and work towards seeing Godly leaders like this raised up in our day and age.

CHRISTIANITY UNDER SIEGE 600-1400 AD

In the beginning of the seventh century a new paganism was coming on the scene called “Islam.” The last 1400 years has been a “jihad” to force people into Islam, or die or become slaves. In the first fifty years of Islam, most of the Middle East and North Africa came under the influence of Islam.

Winston Churchill said: “How dreadful are the curses which Mohamedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. In improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist whereever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammed Law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.”

610 AD, Mohammad had a vision supposedly from the angel Gabriel. There is no history of a nation changing to Islam except by force. A century after Mohammed’s death, the lands of Islam, under Arab leadership, stretched from Spain in the west across North Africa and most of the modern Middle East into Central Asia and northern India.

732 AD Islam was taking over the Iberian Peninsula advancing to take over Europe and on their way to England. It must have been a fearful sight to see 80,000 warriors with their curved swords coming at you. When Islam was spreading throughout Europe we had a problem with the church. Theology is the basis of civilization. If we do not have a right understanding of who God is then it will hinder the spread of a right and just civilization.

Medieval Christianity was more of a wholesale rather than individual conversion. The conversion to Christianity came about through the command of the leaders or by political influence with alliances made with heathen princes and their Christian wives. In other words, people became Christian in name only, and not through a new birth as laid down by the apostles. Christianity became more traditional (as taught through the fathers, monks and pope) than Biblical. It was more a baptism of water than by the Holy Spirit and fire. The missionaries of the time were mainly monks of little education or limited education, but they often had great zeal and self denial.

However, in the midst of all of this the contrast between Christianity and Islam that was spreading mainly through force and the sword. Christianity came with persuasion. Often when the Apostle Paul went into the synagogue he reasoned, proved and persuaded the people. Christianity carried with it the promise of freedom, family life and building a just civilization.

Islam came with the sword and brought in polygamy, slavery, despotism and desolation. The moving power behind Christianity was love to God and man, but the moving power behind Islam is fanaticism and the sword. I have been able to travel to a hundred different countries and have found that Christianity finds a home among all nations and different groups of people.

Islam forcefully marched and took over the lands of the Bible, the Greek Church, it seized the throne of Constantine, overran Spain and crossed over the Pyrenees and even for a time threatened the Church of Rome and the German empire. The Crusades originated with the desire to from the followers of Mohammed the “holy lands.” In the ensuing years of slaughtering one another, a hatred built up and even today when missionaries go out from the West to the Muslim lands the Muslims bring up the Crusades, and so the answer to other religions was “the sword.” In the crusades we tried the same thing and failed.

However, there were blessings in disguise. The conquest of Constantinople (now Istanbul) drove Greek scholars with the Greek New Testament to Italy where there was a revival of letters which in turn helped pave the way for the Protestant Reformation.

Several lessons that we can learn from this are: 1. True essence of religion is love to God and to man. The church cannot allow this to be eaten out by hatred and strife. 2. Disunity in the Body of Christ opens the door for the enemy to come in to steal precious souls from the Kingdom of God. We must keep in mind Jesus’ last prayer in John 17. The jealously between the Greek and Latin Church made the Body of Christ weak and there was no defense against marauding hordes. 3. God can take something that was made for evil and turn it around for something good. Islam coming in destroyed idolatry and, I believe, paved the way for the ‘real Gospel.’ Communism in China destroyed the ancestor worship and opened the door to the Gospel.

God did say, regarding the church, that the “gates of Hades will not overcome it.”