“And I heard as it were the voice of a
great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty
thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”—
Revelation 19:6
As autumn draws to a close, the Church
turns her attention to one of the great truths of the Christian faith: Jesus
Christ is King. In my beloved Anglican tradition, we close out the Liturgical
year with the Feast of Christ the King, which fell this year on October 25. The
Feast of Christ the King celebrates the sovereign lordship of our Saviour over
all creation and reminds us that every earthly authority, every human ambition,
and every duty must ultimately be measured against His authority.
Our Lord declared before Pontius Pilate,
“To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I
should bear witness unto the truth” (John 18:37). Yet Christ’s kingdom is “not
of this world.” He did not come to reign through worldly vanity, but according
to truth, righteousness, sacrifice, and the willing obedience of His people.
Our Lord’s last earthly words to His disciples on the day of His Ascension into
Heaven began with “All authority is given me in heaven and on earth.” Christ is
not going to be King, nor has He been a King. He is King, now. And will be
throughout eternity.
For the Christian man, this feast
presents a question that cannot be avoided: If Christ is our King, are we
living as His faithful subjects?
Scripture leaves little room for
misunderstanding. Christ commands, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John
14:15). The Christian life is not merely a matter of professing belief,
attending church, or identifying with a Christian heritage. It requires
obedience. A man must seek to govern himself before presuming to govern others.
He must practice honesty when dishonesty would profit him, exercise restraint
when anger tempts him, and stand for what is right when doing so carries a
cost.
The Christian man’s first duty is
fidelity to Christ. From that allegiance flow his duties to his wife and
children, his neighbors, his community, and his country. He is called to
protect those entrusted to his care, to provide for his household, to speak
truthfully, to keep his word, and to serve others without demanding
recognition. These are not signs of weakness, but marks of Christian character.
Our Lord Himself taught that greatness is
found in service. The King of Kings washed His disciples’ feet, endured the
Cross, and laid down His life for the salvation of sinners. Christian manhood
must therefore be distinguished from mere pride, domination, or the pursuit of
worldly honor. True strength is governed by righteousness; true courage is
disciplined by charity; and true dominion embraces responsibility for the
welfare of others.
This lesson is especially fitting for
those of us who seek to preserve the memory of our forefathers and the history
of our Southern communities. We should honor courage, sacrifice, duty, and
fidelity wherever they are found. But our highest allegiance cannot belong to
an ancestor, a nation, a cause, or a tradition. It belongs to Jesus Christ. Our
heritage is best preserved when we approach it with honesty, humility, and a
willingness to judge our own conduct by the same Christian standards we
profess. Indeed, to do this is to follow in the very footsteps of the
forefathers we revere, who shared the firm conviction that service to one’s
people, in the mold of Christ our King, is the highest mark of an honorable
Man.
The Apostle Paul exhorts us, “Watch ye,
stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be
done with charity” (1 Corinthians 16:13–14). Here is a worthy rule for
Christian manhood: stand firm in the faith, act with courage, and let charity
govern all that you do.
As this year draws to its close, each of
us examine his conscience. Do our words honor our King? Do our actions reflect
His commandments? Are we faithful husbands, fathers, friends, and neighbors? Do
we seek justice, practice mercy, and walk humbly before God?
Earthly honors fade. Generations pass.
Nations rise and fall. But the reign of Christ endures, and every man will one
day answer to Him.
May we therefore strive to be faithful
subjects of our heavenly King: steadfast in faith, courageous in duty, humble
in spirit, and charitable toward our fellow men. May we order our lives so
that, when our earthly service is finished, we may hear those blessed words of
our Lord: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).
And may Christ our King rule in our
hearts, strengthen our families, guide our chapter, and grant us grace to
follow Him faithfully all the days of our lives.
Deo Vindice!
No comments:
Post a Comment