Every Sabbath, the Jewish people attending synagogue in Britain sing the National Anthem: “God save the King”. It is something that doesn’t even happen in most UK churches. But which God are the Jewish people referring to? The answer is the God of Israel; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the One True God, “The Lord, the King of Israel and the One Who saves and frees from sin, the Lord of All.” He is the One who says, “I am the first and I am the last. There is no God besides Me.” (Isaiah 44:6). Christians and Jews stand together in that we worship the same God of the Bible.
This week, Buckingham Palace published an updated description of King Charles III’s role, including “protecting the space for faith within the multi-faith nation.” King Charles is the constitutional head of the Church of England, who swore an oath upon his coronation to be a “Defender of the Faith” – the Christian faith.
We can say that Britain is founded on Judeo-Christian values because Christians and Jews share Biblical virtues that have helped shape our constitutional framework and law. In fact, Christian values cannot be understood apart from their roots in Judaism. Christianity isn’t simply deeply rooted in our heritage – it made Britain. And we must never forget the Jewish roots of our faith, and in turn our nation built upon it.
This isn’t simply about tradition and nostalgia; it is about the British throne humbly submitting to the rule and authority that belong ultimately to the King of kings, the Defender of Israel, the One who raises up kings and removes kings (Dan 2:21); who raises up a nation and then removes it (Job 12:23).
“Kings shall see and arise,
Princes also shall worship,
Because of the Lord who is faithful,
The Holy One of Israel;
And He has chosen You.”
(Isaiah 49:7)
This is the model that Britain embraced on its pathway to nationhood. Yes, imperfect at times, but a vision inspired by the kings of Israel and her special place before God: “Bring me my chariot of fire! I will not cease from mental fight, nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, till we have built Jerusalem in England’s green and pleasant land”.
Some will portray King Charles’s new description as simply being accommodating to other religions. But this misunderstands Biblical Christianity itself.
Countries shaped by a Judeo-Christian heritage have often been among the strongest defenders of religious freedom. Britain is no exception: it is one of the world’s most tolerant nations when it comes to “protecting the space for faith.” By implication, King Charles’s new role definition suggests that defending Christianity alone is somewhat insufficient in fulfilling that commitment.
Let’s be clear: people of all faiths should be safe and free to practise their beliefs. But religious liberty does not require Christians to pretend that all faiths are theologically compatible with the Bible. Some faiths – for example, Islam – are in direct conflict with what the Bible says.
And this leads to perhaps the most significant point: Christianity needs defending; the Bible needs defending; the Church needs defending; our Judeo-Christian values need defending. By “defending”, it means upholding them faithfully, preserving them publicly, and shielding them from those who want them destroyed.
This is why King Charles’s mandate is to be “Defender of the Faith” still matters. So our prayer request this week is simple: “God save the King.”
