When in the Course of human events...

It has been a long time since Thomas Jefferson wrote those words. Two wars were fought against Great Britain to insure that the former colonies would remain free of the rule and interference of King George III. Ancestors of mine fought against George’s tyranny in both of them. I would think that my Revolutionary fathers would scoff at the current American fascination with the House of Windsor (as they would no doubt be repulsed by many facets of current American life, while being amazed at our technological advances).

I have a friend who is also descended from Colonialists. When my wife and I were going on a trip to Europe some years ago, I asked him if he ever wanted to go there. He said, “My family got on those boats a long time ago, and we haven’t looked back since.” I though that was a good sentiment.

With the death, funeral, and committal of the Commonwealth’s Queen, a good amount of American time has been spent discussing her legacy, the salacious lives of her progeny, and the future of that monarchy. Several days now after the funeral, American news media are still talking about the Windsors; they are hard to avoid. As far as I am concerned, those political bands, having been dissolved a long time ago, should remain so, we have enough matters to attend to with the ruling class in our Republic. Here we should note that Lutherans are not against monarchy, in fact, we thank God for Princes and Kings who truly did defend the faith - Frederick the Wise, John the Steadfast, John Frederick the Magnanimous, and Gustavus Adolphus, to name just a few. While the late Queen seems to have been a pious Christian, any objective view of the state of Christianity in her realms, shows that the defense of the faith during her reign was lacking. We should weep with those who weep, and hope that the promises of her baptism give comfort to those who mourn her. But again, I’ll keep my focus on the faith proclaimed and defended (or not) closer to home, as well as the multitude of issues that we Americans must deal with on these shores. However…

There seems to have been much interest not just amongst the liturgically minded Lutherans, but also amongst the general populace, regarding the funeral rites of the former Queen. Here is where we must truly beware and rightly confess.

The Church of England, though built on divorce, has churches, chapels, Abbeys, cathedrals, music, and of course rites of such great beauty, dedicated to the True and living God, that even the hardest-hearted, patriotic, American Lutheran cannot help but be filled with awe and thanksgiving when seeing or hearing them. Of course many of those buildings were built long before the Reformation, so we can claim them as part of our own heritage as members of the church catholic. Here we must remember that the buildings are only as good as what is preached in them. Without sound doctrine, without the Scriptures as the source and norm, they are nothing but beautiful sepulchers. Students of the sainted Dr. Louis Brighton will remember him saying the same thing about Concordia Seminary’s campus. How if the Word of God were removed from it, the Seminary would be nothing other than a pagan museum, and he was sure that it would be one day! Vestments, as beautiful as they might be, cannot cover up pernicious doctrine. Rites are only as good as what they confess and to whom they draw people; to Christ’s truth or not, to Christ or not.

Christians must discern whether or not the Church of England, or any church, especially those who in word subscribe to the Augsburg Confession, is faithfully preaching and teaching the truth. Christians must not be fooled by ritual, vestments, pomp, or show. Christians must always be concerned and discern what is underneath such things - are they the doctrines of men? Do they reject the very Scripture that is the true foundation of the Holy Church? Are rites and usages of the Church grounded and centered in the pure and clear fountain of Israel? “We believe, teach, and confess that the sole rule and standard according to which all dogmas together with [all] teachers should be estimated and judged are the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and of the New Testament alone, as it is written Ps. 119:105: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. And St. Paul: Though an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you, let him be accursed, Gal. 1:8.” Formula, Epitome, Summary 1.

Let us never forget this. Let us not be tempted to go swimming the Thames, the Tiber, or the Bosphorus (and whatever river would be crossed into Evangelicalism or Progressive “Christianity”). Let us worship our King Jesus in sincerity and truth, hold to His Word, and confess Him as our only true Lord and Master.