God Save the King

Queen Elizabeth II died on Sept. 8 at the age of 96. She had reigned as queen for 70 years. Although several monarchies still exist, the British royal family is easily the most famous and most watched royal family. Some rightly criticize the existence of monarchies, especially in countries where they have reduced power and elected officials. Yet, the families endure. And the fascination with monarchs and royalty continues. An estimated four billion people will tune in to watch the queen’s funeral tomorrow—a funeral procession and long Anglican church service doesn’t sound like record-breaking television, but we flock to the solemn pageantry.

All the pomp and pageantry makes sense when it’s for someone beloved, when it marks stability, order, tradition. We are sad, but we are safe, it says. We mourn, but all will be well. This has happened before, and we know what to do.

I think in general people want a monarch, a caring custodian who makes right and just decisions, guides our endeavors, and protects us from our enemies. But power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. There are no benevolent dictators. The people have risen up against rulers again and again due to abuse of power and corruption. Even democracy becomes tainted by nepotism, oligarchs, and lobbyist bribes. We create systems and checks and balances to try to fight against the corruption of power. But we hold onto this idea that a good leader can emerge, that a good leader will make everything alright and bring out the best in us. We want a leader worth following.

Many don’t remember any other ruler on the British throne. Elizabeth was the monarchy. She was well-beloved, grandmotherly. She was proper and above scandal (even when those closest to her weren’t). She was what we want in a leader, one of those people who seemed above it all, wise and in control. All the pomp and pageantry makes sense when it’s for someone beloved, when it marks stability, order, tradition. We are sad, but we are safe, it says. We mourn, but all will be well. This has happened before, and we know what to do.

When someone comes along that appears to genuinely care and duty more than wealth and power, we laud her. We cling to her, carve her likeness in stone, mythologize her to serve as an example in the future. Washington, Lincoln, Churchill: flawed individuals but heralded. The legend, the hagiography, tells us good leaders can exist. So we hope. We look for the worthy. In our best days, we demand it, and leaders face just consequences for failing us.

When a good leader dies, the mourn both the person and the legend. Will someone of equal virtue step up? Will our next leader be good or bad? Was our security tied up with a larger-than-life, too-good-to-be-true figure? The pageantry comforts us, but is it true demonstration or illusion?

When we say Christ is king, we done mean another national monarch like our earthly kings, or presidents, or mayors. Christ is that monarch we want, the one who carefully oversees his land and people, who would sacrifice himself for our good, who seeks our wellness and decries accumulating wealth, and who dispenses true justice and maintains peace. So, we proclaim “Christ is king."