Continuing our celebration of Magna Carta 800, Anthony Busk opens up the story behind the charter's Godly principles, and asks what they mean for us today...
Celebrating 800 Years of Freedom
On 15 June 1215, in a meadow near Windsor, King John had to accept the demands of strife-weary earls and barons, and bring in political reform. It was not an amicable meeting. The king was autocratic and used to overriding justice with lawless, arbitrary judgements. Heavy taxation to pay for his wars in Europe, plus a legacy of debt left by his brother Richard (the 'Lionheart'), were threatening civil war.
King John had also interfered with Church elections by refusing to accept the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton (1150-1228). Instead, he wanted a man more amenable towards his own conduct. This had incurred the wrath of the Church of Rome which, by the 13th Century, claimed to be the supreme monarch over all Christendom- including kings and emperors.
The papal assertion of absolute authority led to power struggles across Western Europe. But there were theologians who disputed it. John of Canterbury (1162-1181) believed there was a biblical basis for a monarch to have direct accountability before God in his own right (Rom 13:1; 1 Pet 2:13-14). John was followed by Stephen Langton, who also concluded that kings should lead a nation in the fear of God. In Langton's view, the Church's role must be limited to providing godly advice, based on the Scriptures –but not political involvement. His attitude would have great significance for the future progress of Magna Carta.
The Legacy of Stephen Langton
When Stephen Langton was eventually accepted as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1213, one of his first acts was to rally the nation's disillusioned barons, leading them in pressuring King John to seal Magna Carta. This limited his powers and provided measures of protection for the English people.
Stephen influenced Magna Carta as both as a peacemaker and an intermediary. For instance, an earlier list of demands to the king from the earls and barons was entirely secular. Stephen's influence meant that the preface to the final draft now commenced: 'Know that before God, for the health of our souls...' It also included the phrase: 'at the advice of our reverend fathers Stephen, Archbishop of Canterbury...': the Church was not imposing but advising.
Thanks to Stephen Langton, Magna Carta was re-drafted from an entirely secular document into one infused with reverence for God."
This complemented Magna Carta's assertion that the monarch, as the secular authority, must respect that the Church is to be free from political interference- a very important guide for the future. This principle became accepted within Parliament during the Reformation, with the ascendency of the Church of England, and was eventually granted in law to all Christian denominations.
Christian Wisdom
Thanks to Stephen Langton's influence, Christian wisdom permeated Magna Carta's principles. As these principles became enshrined in English law, government and culture, so Godly values came to underpin the nation.
For instance, through his studies of Scripture, Langton developed the principle of 'due process', where someone cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards. This appears in several of Magna Carta's 'chapters'. Ch 39 reads:
No man is to be arrested, or imprisoned, or disseised (fined) or outlawed, or exiled, or in any way destroyed, nor will we go against him, save by the lawful judgement of his peers, or by the loss of the land.
This is the principle which led to the present day trial by jury. Addressing the vexatious approach by the king to tax with impunity, chapter 12 also points towards a future Parliament of the people: 'No 'scutage' or 'aid' may be levied in our kingdom without its general consent...' To assess tax levels there would be individual summons by letter of the good and the great 'to come together on a fixed day (of which at least forty days notice should be given) and at a fixed place...' (Ch 14).
The Role of Scripture
Magna Carta's strength down the centuries has lain in its application of Scripture, particularly the Old Testament. Stephen Langton believed that Scripture contained good principles of law that were applicable within any culture– not only Israel. For example, to reduce theft:
Neither we nor any royal official will take wood for our castle, or for any other purpose, without the consent of the owner (Ch 31/Deut 5:19).
False weights and measures were also condemned:
There shall be one measure of wine throughout all our kingdom...and one measure of corn; and one width of tinted clothes...Moreover for weights it is to be as for measures (Ch 35/Deut 25:13-15).
Magna Carta's strength through the centuries has lain in its application of Scripture."
In Jeremiah 18, we find an explicit illustration of the universal principles of God's governance:
The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in my sight, so that it does not obey my voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it (v10).
Here, we find the defining of behaviour as evil or good, which in turn requires a fabric of 'legal' guidance (given in the Ten Commandments). It also makes clear that Almighty God does reveal himself, and if there is no response to his merciful warnings, the nation will break down.
One may summarise this as whether a country – especially its leadership – has a true fear of God, or has contempt for his laws. Romans 1 and 2 demonstrate in New Testament times that there is a 'common law' for all humanity, which when ignored provokes the wrath of God.
Challenges Today
Through Magna Carta, many biblical teachings have become legally embedded within British culture, becoming the law 'common to all'. Today, its legal message and social implications are still highly significant. This year, both the Law Society and the Bar have claimed that the Charter underpins the Rule of Law in England and Wales.1 They quote Lord Denning, who described it as:
the greatest constitutional document of all times –the foundation of the freedom of the individual against the arbitrary authority of the despot.
In today's culture, however, Magna Carta's principle of the rule of law is being undermined, because the objective template of law itself is being denied. Centuries of commonly-held Judeo-Christian principles, enriched through the influence of Scripture embedded heroically over the years by our forefathers, are being stripped away as a medieval anachronism.
Today Magna Carta's principle of the rule of law is being undermined, as the foundation stones of right and wrong are being replaced with the shifting sands of personal feelings and the barometer of being offended."
The foundation stones of right and wrong are being replaced with the shifting sands of personal feelings, and the barometer of being offended. The legal grounds to determine righteousness from unrighteousness are becoming transient. Justice can now be dependent on where the judge sits within a cacophony of shifting equality and human rights themes. The Church, its institutions and doctrines are under attack because the rule of law, which formerly gave it protection, is itself struggling.
Lessons to Apply
What are the lessons of Magna Carta? Perhaps most important is for the secular authority to recognise it is directly under a higher authority, and must never gravitate into a dictatorship, impervious to the laws of God and arbitrary in judgement. This is precisely summarised in prayers held prior to the sittings of both the Lords and the Commons. The latter includes the words:
Lord, the God of all righteousness and truth, grant to our Queen and her government, to Members of Parliament and all in positions of responsibility, the guidance of your Spirit. May they never lead the nation wrongly through love of power, desire to please, or unworthy ideals...Amen.2
Another message is the freedom of the Church, which must protect its integrity and independence from State interference. However, it also has responsibilities towards the State. It must persistently assert the responsibility of politicians and their hierarchy of civil servants to recognise God's sovereignty over nations. The Church must pray hard and speak up, to provide an anchor of righteousness of which politicians and civil servants can grasp hold.
Magna Carta not only affirms the Church's need for freedom from state interference; it also reminds us that the Church has responsibilities: to pray hard, speak up and provide an anchor of righteousness for the nation."
If we abandon Judeo-Christian values, there will be consequences. "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Pro 14:34).
Jehovah Nissi
The Church, the people of God redeemed through Christ's sacrifice, has a duty to both teach and encourage those who rule. It was God-fearing Christians 800 years ago who laid down the foundations of our democracy. There is a requirement for this generation to follow their example. New, Holy Spirit-breathed initiatives are required to assist MPs and others in authority to maintain and develop laws relevant to our culture. Individual Christians and churches also need to recognise the great importance of prayer for both national and local government. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 is very clear on this matter.
It is true that radical groups, not fearing the true God, have infiltrated politics at a high level, and are wreaking havoc upon the young and vulnerable. It is also true that through a gross distortion of the biblical principles of equality and respect, the fabric of law and order is being undermined. Unchecked this will lead to anarchy. However, a casual study of history demonstrates that no brutal assault is impossible to conquer, though it may seem it at the time.
800 years go, God-fearing Christians helped lay the foundations of our democracy. This generation must follow their example- we are the living Church for today."
We are the living Church for today, the infantry God wishes to use. His role has not changed, but remains Jehovah Nissi – 'the Lord is our banner'! Christians must follow our forefathers' example, engaging with a broken world, co-operating with the Holy Spirit and particularly blessing those in governance.
About the author: Anthony Busk has a background in ministry and a keen interest in the relationship between the Church and secular government. Through his own journey from secularism to whole-hearted commitment to the authority of Scripture, Anthony is overwhelmed by the real love and compassion Jesus has for a broken world, and of our need to press forward despite the darkness - proclaiming righteousness and reconciliation with God through the empty cross.
References
1 Caplen, A and MacDonald, A, 2014. Magna Carta: The Foundation of Freedom 1215-2015. Joint Law Society/Bar Council Special Edition, Third Millennium Publishing.
