In this modern era, political unity is required more than anything and we, as Christians, can trace this unity back to the divine-right to rule in the First Book of Samuel (1 Samuel). The divine right of Kings is nothing new to any peoples of the Earth, and through this book we are shown yet again that the anointing of David sets in motion a chain of events that we each are called to adhere to as Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians. It is in this tradition that we find our unity against the modern calls for rampant individualism where nobody is responsible to anyone other than themselves.
Anointed, not appointed. A Christian monarch is destined to lead, it is their burden to bear for the rest of man. A pact exclusively with God through blood and their subjects, and this is not to say it comes without its faults. For Christ meant for us to struggle along our way (one could say it is what brings us closest to him). The Catholic doctrine of the “Two Swords”, as explained by Pope Boniface VIII, summarizes the relation between the Church and the State as intended by Christ quite well:
And we are taught by evangelical words that in this power of his are two swords, namely spiritual and temporal. Therefore, each is in the power of the Church, that is, a spiritual and a material sword. But the latter, indeed, must be exercised for the Church, the former by the Church. The former (by the hand) of the priest, the latter by the hand of kings and soldiers, but at the will and sufferance of the priest. For it is necessary that a sword be under a sword and that temporal authority be subject to spiritual power. It is necessary that we confess the more clearly that spiritual power precedes any earthly power both in dignity and nobility, as spiritual matters themselves excel the temporal. For, as truth testifies, spiritual power has to establish earthly power, and to judge if it was not good. Therefore, if earthly power deviates, it will be judged by spiritual power; but if a lesser spiritual deviates, by its superior; but if the supreme (spiritual power deviates), it can be judged by God alone, not by man, as the Apostle testifies: "The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is judged by no one.
Unfortunately, due to various events throughout our history (relating mostly to Western Christians) we have found ourselves in a belief system that we as individuals are the center of the universe and have lost touch with what Pope Boniface VIII said above, no longer seeking the approval of each “sword” before we act, but only the approval of our individual feelings, and we try to justify this through our democratic governments (when in reality even the democratic governments found in Greece in antiquity as well as the Italian Republics in the Renaissance were just Oligarchies ran by Nobility). Yet is interesting to note that within our democratic governments of the West, we still elect a President or Prime Minister and we still are called to God with our natural need and want to be under the rule of a single person. However, we have removed Christ’s role from this, there is no coronation, no anointing, as was done to King David, only man bestowing this responsibility upon man.
If we refer to Romans 13:1-7, Saint Peter says:
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Keep in mind at this time the Emperor of Rome was not of the Christian faith, and actively persecuted Christians but just as Christ said in Matthew 22:15-22:
Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You are not swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s." When they heard this, they were amazed. So, they left him and went away.
Through these passages we see The Doctrine of the Two Swords being fulfilled, and this is not a belief held specific to a single denomination, it is found alongside the Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians, reaffirmed in the writings of Martin Luther and the works of Tsar Peter the Great. From the perspective of a traditional Christian, we recognize the call to Monarchy as intended by Christ and the rejection of a democratic government. But as once stated, nothing on this Earth is done without struggle and sacrifice, it is what God meant for man. So, one could argue the fact we have seen monarchs degrade and persecute their people throughout our history, what shall we do then? Well, we see the answers to this within the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, “When there is no recourse to a superior by whom judgment can be made about an invader, then he who slays a tyrant to liberate his fatherland is to be praised and receives a reward.
We must keep an eye constantly on the next life since attaining it is our goal in this life. Our society should be ordered around this goal, and that is best achieved through a Monarchy that ordains its rulers under God and whose rulers acknowledge that their authority comes from the Lord God.