Although of direct royal lineage, it is told that young Arthur was raised in secrecy by Merlin the Wizard, a great teacher. After the death of King Uther the absence of an heir resulted in a period of great dissent and instability. Merlin prophesied that whomever was able to draw out a majestic magical sword, called Excalibur, from a stone in which it was embedded, would be rightfully crowned the next king. Arthur fulfills this prophecy, and is propelled to seize his destiny by ascending the English throne, thus giving rise to an unprecedented golden age of prosperity and culture, fueled by values of knightly courtesy and heroic deeds. These were glorious times of chivalry, when Knights and Ladies are said to have devoted themselves to express noble virtues such as loyalty, self-control, generosity, compassion, mercy, justice, and honor. The age of Camelot.
Even in our myths, we discern the importance of honor, ethics, and a life dedicated to serving others. For instance, history books and fairy tales alike, paint a vivid picture of a Knight in King Arthur's court, dressed in shining armor, atop a handsome white horse. A model of aesthetics and decorum, expert in the arts of combat, and a master of his sword, a Knight’s primary duty required him to protect the kingdom’s subject against all injustice. His presence is found in a wide array of ancient mythological traditions, and suggests a persistent inner state of battle, in which the Knight first dedicates himself to continuously defeat his own internal enemies, his many vices, before he can emerge victorious from an external battle.
The Bible speaks to this same type of inner warfare that all believers engage in on a daily basis. In the book of James we see this verse, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Or how about this verse from 1 Peter, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." And finally from the book of Romans, "The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so." The only conclusion we can draw from these teachings is that we are powerless to submit properly to God if we fail to govern our flesh daily. Just like the Knights of Camelot, without first dedicating ourselves to properly fighting our inner battle, we are helpless to live a life of victory in the world.
I would submit, to our discredit, that this teaching is judged by most to be quaint, at its best, and foolish at its worst in our contemporary world. We see this manifested each day in our desire to fulfill our own selfish desires, and in the injustices to those who possess less power or influence than ourselves. So how do we change our world and how we treat our fellow humans?
King Arthur’s court comprised of legendary Knights and Ladies who set off on heroic missions, sometimes requiring brute masculine strength, and sometimes involving finer feminine sensitivities. Conquests and achievements at these missions are a source of great inspiration for us, however, we might easily be captivated by their glamour and dream about victory, and fantasize mighty achievements. Though it is possible that our individual destinies might yield such victories, for most of us this will not be our destiny. But it is only wishful thinking if in reality we shy away from, or are defeated by, our own daily challenges. We may dream about solving world hunger, but are too lazy to fill even a glass of water for ourselves. We may imagine a country governed by an ethical leader, but are too weak to stand up against a bullying hooligan. A hero’s heroism depends not on the glory of his destiny, but on his overcoming humble challenges on a daily basis, that direct his destiny towards glory. In that sense, one might say that a true Knight or Lady, is most defined by his nobility. Just as a noble metal such as gold resists oxidation, and is able to consistently maintain its shining allure, so too a true nobleman’s, or noblewoman’s, actions are said to remain always heroically untarnished.
Jesus taught us that without a priority of loving God first, and then others as we love ourselves, the Kingdom of God will not become a reality in our world. Without a proper worldview, we will never be able to govern our own lives, not to mention having a godly impact on those around us. To bring the Kingdom of God to our own world, we must first commit to fighting our inner battles before we can apply ourselves to the challenges of this world. One precedes the other, and there can be no Camelot without the impact of Knights who lived lives committed to the code of honor and justice.
