The subject of imperialism has been reverberating across public consciousness for several years, but the discussion could no longer be ignored or suppressed when Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022.
Even though the Queen is unmatched in her cultural significance and impact — an incredible force to be reckoned with — there is one aspect of her reign that we must reckon with.
It is not a secret that England has a torrid history of colonialism and imperialism. Throughout its history, it dominated most of the known world and was incomparable in its power and influence — mostly stemming from the highest power, the monarchy itself.
When Queen Elizabeth was coronated in 1953, the crown did not hold the power it once did, as the United Kingdom is and was a constitutional monarchy and legislation resides only with elected parliament representatives.
According to Time, “Until her death, Queen Elizabeth II was the monarch of 15 countries in the Commonwealth that are home to around 150 million people. The U.K. also currently holds an additional 14 overseas territories that are home to another 300,000 people.”
Although the Sovereign has no power within government, the Royal Family still has some amount of power, influence, and cultural sway.
So, even though the Royal Family and the United Kingdom no longer tolerate slavery, forced culture and education, violent suppression, and the depletion of resources at the expense of people, what is the Commonwealth and the inclusion of royal visits really saying?
As we ask these questions about a nation that is also a part of Christian history, how can we reconcile the spread of Christianity within the mechanism of imperialism and all that it entailed?
The Spread of Christianity
The changing of hands that Christianity went through after Christ’s ascension is quite fascinating. As Scripture tells us, the gospel was given to the Jews then the Gentiles, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16).
As a rudimentary history lesson, the gospel was introduced to the Greeks, and most of Mesopotamia as the apostles followed Jesus’ instruction to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
At first, the Roman Empire was a persecutor of Christians, but once the gospel reached Constantine I, Christianity spread far and wide along with the Roman conquest — it took the strongest hold in the Western World.
According to Richard Sharpe in "Martyrs and Local Saints in Late Antique Britain,”
“Archaeologists tend toward the view that this transition from Romano-British to Anglo-Saxon culture was piecemeal and gradual, rather than the result of a sudden conquest. Textual sources suggest that the Christian communities established in the Roman province survived in Western Britain during the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries.”
Although the Roman Empire fell, its power and influence over Britain did not end. As Rome became the world capital of Christianity — the Roman Catholic Church — Christianity evolved from a life dedicated to Christ to an organized, political, and powerful entity.
The Roman Catholic Church no longer just spread Christ’s love through the gospel message, helping people to see a life that is lived through God’s Word, but a powerful player in world governments, royalty, and conquest.
As Christianity took on the title of powerful nations, it has become forever tied with the ideologies and actions of those nations — for better or worse.
Since Britain identified itself as a Christian nation, the name of Christ went with them as the British Empire conquered nation after nation, claiming people, land, and resources as their own no matter the cost.
Even if an individual who went and explored and conquered did not have a personal relationship with Christ, they were still under the umbrella of the British Empire — a Christian nation.
According to Merriam-Webster, imperialism is “the policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation, especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas.”
One of the more insidious forms that imperialism or colonialism took was disguising its real intent of power, acquiring slaves, depleting resources through brutal force and violence, and insisting that it was for their moral good and betterment.
As seen through the definition of imperialism, the power of one nation over another included control over every area of life. This included enforcing their nation’s religion and educational practices onto the conquered nation.
So, how do we reconcile that Christianity was spread through the mechanism of imperialism that upheld force and moral superiority?
Christ’s Love Vs. Imperialism
The Christian faith and salvation are extremely personal as it is between the heart of an individual and the Lord. Once that salvation is given to the individual who asks, then there is a place for them to experience worship and the support of other believers. This was the purpose of the Church (Matthew 16:18).
However, biblical corporate worship and the community of Christianity became skewed into political and governmental authority.
The Bible has much to say about this and how God’s glory and purpose will always win out over the plans of man.
1. Wolves in sheep’s clothing. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15).
Some used the guise of missionary work to fulfill imperialistic rule, whereas some worked within the broken system to spread the gospel. This is why Jesus warns us of these wolves dressed as sheep — to know the genuine sheep who follow him.
2. Oppression of the poor. “Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty” (Proverbs 22:16).
The Bible has so many verses about defending the oppressed (Psalm 72:4), comforting the broken in spirit (Psalm 34:18), and seeking justice for the fatherless and the widow (Isaiah 1:17).
3. Slavery. The Bible has a bit to say about slavery as it was an accepted practice in various cultures throughout the Bible’s history, but Scripture’s message was radical for the time.
Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death (Exodus 21:16).
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God (1 Peter 2:16).
4. Blessed are the meek. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:5-7).
What these “Christian” nations did within imperialism was in direct contrast with what Scripture says about the meek and the humble. They will receive much more in eternity than the conquerors did on earth.
God Can Use Evil for Good
The history of God’s people in the Bible has always been one of oppression: they were slaves in Egypt for hundreds of years, they were taken captive and were in exile in Babylon for 70 years, and they were under the Roman Empire so long that they believed and prayed that the Messiah would come as a warrior to free them from this oppression.
It was only in the last 800 years that those who called themselves Christians were the dominating power. However, those who became Christians under imperial rule were then the oppressed and sought the Lord just as the Israelites thousands of years before.
So, how can we justify those who came to Christ or were forced to come to Christ through imperialism, colonialism, and oppression?
I can’t answer that with certainty, but what kept playing in my mind was the words of Joseph to his brothers in Genesis, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20).
We can’t change history or the decisions that were made in spreading the gospel within the patchwork of imperialism. However, we can learn, listen, and understand the voices that were directly impacted and do what we can to make the future better by showing Jesus’ true intentions in what it means to be a loving Christian.
For further reading:
How Can Christians Justify Mission Work and Colonialism?
4 Surprising Things to Know about Philemon
A Lifetime with the Queen: The Defender of the Faith
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/tomertu
Molly Law is the Editor of C.com. She has a Master of Arts in Publishing Studies from the University of Stirling, UK, where she studied and lived for a year in Scotland. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English Professional Writing from Gardner-Webb University. Her editorial career includes Senior Editor of a bimonthly magazine for the nonprofit ACA and Editorial Assistant at Luath Press in Edinburgh, UK. She enjoys reading 18th-century British Literature, creative writing, and traveling.
