WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT BRITAIN [*Essays*]
Britain is a European country (of course, you know that). It is in Western Europe, and kind of separated, geographically, from continental Europe (which consists of the rest of Western Europe as well as Eastern Europe). In fact, Britain is also known, together with the little islands around it, as the British Isles. To all practical intents and purposes, it is, therefore, an island apart from continental Europe.
Britain (though a country) is actually composed of three countries (nations) - - England, with its capital in London; Scotland, with its capital in Edinburgh; and Wales, with its capital in Cardiff. England has its English people (an ethnic group, just like our Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa) speaking English language. Scotland has its Scottish people (otherwise known as Scots) speaking their Scottish language; while Wales has its Welsh people speaking their Welsh language. These are three distinct countries (nations), each with its own laws, identities, etc., but which by some arrangement, also make up ONE COUNTRY. It's quite an enigma. In football, for instance, they compete as England, Scotland, Wales (three different countries), and, depending on how they perform in the preliminaries, they may all end up in the final 32 for any World Cup competition. However, during the Olympic Games, they go as ONE country - - GREAT BRITAIN. That means that, while medals are being won by Great Britain in athletics, etc., medals can be won by England, Wales or Scotland in the football event of the same Olympic Games! (Smart people, don't you think?)
London serves as both the capital of England, as well as the capital of Great Britain. The flag of England, for instance, is a red cross on a white background (you can see that flag on display whenever England is playing in any FIFA-related competition), whereas the flag of the entire Great Britain is the famous Union Jack.
Also, although, like I said, they are three different countries each with its own laws, yet they share a common government and Parliament which we all know as the British government/parliament, under the Headship of the Prime Minister of Britain.
At the level of the monarchy (of which, currently, Queen Elizabeth II is the monarch), the Queen/King (depending on the gender of the monarch) of England is also the King/Queen of Great Britain.
You would think it ends there, but NO! To the left-hand-side (Western side) of Britain is another country, Ireland (which also is an island), with its Irish people speaking their Irish language. However, the northern part of Ireland does not, politically, share the same "nationhood" with the rest of their ethnic kinsmen of Ireland. Rather, Northern Ireland is in league with Great Britain, forming what is known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (simply known as the United Kingdom, or UK.) Thus, London is the capital of England (the English people), as well as the capital of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), and the capital of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Similarly, the Queen (or King, as the case may be) of England is also the Queen/King of Great Britain; and also of the United Kingdom. Thus, while England comprises only one (major) ethnic group - - the English; Britain consists of three major ethnic groups - - the English, the Scots, and the Welsh; while the United Kingdom (UK) consists of four ethnic groups - - the English, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish of Northern Ireland.
Now, a major thing that people may not know about this country (whether you now call it England, Britain or UK, becomes irrelevant), is that, at the monarchical level, Britain is a "christian" country. I don't mean that the people are "christians," in the ordinary sense of that word. I mean that, Britain, as a country, has an "IDOL" - - an "official" God that they worship, and to whom they give their obeisance as a country, (though not necessarily as individuals, since it's a secular democracy); but, at the level of the monarchy (that is, "traditionally,") the "traditional" "IDOL" to whom Britain, as a people, as a nation, as an entity, is "given" to, "dedicated" to, that 'idol' is JESUS CHRIST, the Son of YAHWEH! Yes, you got it right! The throne of the English people, and, by extension, of Britain and of the UK, is "given over to" Jesus the Son of God as their "God." That's the "idol" which Britain, traditionally, worships, just as our various ethnic groups here have their "idols" to whom the throne of their kingdom is devoted to, and whom they worship. So, although at the democratic level, under the Prime Minister, Britain is a SECULAR country, accommodating all kinds of beliefs and persuasions, yet, at the level of their MONARCHY, it's a "christian" country. In fact, one of the "official titles" (traditionally), of the Queen/King of England/Britain, is "Defender of the Faith."
Not only does Britain have their "idol" (I'm using the word "idol" only to make you know that, that is the Person they believe in, and whom they have taken as their "God," just as several ethnic groups around the world have their various idols), so, not only does Britain have their "idol" as Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God, they also have their system of Worship, which they call "the Church of England" (what, in Nigeria, is called the Anglican Church). And they also have their chief place of worship, known as Westminster Abbey. In actual fact, whenever a new Queen/King ascends the throne in England, the coronation is done inside the church, and it is the Archbishop of the Church of England that places the crown on his/her head.
In fact, the Queen/King is the Head of the Church of England, while the Archbishop is the shepherd under the Queen/King; just as, similarly, the Queen/King is the Head of Great Britain even though, democratically, the Prime Minister is the Head of Government.
Many of the great hymns we have in christendom, today, emanated from the Church of England. They "specialise," as it were, in classical music. Many of the great "prayers," down the centuries, that have been "prayed," in one form or another, in various churches/places around the world, with profound depth of meaning for the destiny of the Church, have their roots in the Church of England. Our famous 'King James Bible,' with its "thees," "thous," and "wheretofores," is the product of an Act (by Law) issued in the 17th century by King James of England, to obtain a translation that shall be generally used across the British Empire and the congregations of the Church of England.
Surprisingly, however, just as Scotland and Wales, though part of Great Britain, also have their own laws, etc., similarly, while "Church of England" is specific to England; it is the 'Church of Scotland' (which, here, we call the Presbyterian Church) that's specific to Scotland; while Wales (the Welsh people) are more of Methodists.
"God's Generals" that have emanated from Britain include Evan Roberts, the Welsh Revivalist whose work, in the years 1904-1906, resulted in a world-wide movement that, partially, eventually, ignited the Azusa Street Revival in the United States, from where the modern-day pentecostal movement became catalysed, through William Seymour, after the work of the "father" of Pentecost himself, Charles Parham. Other "God's Generals" from Britain include Whitfield, the man who in his last days was the one that laid hands on Reinhard Bonnke, releasing the latter into a powerful ministry. Other "God's Generals" from Britain include John Wycliffe, the man who, although many don't know, first translated the Bible from Latin into the English language, in the 14th century. But the printing press was not invented until the 15th century, so Wycliffe's Bible was not widely known, until later when William Tyndale (?) became known as the first to publish an English Bible. Another of "God's Generals" from Britain is John Knox, the man who said, "O God, give me Scotland or I die!" Yet another of "God's Generals" from Britain is George Fox, the man who has been described as "The Liberator of Spirit."
Will you please pray for Britain?
#ProudlyBritishByUpbringing
Britain is a European country (of course, you know that). It is in Western Europe, and kind of separated, geographically, from continental Europe (which consists of the rest of Western Europe as well as Eastern Europe). In fact, Britain is also known, together with the little islands around it, as the British Isles. To all practical intents and purposes, it is, therefore, an island apart from continental Europe.
Britain (though a country) is actually composed of three countries (nations) - - England, with its capital in London; Scotland, with its capital in Edinburgh; and Wales, with its capital in Cardiff. England has its English people (an ethnic group, just like our Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa) speaking English language. Scotland has its Scottish people (otherwise known as Scots) speaking their Scottish language; while Wales has its Welsh people speaking their Welsh language. These are three distinct countries (nations), each with its own laws, identities, etc., but which by some arrangement, also make up ONE COUNTRY. It's quite an enigma. In football, for instance, they compete as England, Scotland, Wales (three different countries), and, depending on how they perform in the preliminaries, they may all end up in the final 32 for any World Cup competition. However, during the Olympic Games, they go as ONE country - - GREAT BRITAIN. That means that, while medals are being won by Great Britain in athletics, etc., medals can be won by England, Wales or Scotland in the football event of the same Olympic Games! (Smart people, don't you think?)
London serves as both the capital of England, as well as the capital of Great Britain. The flag of England, for instance, is a red cross on a white background (you can see that flag on display whenever England is playing in any FIFA-related competition), whereas the flag of the entire Great Britain is the famous Union Jack.
Also, although, like I said, they are three different countries each with its own laws, yet they share a common government and Parliament which we all know as the British government/parliament, under the Headship of the Prime Minister of Britain.
At the level of the monarchy (of which, currently, Queen Elizabeth II is the monarch), the Queen/King (depending on the gender of the monarch) of England is also the King/Queen of Great Britain.
You would think it ends there, but NO! To the left-hand-side (Western side) of Britain is another country, Ireland (which also is an island), with its Irish people speaking their Irish language. However, the northern part of Ireland does not, politically, share the same "nationhood" with the rest of their ethnic kinsmen of Ireland. Rather, Northern Ireland is in league with Great Britain, forming what is known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (simply known as the United Kingdom, or UK.) Thus, London is the capital of England (the English people), as well as the capital of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), and the capital of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Similarly, the Queen (or King, as the case may be) of England is also the Queen/King of Great Britain; and also of the United Kingdom. Thus, while England comprises only one (major) ethnic group - - the English; Britain consists of three major ethnic groups - - the English, the Scots, and the Welsh; while the United Kingdom (UK) consists of four ethnic groups - - the English, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish of Northern Ireland.
Now, a major thing that people may not know about this country (whether you now call it England, Britain or UK, becomes irrelevant), is that, at the monarchical level, Britain is a "christian" country. I don't mean that the people are "christians," in the ordinary sense of that word. I mean that, Britain, as a country, has an "IDOL" - - an "official" God that they worship, and to whom they give their obeisance as a country, (though not necessarily as individuals, since it's a secular democracy); but, at the level of the monarchy (that is, "traditionally,") the "traditional" "IDOL" to whom Britain, as a people, as a nation, as an entity, is "given" to, "dedicated" to, that 'idol' is JESUS CHRIST, the Son of YAHWEH! Yes, you got it right! The throne of the English people, and, by extension, of Britain and of the UK, is "given over to" Jesus the Son of God as their "God." That's the "idol" which Britain, traditionally, worships, just as our various ethnic groups here have their "idols" to whom the throne of their kingdom is devoted to, and whom they worship. So, although at the democratic level, under the Prime Minister, Britain is a SECULAR country, accommodating all kinds of beliefs and persuasions, yet, at the level of their MONARCHY, it's a "christian" country. In fact, one of the "official titles" (traditionally), of the Queen/King of England/Britain, is "Defender of the Faith."
Not only does Britain have their "idol" (I'm using the word "idol" only to make you know that, that is the Person they believe in, and whom they have taken as their "God," just as several ethnic groups around the world have their various idols), so, not only does Britain have their "idol" as Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God, they also have their system of Worship, which they call "the Church of England" (what, in Nigeria, is called the Anglican Church). And they also have their chief place of worship, known as Westminster Abbey. In actual fact, whenever a new Queen/King ascends the throne in England, the coronation is done inside the church, and it is the Archbishop of the Church of England that places the crown on his/her head.
In fact, the Queen/King is the Head of the Church of England, while the Archbishop is the shepherd under the Queen/King; just as, similarly, the Queen/King is the Head of Great Britain even though, democratically, the Prime Minister is the Head of Government.
Many of the great hymns we have in christendom, today, emanated from the Church of England. They "specialise," as it were, in classical music. Many of the great "prayers," down the centuries, that have been "prayed," in one form or another, in various churches/places around the world, with profound depth of meaning for the destiny of the Church, have their roots in the Church of England. Our famous 'King James Bible,' with its "thees," "thous," and "wheretofores," is the product of an Act (by Law) issued in the 17th century by King James of England, to obtain a translation that shall be generally used across the British Empire and the congregations of the Church of England.
Surprisingly, however, just as Scotland and Wales, though part of Great Britain, also have their own laws, etc., similarly, while "Church of England" is specific to England; it is the 'Church of Scotland' (which, here, we call the Presbyterian Church) that's specific to Scotland; while Wales (the Welsh people) are more of Methodists.
"God's Generals" that have emanated from Britain include Evan Roberts, the Welsh Revivalist whose work, in the years 1904-1906, resulted in a world-wide movement that, partially, eventually, ignited the Azusa Street Revival in the United States, from where the modern-day pentecostal movement became catalysed, through William Seymour, after the work of the "father" of Pentecost himself, Charles Parham. Other "God's Generals" from Britain include Whitfield, the man who in his last days was the one that laid hands on Reinhard Bonnke, releasing the latter into a powerful ministry. Other "God's Generals" from Britain include John Wycliffe, the man who, although many don't know, first translated the Bible from Latin into the English language, in the 14th century. But the printing press was not invented until the 15th century, so Wycliffe's Bible was not widely known, until later when William Tyndale (?) became known as the first to publish an English Bible. Another of "God's Generals" from Britain is John Knox, the man who said, "O God, give me Scotland or I die!" Yet another of "God's Generals" from Britain is George Fox, the man who has been described as "The Liberator of Spirit."
Will you please pray for Britain?
#ProudlyBritishByUpbringing
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