Knightood in a Modern Age
The modern knight. An anachronism? An oxymoron? Is there really such a thing? Of course there are a lot of people who think of themselves as knights. There are many that bear a title, but in order to determine if they are actually deserving, it must be determined what knighthood and chivalry actually are. To do this, we must go back through the mists of time to discover the roots of this mysterious order.
The Beginning
No one really knows for sure when the term knight really became fashionable to describe a very unique class of warrior. In antiquity they were known as knights, chevaliers, ritters, paladins and perhaps a host of other appelations. Regardless of the name, or country of origin, the culture was the same and had very common origins. Knighthood is really more of a concept than a rank or status. The oldest examples as we see really had no such titles. They were common men, warriors who were loyally sworn to serve a cause. Perhaps one of the oldest examples are the Mighty Men spoken of in the Bible who were unswervingly loyal to King David. More recently, but still dwelling in the halls of history, were the crusaders. At least in concept they were sworn to serve God and the church to the point of death. At inception, these were merely soldiers, both horse and foot, that marched off to war, to defend the Christian faith. Their creed was founded in scripture, their lifestyles, their piety, was governed by the Ten Commandments. This is a fact beyond contestation.
After the Crusades, many of these men returned home, knowing only martial skills, and a code that engendered honor, loyaly, courtesy, compassion, as well as their obvious military skills. Many returned home to serve their kings and lords, while others traveled the countryside seeking ways to serve the populace, creating an enduring legend. Many of these men had been mere peasants before joining the military. Thus they became known as defenders of the weak, a very honorable, not to mention scriptural, vocation. The trappings and accouterments, were expensive, typically much more than a peasant could afford, so many knights worked, hard to amass the equipment that was required. Horses, for example, were a rare commodity. Armor was costly in terms of both money and time to acquire. As a result these were items that once acquired, they were required constant maintenance. Often this was far too much responsibility for on man to handle, so he was required to make agreements with apprentices, or squires. The squires would assist the knight in the mundane duties of caring for horses, weapons, and armour. In return, the knight would teach the squire the martial arts and instill in him the values of knighthood. Often these squires began life as poor peasant children. The knights would enter agreements with the parents, in order to ensure a better life for the child. Many times the squire's education would include reading, writing, and numbers, as well as scripture. This became a vehicle for preserving tradition and values.
Hijacked!
In time, the mystique and natural attraction of the knight captured the imagination of the peerage, and many knights were given minor nobility status. Knights were the only nobles that were not necessarily born to it. Over the next couple of centuries, the nobles more or less took over knighthood, and the peasant/hero persona was cast aside. Knighthood became only available to landed nobles. It is critical to note that originally, knighthood had no associations as peerage. It was common men doing a thankless job, with a high degree of moral fiber. This is founded squarely in the Christian ethos. Nowdays, it seems anybody can become knighted. There are even websites where one can send money in and get a royal patent, where at one time this could only be granted by a member of nobility, for loyalty and courageous deeds.
So having said all this, what is a modern knight? In this age of political correctness and permissiveness, a sea of confusion, and misinformation surrounds the issue. Who would be considered a knight, or a paragon of virtue and chivalry. The answer might surprise you. They can be found everywhere. True knighthood knows no racial/ethnic boundaries, or even sexual boundaries. There are countless unsung heroes who are commited to a higher cause, who practice their everyday lives with honor and loyalty to God, their families, and communities. These are people who stand for right principles regardless of how unpopular it might make them. A notable example in this writer's opinion, is the president, George W. Bush. Former president Sir Ronald Reagan, who was actually knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, is another. There are still others. Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, D. James Kennedy, and even Rush Limbaugh, to name a few. Any two-year old can throw temper tantrums and demand their own way, as many Anti-Knights (liberals) do, but it takes real courage to stand for righteous principles in the face of adversity.
Sires but not Squires
In this modern age there are no end to sires. Anybody can procreate, and bear children, but mentoring them seems to be a dying art. This is an aspect of knighthood that can be practiced by a father. Mothers are certainly not left out here, but in modern western society, men seem in particular seem to be failing miserably in their responsibilities. Any father can be, and should be, a knight/hero where their children are concerned. Any husband can be, and should be, a provider and protector of their wives. Any man can be, and should be, a productive and morally involved member of their church and community. If you are missing the mark on any of these points, shame on you. But it's not too late to change. Make the decision to change right now. If you change one percent of your life in a positive manner per day, in one hundred days, you will be completely different. It only takes courage, determination, and God's help. The greatest men of history were invariably devout, God-seekers.
Conclusion
As we look around, there are no end to the games people play. We see it evident in all the different clubs and societies that are formed to attempt to reenact knighthood. We also see the honor of knighthood being cheapened, by titles being bestowed on undeserving individuals, Elton John, and Paul McCartney being notable examples. At the same time, the true knights go largely unobserved, and unappreciated. Here's a salute to you all, you know who you are. To those of you who are lacking, shape up. It's not too late to make the world a little better place. Stand for right, not what seems right. Go to God's Word to find out what really is right, then do it. It's hard. It's uncomfortable. It's not popular. But it's worth it.
Chivalry is not dead!
