The Knights of the Silver Chalice
A quick guide to questions most often asked about the Knights of the Silver Chalice
Why Knighthood?
And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up and sleep no more, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us send away the deeds of darkness and put on the Armor of Light.(Romans 13:11-12)
Scripture clearly speaks, in a number of places, in terms of military service. Taking this metaphor, we have used the Medieval Knight as the symbol of the Soldier of Christ; and strive to re-establish the Biblical basis of the Code of Chivalry as the only foundation upon which it may stand.
[top]
Why "Silver Chalice?"
In days of old, God established with His people the Covenant of the Law. It was founded upon ten basic commandments, which were, in brief:As a sign of this covenant, God had the Israelites construct the Ark of the Covenant. This ark was to contain the stone tablets upon which the Ten Commandments were engraved, and stood as a symbol of the sacredness of the Covenant of the Law.
The Law bound the people and the Ark was kept hidden from the people and only the High Priest could gain access to it.
So, for a sign of this New Covenant we have the Cup of Communion.
When our Lord died, the Temple Veil, which separated men from the dwelling of God, was torn in two, so that all might access the Holy of Holies. No longer were men to be bound by the Law, but freed to live in Grace.
Grace replaces the Law, not that we should live as lawless men, but that we might extend the Grace of God to all people.
When we fall, we need not make sacrifices to atone, for the Blood of Christ was shed to do away with sacrifices. Instead we support one another, bearing each other's burdens and lifting each other up in times of weakness.
Silver was representative in ancient rabbinic circles for the blood of sacrifice. Christ's Blood was the Ultimate Sacrifice, once for all. The blood and water that flowed from His side when Longinus thrust his spear into His side is the fulfillment of the ancient practice of mixing water into the wine used during the Pesach (Passover) observance.
The cup used at a Pesach was, ideally, made of silver.
[top]
Are you really "knights" or just an SCA type group?
Neither.We are neither knights in the modern-traditional sense of those who have received acclaim by heads of state nor men who put on armor and participate in tournaments.
The Knights of the Silver Chalice is a group of men dedicated to the observance of Scripture as the only sound source of a code of conduct (True Chivalry).
[top]
Why just men?
Second, while we do believe wholeheartedly that in Christ "there is no distinction between male and female" (Galatians 3:28) we live and deal in a world where gender does, in fact, exist. Because a major part of our mission is accountability we feel it is necessary to exclude women. It is neither proper nor realistic to expect men to lay open the sins of their hearts to women (other than their wives). In the same way that a woman is the best judge of and advisor to other women, men are best suited to dealing with the problems and struggles men face.
We do not begrudge women such accountability, but recommend they seek it in the company of other Godly women.
[top]
What do the symbols mean?
The symbols of the Peredur Group are the Chi-Rho Sword and the Eternal Book. Both symbols, often blended with the tip of the sword in the center of the book, represent the Deity of Christ.
The book also represents the Word of God and is depicted as open with four letters scribed on its pages. On the left-hand page are the Greek letters Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8). The right-hand page bears the Hebrew equivalent equivalent Aleph and Tau (Zechariah 12:10). Usually the letters will be arranged with the Alpha and Aleph at top and the Omega and Tau underneath.
These symbols stand for the Peredur Group’s (and thereby the Knights of the Silver Chalice's) dedication to holding and studying Scripture as the inerrant Word of God and to Jesus Christ as the only Way, Truth, and Life by which mankind may enter the presence of the Creator of the universe.
... every scribe who has become a disciple of the Kingdom of Heaven is like a wealthy man who brings out of his storehouse treasures both old and new.
(Matthew 13:52)
Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.
(II Timothy 2:14)
... lay up for yourself treasures in heaven ... for where your treasure is, there is your heart.
(Matthew 6:20, 21)
... the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
(Matthew 12:34)
[top]
What is the significance of triads?
(Ecclesiastes 4:12)
Three is a number that, both physically and spiritually, means strength and completeness. Scripture is replete with instances of the number three in spiritual context (for more on this, I recommend E. W. Bullinger's book, Number in Scripture)[online text], but even in our day-to-day world any properly educated person can tell you that triangles are ideal for strength and support. The support structure on any well-made bridge or roof will be triangles within triangles. In the same way, rope-makers (using the principle hinted at in Ecclesiastes) ideally use three strands. Two is insufficient, four can be unwieldy and counter-productive.
In this way, we feel that groups of three are ideal for the support men need. As in example of the bridge supports, these triads should interlock, lending greater strength as a whole.
[top]
But really, what is the point of it all?
- To teach and display the virtues of Godly manhood for this and future generations.
To offer prayer and accountability support to our brothers in Christ.
To give to and serve those in need in whatever way we are able, as ministers of Christ.
- Respect all men:
Love the brotherhood,
Fear God,
Honor the king.
[top]
How do I become a member? Is there money involved?
Membership is purely upon request. Even those men not directly invited to join are welcome upon approval. There are no membership dues or other monetary requirements. Confess Jesus Christ as your personal Lord Savior and agree with the corporate confession of faith as a Knight of the Silver Chalice (ECA: equites calicis argenteae).Approval is granted based on very basic terms:
It has been common with past entrants to ask, simply, for them to write a short paper on the topic, "Who is Jesus to me?" This has been more to make them think about the subject than to catch them in any error.
[top]
Why would I want to become a member?
"I am going into battle. How many men do I want to have with me?"
That may seem a bit simplistic, but really that's the main reason — to have moral and spiritual support of likeminded men. To have a source for Christian fellowhsip, encouragement, prayer and fellows who will link arms together in the Spiritual pursuits of holy and righteous living and defending against the attacks from the armies of Satan.
[top]
What do the members do?
Members are encouraged to stay in contact with each other, encourage each other, pray for each other, and so on...[top]
The contents of this page © 2005, Mikal C Johnson (The Peredur Group) and the Knights of the Silver Chalice.
