The Christ is King Controversy

The Biblical Roots of “Christ Is King”

The way the phrase Christ is King is used or misused becomes a controversy every so often. Let's think like Christians who actually believe that Christ is King about this. First, the phrase Christ is King or approximations are used throughout the Bible.

In 2 Samuel 7 16, God tells David, Your house and your kingdom shall endure before me forever. Your throne shall be established forever. In John 18 37, Pilate asks Jesus, So you are a king? And Jesus answered, You say correctly that I am a king.

For this I have been born and for this I have come into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice. In Revelation 19 16, John writes,. And on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

These passages show the phrase's deep biblical roots as a declaration of Christ's sovereign, eternal rule as the promised Davidic king and Messiah of the Old Testament. Therefore, we should have no issue with the phrase itself.

Misusing the Phrase to Promote a False Christ

Unfortunately, many who promote those who misuse the phrase seem to think the controversy is solely over the phrase itself, though, and not the misuse of the phrase. At the same time, there are liberals who object to the public proclamation of the phrase because they believe it undermines a pluralistic, neutral society.

This has made the debate muddy as people talk past each other. Here's the bottom line, though. There is nothing wrong with the phrase Christ is King, and Christians should have no trouble embracing it.

However, there is something wrong with misusing the phrase to proclaim a false Christ who doesn't actually exist and is nothing more than a political symbol or a way for nonbelievers who will be judged for their unbelief in Christ to harass other groups who may also disbelieve in Christ.

In fact, a loving Christian will warn those who misuse Christ's name about the judgment they are under. Matthew 12 36 says,. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.

Even the false teachers of Matthew 7 were able to say, Lord, Lord, but Jesus says he never knew them. Sadly, there are few who seem to approach the issue this way. For example, Jake Shield says he only uses the phrase as an anti-Semitic dog whistle, but he doesn't actually believe in Christ.

Others use Christ is King in conjunction with profanity, which is terribly disrespectful to the King who will judge us all for every careless word. Of course, when pagans say Christ is King, it is still true in a technical sense.

After all, Pilate did not worship Christ, but it was he who ordered that a sign be placed on the cross reading King of the Jews. Yet, Pilate had a better understanding of Christ than many today who use the same phrase.

Which Christ Is Being Confessed?

Is a Muslim like Andrew Tate who uses the phrase Christ is King talking about the same Christ that the Bible talks about? Someone can use the phrase Jesus is Lord, but without affirming the true Jesus.

They could also easily be a false teacher. In 1 John, John wrote against false Christians who claimed to believe in Jesus and love their brothers, but denied central aspects of his attributes. The spirit of Antichrist in 1 John isn't a total denial of Jesus, but the denial of central aspects of his identity and attributes.

We should care about which Christ we are talking about before we read into every usage what we want it to mean. Someone like Jake Shields refuses to bow to Christ and even denies a central aspect of his identity.

His Christ is not the same Christ that Christians worship. So is the phrase Christ is King true? Yes. Can it be misinterpreted, used in a blasphemous way, and contain an intended meaning that points to an Antichrist figure who is not the Messiah of the Old Testament?

Yes. And Christians should be aware of the differences before endorsing or partnering with everyone who simply uses the phrase. Otherwise, we fall for the old liberal ploy of endorsing a type of Christ who is not a Christ figure at all, but just a historical symbol or a cultural relic without any power to rule over anyone.

If we accept people as allies in the cause to recognize Christ's kingship while they promote their own high places that challenge Christ's kingship, we are only fooling ourselves.