The phrase Christ is King has been trending online. Pretty cool, right? Well, maybe not. Turns out this has become one of the latest dog whistles for promoting antisemitism.
But don’t take my word for it—check out what my good friend Samuel has to say:
Ok, confession, I’m not good friends with Samuel Sey. We disagree about nearly everything, but it seems we have found some common ground in believing antisemitism is antithetical to the way of Jesus.
I don’t know what Candace Owens thinks about Jesus or Jewish people for that matter, but Samuel seems to present a convenient reality in which Christianity and antisemitism are entirely disparate. I really wish that were the case, but sadly there are many misguided Christians who think their love for Jesus can be demonstrated by their hatred of Jewish people.
When we hear phrases like “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16), we are inclined to think in terms of supremacy. And, of course, Jesus is superior to other kings and lords, but his superiority isn’t based on being more of the same. Sigurd Grindheim, in Living In the Kingdom of God: A Biblical Theology for the Life of the Church, writes,
“The kind of rule exercised in the kingdom of God is surprising. It is a rule that takes everything we know about authority and turns it upside down… [Christ] does not rule by force; he rules by sacrifice. He does not use coercion to make people do his will; he draws on the compelling force of love.”
Jesus doesn’t demonstrate superiority by tossing his weight around or humiliating his enemies or dwelling atop a tall tower where he can look down on the rest of us peasants.
Jesus is superior because he’s peculiar.
Jesus carved out time to listen to marginalized people. He was patient with those who failed to recognize his messiah status. He came down from heaven to slum it with us lowly earth-dwellers. He is king, but not in any way we’d easily recognize.
Christ is king and he will reign forever, but never as a tyrant, never as a bully. His power is revealed through love, not oppression.
So when a white supremacist or otherwise antisemitic person boasts, Christ is King, they’re wrong—because when they use that phrase they mean to suggest Christ is hateful like they are. When they use that phrase they mean to suggest Christ is violent and domineering—like they would be if they were king. But, thanks be to God, Christ isn’t that kind of king. Jesus is superior because he’s peculiar. He loves everyone, including Jewish people and, peculiarly, those who hate them.
Thank you for taking the time to read this reflection. We plan to post a weekly devotional and a monthly topical reflection AND we want to be as interactive as possible. Please share your thoughts and questions—we’d be thrilled to hear from you!
Justin is a pastor and innovative ministry practitioner based in Los Angeles County. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary where he is also currently a Doctor of Ministry Candidate. For more see JustinBerkobien.com
Love this! Jesus is the epitome of love of everyone regardless of race, nationality, wealth, or how much they have sinned. He forgives freely and offers life eternally. And He wants us to love others like He loves them.
You have expressed this well. There is a belligerence coming from those who are proclaiming this that seems very ungodly.