Christ is King! That joyful statement of truth for the faithful in Jesus has been weaponized recently on social media as hateful rhetoric toward the Jewish people. Even Muslim influencers (who do not believe Christ is King) encourage its use after discovering its new, antisemitic intent [propagated by people such as Candice Owens].
This Jew-hating behavior by people who claim to follow (wait for it) the Jewish Messiah is not an honest representation of genuine, biblical Christianity; and the slogan, which should be used with reverence and love, is one that sincere evangelicals must take back.
Christ (which means “Messiah”) is indeed King. Biblically, He is not just any king; He is the sovereign Lord God incarnate (Jn. 1:1, 14; Phil. 2:11; Rev. 17:14) and, more precisely, the King of Israel (Jn. 1:49). Theologically, the phrase is tantamount to saying, “God is sovereign.”
Those who hatefully declare to the Jewish people that “Christ is King” should beware because an honest, scriptural look at God’s sovereignty yields the discovery that His plan for the nations has much to do with preserving and eventually restoring Israel, for His glory (Isa. 46:13).
The “Christ is King” controversy brings us back to a sad reality. We, as Christians, must never forget the terrible things that have been done to the Jewish people in the name of Christ. Nazi Germany, which largely identified as Christian, is a more recent and salient example.
Sadly, there is such a thing as Christian antisemitism; and it constitutes a complete departure from the teachings of Jesus and His followers. The Bible has a warning for these so-called “Christian” antisemites. God says through the apostle Paul that Christ’s followers are not to be arrogant toward the Jewish people, “For if God did not spare the natural branches [certain Israelites], He may not spare you either” (Rom. 11:21).
Furthermore, we are commanded to speak “the truth in love” before all people (Eph. 4:15). God’s Word is clear that we are irritatingly noisy if we speak the truth without love; it profits nothing (1 Cor. 13:1–3).
Although unbelieving Israel today doesn’t understand who Jesus is, it will recognize Him as its long-awaited Messiah at His Second Coming (Zech. 12:10). Then God will usher in a new golden age when He restores the Davidic Kingdom to His beloved nation (Acts 1:6–7). He has yet to bring His Kingdom to this earth (Rev. 11:15). For now, Christ sits at the right hand of the Father; but someday He will sit on the throne of King David of Israel in Jerusalem and rule the world (Ps. 110:1; Lk. 1:32; Acts 7:5–56; Rom. 8:34).
At Jesus’ Second Coming, He also will judge the Gentile nations, as He promised: “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats” (Mt. 25:31–32).
On what basis will He judge? On how they treated “the least of these My brethren” (v. 40), meaning Israel (Joel 3:1–3).
Antisemites will not win out because “He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps. 121:4). Christ is King! We are certainly allowed to shout it joyfully. But let’s not forget to explain why that is good news, especially for Israel.
