Yes, Christ is King, But is He Your Savior?

 

Kings made a comeback three years ago, when Queen Elizabeth passed away, after serving as the longest-reigning monarch of the United Kingdom. Bonny Prince Charlie became King Charles III, putting aside the randy (and bloody) reputations of the previous Charles.

This king just delivered the opening speech for Canada’s parliament last week, and Britons are poking back at Trump and the United States for wanting to make Canada the 51^st State. If Canada joins the United States as the 51^st state, said British MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, then the United States must become the 16^th realm under the United Kingdom.

Royal chance.

Still, Kings are making a comeback, and not just on thrones, but in churches. The Christian faith, from the United Kingdom to the Americas and around the world, is experiencing an unprecedented, welcome revival. President Trump deserves some credit, along with his cabinet and their staff. They are sponsoring church meetings in the White House. Prayer has become the norm once again in the Executive Branch. Trump has been very open about his faith (however new or young it may be) in Christ.

Thus, across the right-wing political spectrum, we are hearing the welcome shout: “Christ is King.”

“Christ is King” has become a political rally cry, for sure, especially among the populist, nationalist, traditionalist movers taking over the GOP. We should not only understand but celebrate and relish this desire for a restoration of our nation’s Judeo-Christian heritage. The revivals breaking out in 2023 in Kentucky and Tennessee attest to this nation’s hunger for moral order and meaning. Gen Z is no longer “ZZZZing” on Sunday mornings, but heading to church, too.

Sadly, yes, there is a small subset who repeats “Christ is King” not for king or glory, but out of bigotry and just plain ethnic provocation or prejudice. Let’s confront this problem first.

When a bigoted Muslim like man-whore podcaster Andrew Tate says “Christ is King,” you know that he does not mean it. Jake Shields, another so-called “dissident right” type, stated on X that he does not really believe in Jesus. He just likes to chant that phrase because, in his opinion, it makes Jews angry.

The Daily Wire’s Andrew Klavan, one of a growing number of Messianic Jews, commented on this controversy. He was correct to confront those who take our Lord’s name in vain. No one should stop saying ‘Christ is King,’ but it really matters that you believe it.

And how does one prove that Christ is King of their lives, to honor Christ Jesus as King?

Christ Himself told us, starting with His disciples:

“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

Too many Christians read this passage and think: “I want to be great, so I will be a servant to as many people as possible.”

Be serious: none of us can serve everyone, and our lives could never serve as a ransom for many.

Only One Person meets that description: Jesus Christ.

Jesus went about doing good, healing all who were oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:44)

God the Father gave us His Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Jesus showed the greatest love possible because He gave His life for us (John 15:13)

With this revelation in place, I must submit to this the Body of Christ in America, and to the political operatives seeking to make a difference in our governance: “Christ is King” is not enough.

“Christ is King” is a great slogan, but Jesus, when He came to this earth in an earthen vessel, did not come to lord his kingship over us. First of all, He didn’t have to.

He is King. He was king before we were born. In “Silent Night, we sing that Jesus was “Lord at His birth.” The Wise Men, when they confronted Herod to seek the Lord, said: “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)

Notice they described Jesus as “born king,” not “born to be king.” He was not an heir apparent, presumptive, or inferred. In fact, Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16). Just because much of the world didn’t get the message then or believe the truth does not stop His sovereignty.

If we really want to honor Jesus, if we want to revere Jesus Christ as Lord, we need to see him as Savior.

So, to those of you who chant “Christ is King,” is He your Savior, too?

There’s a pride of place and position when people posture about Christ as their King, the same way they celebrate their favorite football team or their preferred political party. But it’s something else to admit: “I need a Savior, because I cannot save myself.” That admission is deeply humbling.

Bear in mind that during Jesus’ earthly ministry, many of the crowds He ministered to wanted to make Him a king (John 6:15), but He withdrew from them. Jesus told them why:

“Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” (John 6:26-27)

 Just as crowds during His earthly ministry only sought Jesus for earthly needs, so too today polemicists and politicos on the right are using the name of Christ for political purposes. That is wrong.

Jesus is more than a rallying cry or a call for restoration of “America First,” our Anglo-American legal tradition, or even our Judeo-Christian heritage. He came to be our Savior, and everyone needs one, or everything else means nothing.

So, who is He to you?