How ‘Christ Is King’ Became Antisemitic
Why the phrase can’t be taken at face value
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Antisemitism on the American Right
The ‘Christ Is King’ debate has caused a schism on the ideological Right, parallel with neo-isolationism in its leanings toward anti-Zionism. The usage of the phrase ‘Christ Is King’ spiked after October 7th, particularly in conversations surrounding Zionism, Israel, and the Jewish people.
How should Christians respond to an otherwise accurate theological statement?
Historical origin of ‘Christ Is King’: Jesus’ Identity
The Bible gives Jesus many different names, such as “Emmanuel” and “Prince of Peace.” Yet the origin of the statement “Christ Is King” was not an affirmation of Christ’s identity. The Romans used the phrase to mock Jesus on the cross, a similar twist to Christians today using it to mock the Jews for rejecting Christ.
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Antisemitic tropes began in the Middle Ages
Many Christians believe that Jews are cursed for rejecting Christ. Supersessionists particularly believe that the Church supplanted the Jewish people’s covenant with God and are now His chosen people.
In the Middle Ages, these beliefs led to antisemitic tropes, such as the Jews being dirty and greedy, resulting in violence against Jewish communities.
Antisemitism on the Right
Age-old antisemitic tropes rooted in supersessionist theories are now resurfacing on the American Right. The West hoped that these scapegoating tropes, which were pivotal beliefs leading to the Holocaust, would die with the world’s commitment to “Never Again.”
Re-emergence of Nazi rhetoric
Yet figures like Candace Owens and Andrew Tate are not saying anything new. In fact, their antisemitism, depicted as shocking discoveries that the Jews are behind societal problems like p*rn and globalism, follows the same rhetorical pattern as the Nazis.
Opposing ‘Christ Is King’ is not opposing Christianity
‘Christ Is King’ is to the woke Right what the Black Lives Matter movement is to the woke Left. The phrase is objectively true, yet any negative aspects of the movement are not allowed to be critiqued because the extremists claim it is an attack on the veracity of the statement.
‘Christ Is King’ is being used in a similar way to BLM. It is a popular phrase that nearly everyone can get behind, but extremists are using it for purposes beyond the phrase’s worthwhile, plain, literal meaning.