A BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF "CHRIST IS KING"

Candace Owens ignited a firestorm of controversy when she apparently tweeted to Ben Shapiro, who is Jewish, “Christ is King.” Response from within Shapiro’s circle was swift and critical, with some labeling Owens’ tweet as antisemitic and even racist. Other critics weighed in warning that the term is associated with Christian nationalism, the claim that evangelical Christians want to take over the institutions of government and force Christianity on everyone else. 

The Meaning of the Phrase

The phrase is actually redundant for the word “Christ” means “king.” It is derived from the Greek word christos, which was the Greek counterpart for the Hebrew “Messiah.” The Messiah was the king, predicted by the Old Testament prophets, whose righteous reign would bring peace to Israel and the entire world.

Jesus acknowledged that He was the promised Messiah but made clear that His kingdom was of a different order and character than was expected by Jews of the first century. They were looking for a political, militaristic Messiah who would deliver them from the Romans.

Jesus' kingship was of a different order and He made this point in a startling manner to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, at the time of His trial just before His crucifixion.

A Kingdom Not of this World

Pilate had obviously heard of the discussions about whether Jesus was Israel’s Messiah-King promised by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, and other Old Testament prophets. When Jesus was brought before him, Pilate therefore asked, Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus acknowledged that He was a king, but then clarified the nature of His kingdom, saying,

My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here (John 18:36).

Jesus is not saying that His kingdom has no presence or role in this world. He is saying that His kingdom is of a completely different nature, functioning by different values and principles. His kingdom functions according to the values and culture of another world--of heaven.

His kingdom, therefore, would not come through the radical Jewish zealots who wanted to overthrow the Romans by force, nor by the Sadducees who compromised with the Romans in exchange for power and status in Israel. Neither would His kingdom come through the religious Pharisees, the conniving Herodians, or any other religious or political party.

His Kingdom Went to the Heart

Jesus knew the dire need of humanity was neither political nor economic, but separation from God through sin and rebellion. Israel’s greatest need was not deliverance from Rome, but deliverance from the sin that was destroying them. Instead of responding to carnal, political desires, Jesus went directly to the heart of the problem.

Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies of a suffering and dying Messiah by providing Himself an atoning sacrifice for sinful humanity. In doing so, He bridged the gap between a holy God and fallen, sinful humanity. His death on the cross and subsequent resurrection made forgiveness and reconciliation with God possible through faith in Him. 

He also called on people to leave their self-centered lifestyles and live their lives for Him and others. Instead of imposing a political order, He imparted heavenly values. He assured His hearers that He had come, that they might have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). 

Christ is King of Hearts

The early church proclaimed, “Jesus is Lord” and “Jesus is the Christ.” These designations obviously speak of His dignity and preeminence, but they were not political statements. Early Christians had no political ambitions. They showed no interest in Herod’s throne or Caesar’s crown. They proclaimed a king and kingdom that transcended them all.

But when Caesar was in conflict with Christ, the followers of Jesus confessed their allegiance to Him. This led to multiplied thousands of martyrs who chose to die rather than deny Him. Among these was the elderly Polycarp (69-155), who was offered his freedom if he would deny Christ. He refused, saying, "For 86 years I have been His servant, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my king who saved me?" 

Christ had obviously captured Polycarp's heart, and this is where His kingdom begins. He is the king of hearts. His kingdom is destined to transform all the earth, but not by outward political activism or military force. He begins by capturing the heart and then imparting His kingdom values, which then impacts all of society.

The Great Awakening Brought the Kingdom of God to America

This happened in the Great Awakening (1726-70) in colonial America. The colonies were transformed through the Christ-centered preaching of George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, Gilbert Tennant, and others. They had no political ambitions. They called people to put their faith in Christ for eternal salvation and to live by His kingdom values.

The results were astonishing. Benjamin Franklin wrote, “It seemed as if all the world were growing religious” and a British-appointed governor wrote to his superiors in England, “If you ask an American who is his master, he will tell you he has none, nor any governor but Jesus Christ” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 81).

This Awakening breached denominational, cultural, and racial barriers. For the first time they began to see themselves as a single people with one Divine destiny. This was especially significant for Whitefield for he had arrived in America with the prayer that the people of colonial America would "no longer live as 13 divided colonies but as one nation under God.”

This Awakening had a direct bearing on both the founding of America in 1776 and the ending of slavery on this continent. America became a Christian nation, not by an act of Congress, but by the transformed lives of her citizenry. John Marshall, the second Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, understood this. Serving as Chief Justice for 34 years from 1801-1834, Marshall wrote,

The American population is entirely Christian, and with us Christianity and religion are identified. It would be strange, indeed, if with such a people, our institutions did not presuppose Christianity, and did not refer to it, and exhibit relations with it (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 169).

Trump's Conviction Highlights the Need

America has completely turned away from the founding Christian values that brought her into existence. Her future is hanging in the balance. 2024 is a pivotal year for America. Psalm 9:17 says, The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God.

The November election is very important but will not save America. America’s root problem is neither political nor economic. America’s problem is spiritual and moral and will require a spiritual and moral solution. This reality was just highlighted by the conviction of Donald Trump by an obviously rigged trial.

Trump's conviction by a Manhattan jury was the bad fruit of  secularist, amoral individuals who manipulate and misuse the law for their own purposes. There is no need for the so-called "fundamental change" of the American system, but there is a need for a change in the moral and spiritual condition of those who are in positions of power.

Whose Side Are We On?

“Christ is king” is a theologically correct statement but should never be used as a weapon to shame or offend another person. Nor should it be used as a political battle cry as though Jesus the Messiah was taking sides with some worldly political party or movement.

“Christ is king” should be used as an expression showing honor to Jesus Christ for His redemptive work for all mankind and in recognition of His transcendent preeminence at the right hand of God. It should be used as a call for all people to put their faith in Him as the only way to eternal life and to embrace the values He taught, which are the keys to peace and stability here on earth.

President Abraham Lincoln understood the importance of acknowledging the preeminence of Christ. During the Civil War when a minister from the North expressed his hope that, “the Lord is on our side,” Lincoln replied,

I am not at all concerned about that . . . but it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side” (Hyatt. The Great Prayer Awakening of 1857-58, 39).

America must once again turn to Christ and take His side. This will happen as the church takes a stand for truth and righteousness, proclaims His transcendent kingship, and prays for another Great Awakening to roll across the land.

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's book, 1726: The Year that Defined America, available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com. For information on bringing his informative, inspiring “Save America” presentation to your , city, contact him at dreddiehyatt@gmail.com

HOW YOU CAN BRING HEALING TO A DEEPLY DIVIDED AMERICA

The young 25-year-old Methodist preacher and revivalist, George Whitefield, arrived in America in 1738 with a prayer on his heart that the inhabitants of this land would, "No longer live as 13 divided Colonies but as One Nation under God.” He was very aware of the deep lines of division and hatred that ran between the various groups, but he was hopeful that he would see those lines erased as he preached the message God had given him for America.

The Deep Divisions of Colonial America

Most do not realize the deep divisions that existed in Colonial America between the Anglicans who settled Virginia, the Puritans who settled New England, the Baptists who settled Rhode Island, the Quakers who settled Pennsylvania, and so on.

Back in England, the Anglican Church, as the official state church, had harassed and imprisoned Puritans, Baptist, and Quakers, even putting some to death. In Virginia, the Anglicans made their church the “official” church of the colony and jailed Baptist preachers who ventured there to preach. Puritans detested Anglicans because of how they had been treated, but they persecuted both Quakers and Baptists: evicting them from their colony, jailing them, and even putting some to death. Baptists and Quakers did not get along and considered Puritans and Anglicans to be apostate Christians and part of the false, harlot church of Revelation.

It seemed that these groups could never reconcile. Their history was too long and their pain too deep. God, however, had an answer. His answer was a great, spiritual awakening based on the preaching of the Gospel wherein Jesus was presented as the central object of faith.

Whitefield Confronts the Divisions

Whitefield had an oratorical gift that attracted thousands to his open-air meetings. In Philadelphia, he preached from the steps of the courthouse to crowds estimated at 10-12 thousand at a time the population of Philadelphia was around 13,000. According to Benjamin Franklin, the impact on the city was transformative. He wrote,

The multitudes of all sects and denominations that attended his sermons were enormous, and it was a matter of speculation to me, who was one of the number, to observe the extraordinary influence of his oratory on his hearers. From being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, it seemed as if all the world were growing religious so that one could not walk through the town in an evening without hearing psalms sung in different families of every street (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 79).

Whitefield addressed the divisions of the colonists head-on. In one of his sermons, for example, as he was preaching in the open air to thousands, representing various sects and denominations, he pretended to converse with Father Abraham, whom he pictured as looking over the banister of heaven at the gathered multitude.

Looking heavenward, Whitefield cried out, “Father Abraham, are there any Anglicans in heaven?”

The answer came back, “No, there are no Anglicans in heaven.”

“Father Abraham, are there any Puritans in heaven?”

“No, there are no Puritans in heaven.”

“Are there any Methodists in heaven?”

“No, there are no Methodists here either.”

“What about Baptists or Quakers?” 

“No, there are none of those here either.”

“Father Abraham,” cried Whitefield, “What kind of people are in heaven?”

The answer came back, “There are only Christians in heaven, only those who are washed in the blood of the Lamb.”

Whitefield then cried out, “Oh, is that the case? Then God help me, God help us all, to forget having labels and to become Christians in deed and in truth” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 80-81)!

Sectarian Walls are Broken Down

Under the preaching of the Gospel and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, differences were melted and denominational walls were broken down. For the first time, the divided colonists began to see themselves as a single people with one Divine destiny, “One Nation Under God,” as Whitfield had prayed.

By his incessant travels, Whitefield made the Great Awakening America’s first national event. It was the first time the scattered colonists of various denominational and theological persuasions had participated together as one people in a single event.

Historian, Benjamin Hart, points out that when Whitefield visited America for the final time in 1770, even the Episcopal (Anglican) churches, which had initially rejected him, opened their doors to him. He goes on to say,

The true Spirit of Christ had dissolved sectarian differences. America considered itself to be a nation of Christians, pure and simple, as Whitefield noted with satisfaction. “Pulpits, hearts and affections,” he said, were opened to him and any preacher of whatever denomination who had a true Christian message to share (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 87-88).

The late Harvard professor, Perry Miller, surely had Whitefield in mind when he wrote, “The Declaration of Independence of 1776 was a direct result of the preaching of the evangelists of the Great Awakening.” Through Whitefield’s ministry the Divided Colonies of America became the United States of America.

We Hold the Key

If we are to see a deeply divided modern America saved, it must begin with those who name the name of Christ. The promise of a national healing in II Chronicles 7:14 puts the responsibility squarely on our shoulders by listing certain conditions that are to be carried out by God’s people. The passage begins by saying, If My people, who are called by Name . . ..

In John 17:21 Jesus prayed for the unity of His followers, that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in me and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may know that You sent Me. If there is to be any healing of the political, cultural, and ideological divisions in America, there must first be a healing of the deep divisions that exist in Christendom.

This does not mean we will all form one institution or organization. That has never been God’s plan. His plan is diversity but within a unity that is centered in Him. We will keep our distinctive labels as Baptist or Presbyterian or Assembly of God, but our primary label will be that of Christian—followers of Christ.

This happened in Colonial America through the preaching of Whitefield and others to such an extent that a British-appointed governor in Connecticut wrote to his superiors in England, “If you ask an American who is his master, he will tell you he has none, nor any governor but Jesus Christ” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 81).

What You Can Do

Be bold in your Christ-centered faith as you reach across denominational, racial, and cultural lines. Without compromising truth, show love to those who hold different doctrines and attend different churches than you. Don't waste your time with those who merely want to argue, but be willing to have a dialogue with those who are teachable and willing to listen. And in the midst of it all, ask God to pour out His Spirit, as promised in Acts 2:17, that another Great Awakening may roll across the land like a giant tsunami wave,

 

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's book, 1726: The Year that Defined America, available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com. For information on bringing his informative, inspiring “Save America” presentation to your , city, contact him at dreddiehyatt@gmail.com