Christ The King Sunday: Rejecting Christian Nationalism
Scripture: Luke 23:33-43
In some Christian traditions, today is Christ the King Sunday. At first, that title put me off, especially in light of the rise of Christian nationalism. Plus, when one looks at the history of Christianity, its meshing with politics has been detrimental for all involved.
But the reality is, if one reads and takes seriously the gospel, the notion of Christ as king is supposed to stand in contrast to the kingdoms and empires of this world. Yet instead, Christians have often simply replicated the violence and oppression of secular kingdoms and added a religious tint to that oppression, and have in fact made things worse.
When the gospels talk about Christ being king, they aren’t talking about reinforcing the racist, oppressive, violent status quo. The kingdom of God, does not, in fact, look like a white supremacist, theocratic fascist empire that seeks to rob people of reproductive choice and rights, that denies queer people the right to live and marry, that dehumanizes immigrants, that devalues the wisdom and beauty of other religious traditions, or that seeks to silence atheists and agnostics.
The Kingdom of God stands in contrast to the kingdoms of the world because it is not about coercion and power. It doesn’t have a zero-sum mentality that says, “in order for one group of people to win, everyone else has to lose.” The kingdom of God refuses to play that game at all.
What we are seeing now: the rise of Christian nationalism and the rise of theocratic fascism, is not in fact what the gospels envision when they talk about the Kingdom of God. In fact, those who advocate for Christo-fascism, or Christian nationalism, have more in common with the empire that murdered Jesus and nailed him to the cross, than they do with Jesus. They make a mockery of the faith. They are like the people who stood at the foot of the cross, making fun of Jesus, for claiming to be king.
In contrast, when we as Christians affirm Christ as king, we need to understand, that we aren’t called to imitate institutions of violence but we are called to dismantle them. When we affirm Christ as king, we are rejecting an obsession with power, might, and wealth. When we affirm Christ as king, we are refusing to implement a kingdom built off the exploitation of the poor and most vulnerable. Instead, we are committing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
What type of king is Jesus? Jesus is a king born a poor, Palestinian Jew, whose mother was a teenager. Jesus is a king that rejects unfettered power and challenges institutions of power. He doesn’t capitulate to them; he demands they do better or face the judgment of God. Jesus is a king who elevates and centers the voices of society’s most despised. He doesn’t seek accolades from the rich and powerful, but comforts and brings healing to the poor, the forgotten, and the despised in society.
Jesus is a king whose power is not wielded via military might but rather through justice and mercy. Jesus isn’t seeking to conquer lands or vanquish people but instead wants to break down the societal structures and institutions that oppress and repress. The kingdom of God is not one of exclusion and domination but invitation and equality. The kingdom of God encourages and invites us to imagine a better world: one of liberation and justice.
The gospel reading highlights this reality. The gospel reading is not one that focuses on Jesus as a military leader, nor does it show a triumphal Christ. Instead, it shows a Christ that has been beaten, mocked, and crucified by the powers of this world.
This selection is purposeful because the kingdom of God is not one that focuses on imperial and military power. Instead, it portrays Jesus as a king who suffers with us, who is killed for seeking to destroy piece by piece, the very institutions of power that abuse and crush the marginalized. This passage exemplifies that the Jesus we Christians worship is nothing like the political and religious leaders whose very power is built on the exploitation of the marginalized.
Yet too many Christians have rejected the kingdom of God and instead chosen to imitate the kingdoms of the world. Christians who value guns and weapons over the lives of children are rejecting the kingdom of God. Christians who insist on taking away people’s reproductive rights, who treat women as nothing more than property meant to breed, are rejecting the kingdom of God.
Christians who seek to dismantle what little safety net is available in the United States who allow people to struggle to feed their families, to lose their homes, to die because they cannot access medical care, are rejecting the kingdom of God. Christians who insist that those of other faiths are “wrong” and need to repent and turn to Christianity are rejecting the kingdom of God.
And Christians who tell queer people that they are an abomination and prevent them from marrying, having families, and getting necessary medical treatment, are rejecting the kingdom of God. They are using the language of Jesus, God, and faith, to endorse horrific policies that lead to the subjugation and deaths of millions.
It is important to note that this year Christ the King falls on Transgender Day of Remembrance. A day to remember and honor the lives of transgender individuals who have died as a result of vile acts of hatred and violence. And too often, this violence is endorsed by those who call themselves Christian.
There are those who actively call for violence against queer people, such as the Texas pastor who called for queer people to be lined up and shot. Some Christians regurgitate the horrific lie that trans people are predators, meanwhile, they remain quiet as their own pastors and religious leaders abuse members of their congregations.
Other Christians, claim to eschew violence and would never use such strong rhetoric, yet they advocate for policies that prevent trans children and adults from getting the medical care they need. This denial of medical care contributes to the deaths of trans and queer people.
There are Christians who claim to “love everyone including members of the LGBTQ+ community,” but who cannot “approve” of our lifestyle. Who insist that they need to tell us to “repent.” They are propagating a theology that tells queer people, that there’s something wrong with us. This horrific theology kills.
Honoring Christ as King means remembering those who are victims of horrific and violent theology. It means centering the marginalized. It means recognizing that we worship a King who was murdered by the state for pushing back against theologies and ideologies of violence.
Honoring Christ as king means honoring transgender lives and demanding to put an end to the violence directed at queer people. It means rejecting Christian nationalism, white supremacy, and Christo-fascism. It means speaking out against those in power and not colluding with them.
Christians, we have a decision to make: who are we going to worship? We can’t worship both God and the forces of oppression and violence. We can’t claim to want the Kingdom of God while advocating for a world where queer people are silenced and murdered, where guns are valued over human life, where the poor are ignored and left to fend for themselves.
We can’t claim to worship Christ and endorse Christian nationalism. The king we worship is not like the political leaders of this world and until we recognize that and truly embrace it, we will continue to commit idolatry and worship false kings.
Image: Dark Blue background. Clip art of crown. Text: Christians, we have a decision to make: who are we going to worship? We can’t claim to worship Christ and endorse Christian nationalism.