Love is King!

Nowadays, I’m listening to many interesting podcasts, especially on YouTube. Some of the podcasters are Christians who sometimes use the slogan “Christ is King”. If the main purpose of their work is to promote tolerance, understanding, kindness, compassion, collaboration and unity in the world, (which I truly believe they are trying to achieve), it is my opinion that using the slogan “Christ is King”, is not very helpful.

I understand that the statement is a deeply held and meaningful expression of the podcasters faith, so I don’t think they are using it with the conscious intention to exclude or diminish other beliefs or worldviews.

However, I still believe it can easily be perceived and interpreted as an act of arrogance, provoking intolerance, separation and conflict. Throughout history, religious claims of superiority have been used to justify oppression, violence, and even war. This historical baggage makes the statement "Christ is King" particularly sensitive and potentially inflammatory.

Bending the Knee

In medieval times, a person who did not bend the knee in front of the king, was referred to as "insubordinate," "defiant," "rebellious", or even “rebel” or “traitor”. If the king had the role as a divine ruler or high priest, a person who refused to kneel might be called a "heretic" or "blasphemer."

If “Christ is King”, doesn’t that infer that unless you bend the knee to Christ and acknowledge Him as your king and savior, i.e. unless you are, or become, a Christian, you are an outcast and a spiritually inferior person with no connection to God? And isn’t that an attitude of arrogance and disrespect that provokes conflict?

Fanaticism - a deadly mental virus

I define a religious fanatic as anyone who believes that his or her religion or faith is the true, superior spiritual path, and that followers of any other religion or belief system are in need of “salvation” because they are lost on a false, or wrong, or inferior path.

The phrase 'Christ is King' can easily be perceived as an insult by those who pledge their allegiance and kneel to other 'kings.' This fuels conflict, as many of these individuals also employ exclusionary and insulting slogans, proclaiming their own king as the 'only true king.'

Throughout much of human history, slogans that pit one 'king' against another have caused immense suffering. This mental virus is the deadliest virus in human history, creating the longest lasting pandemic that is still continuing today. Don't you think it's time to stop it?

God is Love

The Bible states, “God is love.” To me, this implies that the words "God" and "Christ" can be considered synonymous with "love." I believe that our shared spiritual purpose is to grow into human expressions of God or Christ by embodying love. This involves a continuous journey and learning process of improving our ability to treat ourselves and others with compassion, kindness, and understanding.

The human expressions of love

In our human interaction, love (or God) becomes visible when our behavior is aligned with what we call our values. Our common values are principles and standards that transcend cultural, national, and personal differences. They form the foundation for ethical behavior and interpersonal harmony and represent a unifying thread that connects humanity.

The following is a comprehensive list of what are generally considered our common human values:

1. Respect for Life and Dignity
- Respect for all human beings and their inherent dignity.
- Valuing life and striving to prevent harm or unnecessary suffering.

2. Compassion and Empathy
- Caring for others' well-being.
- Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.

3. Honesty and Integrity
- Being truthful and sincere in actions and words.
- Upholding moral principles consistently.

4. Justice and Fairness
- Treating everyone equally and equitably.
- Upholding the rule of law and ensuring accountability.

5. Freedom and Autonomy
- Respecting individuals' rights to make their own choices.
- Valuing freedom of thought, expression, and action.

6. Kindness and Generosity
- Helping others without expecting anything in return.
- Sharing resources, time, and support with those in need.

7. Unity and Solidarity
- Working together towards common goals.
- Supporting one another in times of need.

8. Tolerance and Open-Mindedness
- Accepting and respecting differences in others.
- Being willing to listen and understand diverse perspectives.

9. Responsibility and Accountability
- Taking ownership of one’s actions and their consequences.
- Acting with consideration for others and the environment.

10. Gratitude and Humility
- Being thankful for what one has and for the kindness of others.
- Recognizing one's limitations and learning from others.

11. Love and Forgiveness
Valuing relationships and expressing affection.
Letting go of anger and resentment to foster peace.

12. Curiosity and Lifelong Learning
- Seeking knowledge and understanding.
- Encouraging innovation and growth.

13. Environmental Stewardship
- Respecting and protecting the natural world.
- Acting sustainably for the benefit of future generations.

14. Courage and Perseverance
- Facing challenges and adversity with strength and determination.
- Standing up for one’s beliefs and values.

15. Happiness and Contentment
- Seeking inner peace and well-being.
- Contributing to the happiness of others.

The Golden Rule

These values also represent the most consistent, prevalent, universal and ethical principle in history: "Do to others as you would have them do to you”. This is called, as I am sure you know, The Golden Rule, also known as The Ethic of Reciprocity.

Did you know that the wisdom of The Golden Rule is shared by Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Bahá'í Faith, Confucianism, Taoism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, as well as by many native and indigenous spiritualities, humanism and secular ethical systems?

I’m a 71-year-old medical doctor and psychotherapist who has lived, studied and worked in many countries in different parts of the world. The most important lesson that my life-experiences have given me is that we human beings, underneath a very thin layer of differences, are all connected, and that we are all seeking the same well-being, the same love and the same spiritual fulfilment.

I have seen the above-mentioned values (love) been expressed by so many different people from so many different spiritual paths, that my obvious and logical conclusion is that you don’t need to be a Christian to become a human expression of God.

The Golden Rule is a non-theological principle that neither mentions God nor is necessarily identified with the scriptures or doctrines of any one religion. It can therefore be practiced without any religious commitment. That means that anybody can learn to be “Christ-like”, loving, caring and compassionate, including those who deny the existence of God.

The solution

Although the way the statement "Christ is King" is used, and the intent behind it significantly impact how it is perceived, I am convinced that changing it, as well as any similar statements from other religions, would greatly contribute to our efforts to eradicate the fanatical mindset and improve the level of tolerance and peaceful co-existence in the world.

I have two suggestions:

1. For those who find it "impossible" to let go of the statement, add the word ´my`to it: "Christ (or whoever you consider king) is MY King". At least that will lessen its arrogant and disrespectful slur.

2. I strongly suggest using "Love is King". This is a totally inclusive and unifying slogan. How can anyone argue with that, or create a conflict from it?

Whenever someone ask me about religion, I usually answer the following:

"The name of your faith or religion is of no importance.
If love is visible in your words and actions,
you are on a right path".

Is your life and work focused on improving your practice of The Golden Rule? None of us is perfect, and it is easy to fail, and also very easy to fake, so we have to work on it every single day. It starts with learning how to love ourselves. Psychotherapy and meditation can be very helpful in this process.

I invite you to check out my book: “Self-Discovery: The Challenging Path To A Fulfilling Life”

You might also want to consider my audio course on the app Insight Timer:
“Breaking Free From A Culture Of Fear, Guilt And Shame”

I offer individual consultations online.
More information HERE.
Book a session HERE

I hope you have enjoyd the post. I´d love to hear your comment!

LOVE IS KING!!

Nowadays, I’m listening to many interesting podcasts, especially on YouTube. Some of the podcasters are Christians that use the slogan “Christ is King”. If the main purpose of their work is to promote tolerance, understanding, kindness, compassion, collaboration and unity in the world, (which I truly believe they are trying to achieve), it is my opinion that using the slogan “Christ is King”, is not very helpful.