Evangelical leaders are sounding the alarm as the beloved Christian phrase “Christ is King” faces distortion at the hands of hate groups, bots, and political extremists. Once a proclamation of worship and hope, the phrase has increasingly appeared online in the hands of those promoting antisemitism and extremist ideologies—prompting Christian leaders to reclaim its sacred meaning.

A recent study from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) at Rutgers University highlights how the phrase has been co-opted and weaponized by online influencers and coordinated bot networks, some even tied to foreign interests like the Chinese Communist Party. The research tracked a sharp rise in the use of “Christ is King” beginning in 2021—over 50% of the engagements tied to extremist figures such as Nick Fuentes and Andrew Tate.

“We noted a mismatch of the actors using the phrase, and it just didn’t make any sense,” NCRI researchers said. “We wanted to understand where it came from and how it was being used.”

The report was co-authored by Canadian psychologist and commentator Dr. Jordan Peterson, who warned, “The narcissists, hedonists, and psychopaths occupy the fringes wherever they obtain power. And using God’s name, attempt to subvert the power of the divine to their own devices.”

Evangelical voices are now uniting to call out the misappropriation and stand firm in the true meaning of “Christ is King.”

“It’s quite clear that people are trying to steal this phrase from us, and we’re saying no, it’s a Christian phrase,” said Rev. Johnnie Moore, a former commissioner with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. “You sure as anything can’t use it to spread hate against Jews.”

Moore noted that over 30% of the antisemitic activity online surrounding the phrase was driven by bot networks, not genuine grassroots movements—revealing a deliberate manipulation tactic designed to stir division.

“Christ is King” was re-popularized in part by Pope Pius XI’s 1925 institution of the Feast of Christ the King. The celebration was intended as a direct response to the rise of totalitarian ideologies like nationalism and communism, which undermined Christianity’s role in society.

Today, Evangelicals say they see a similar need to defend the phrase from being distorted by ideologies that have no place in the Gospel.

“There’s no Christianity without Judaism,” Moore said, emphasizing that antisemitic groups trying to “Christianize” hatred are distorting both Scripture and history. “They’re losing their battle because there’s a sheer amount of Evangelicals in every country… and we’re all pro-Israel.”

Robert Stearns, another prominent Evangelical leader, put it simply: “Christ is King is a cry of worship, not war. We must not let extremists hijack what belongs to God.”

Princeton professor and Catholic thought leader Robby George echoed the sentiment. “When you hear the phrase as a Christian, the proper response is ‘Amen.’ But if you hear someone say the same words as an antisemitic taunt, the correct reply is, ‘I stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters.’ Don’t be played.”

As Easter approaches, leaders like Moore are hopeful that the global Christian community will drown out those who seek to misuse the phrase with a chorus of authentic praise.

“What will happen at Easter is there will be countless millions of Christians all around the world saying these words,” Moore said. “And they only mean one thing: worship of the risen Christ.”

In a world of twisted messages and digital manipulation, the Church is holding firm to the truth: Christ is King—not of hate or politics, but of love, truth, and redemption.