If you have followed any kind of news outlet in the past few days, I am sure that you heard the phrase “you are at the wrong rally”. That phrase was presidential candidate Kamala Harris’s response to a person in the crowd yelling Jesus is King. For a little background Kamala Harris identifies as a Christian. If you have read my book or some of my previous blogs, there is a difference between being a Christian and a Christ-follower. Calling oneself a Christian is a modern day check the box identification. Acknowledging that Jesus exists and following him by paralleling your life with him are two different things. Remember that Satan also agrees that Jesus exists.
Back to the comment of “you are at the wrong rally.” Personally, I have never once seen anyone identify as a Christ-follower who is afraid to proudly proclaim that Jesus is King. When you accept salvation and are filled with the Holy Spirit, you have God dwelling withinside of you. Naturally someone who loves Jesus would unabashedly proclaim his name. The relationship between ourselves and Jesus is our identity. We seek to share our experience with the world. What does it mean when you don’t proclaim that Jesus is King? Could it be as simple as being scared, ashamed or fearful? Peter denied Jesus three times and that didn’t mean he didn’t love and follow Jesus. In his fear, he acted in the flesh and denied his relationship with Jesus.
Luke 22:54-62 New American Standard Bible 1995
Jesus’ Arrest
54 Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance. 55 After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. 56 And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” 58 A little later, another saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
If you look at the last verse “And he went out and wept bitterly.” Peter knew what he did was wrong. His behavior pulled on his heart and filled emotions with sadness. Peter was scared of being identified as a Christ-follower because he did not want to face the punishment of death that Jesus faced. Peter’s situation was night and day different than what we see with Kamala. It has been several days since Kamala Harris’s comment. She has yet to show any kind of repentance for her comment. She has not publicly denounced her behavior. Based on the facts of the situation, we can only draw one conclusion.
Kamala Harris won’t acknowledge that Jesus is King.
As a presidential candidate, you have the largest megaphone in the entire world. Your words or lack thereof, carry enormous weight. If you believe that Jesus is King, our personal savior and son of God, then why would you refuse to acknowledge these things? There is only one conclusion that we can draw from the behaviors and fruits that people bare. We cannot see a person’s heart as assuming this would be judgment. However, the Bible tells us that we will know them by the fruits that they bear. You don’t have to be a biblical scholar to realize that someone who refuses to acknowledge that Jesus is King probably does not believe that he is King.
In this day and age, it is not good enough to say that you are a Christian. The term has been twisted, perverted and made a mockery of. Only those that publicly proclaim that Jesus is King of King’s and Lord of Lords will enter heaven. Just believing that someone or something exists does not mean that you are faithful to the cause. Being a Christ-follower means taking up your cross, live your life showing that the Holy Spirit is working inside of you and acknowledging that Jesus is King. Here are a few Bible verses to re-enforce my thoughts.
Matthew 16:24-26 New American Standard Bible 1995
Discipleship Is Costly
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
John 6:63 New American Standard Bible
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh provides no benefit; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
1 Timothy 6:15 New American Standard Bible
15 which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
Many politicians seek to gain the whole world but will forfeit their soul in the process. Many politicians will say that they are Christian or Catholic but identify in the flesh only. Their actions and words do not acknowledge that Jesus is King. When put on the spot, their natural response is to deny Jesus, not acknowledge him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Pay attention to the fruits that people bare because they will show you the heart of the individual.