Christians in the United States, including conservative firebrands like commentator Candace Owens this week, slammed a report, they claim, is part of a concerted effort by Jewish Zionists to smear and "poison" the Biblical proclamation "Christ is King!" and declare it a 'hate speech.'
"Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.’ Then Pilate said to Him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth," according John 18:36-37.
The report titled Thy Name in Vain: How Online Extremists Hijacked ‘Christ is King’ was published Thursday, co-authored by former professor and psychologist Jordan Peterson, Rev. Johnnie Moore, Joel Finkelstein, Lee Jussim, and nine other Jews.
The 21-page paper, linked to the Jewish-funded Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) at Rutgers University and affiliated with notorious anti-free speech Jewish group Antidefamation League(ADL), argues that the phrase "Christ is King" has been "weaponized" by online extremists, including "Nazis," to promote hate speech on social media.
Moore, an evangelical leader, promoted the report on X Thursday, claiming that this "iconic phrase" had been co-opted by extremist groups, a claim echoed by Peterson who slammed Owens in vitriolic X posts.
In one post, Peterson wrote., "Candace Owens @RealCandaceO a true Pharasaical pretender. She vociferously proclaims her devotion to Christ for no other reason that to elevate her perceived status. Her outrage is designed not to shout the truth from the rooftops, build bridges or make peace, but to subvert Christianity itself--with its new force--to her own purposes. She is literally using God's name in vain. There are few more unforgivable sins."
The report drew sharp criticisms from Christians and conservatives in general on social media. Owens and others argued that "Christ is King" is a fundamental Christian declaration, not inherently antisemitic, and that labeling it as extremist stifles religious freedom. They question the report’s credibility, pointing to the obscurity of NCRI, affiliation with ADL, Peterson’s unhinged reputation, and Moore’s Zionist activism as undermining its objectivity.
"WOW. This is EVERYTHING we warned Christians about," Owens wrote on X. "This is totally demented. They are now trying have “experts” explain to Christians why we should no longer utter the phrase #ChristIsKing. Christians should FORCEFULLY reject this 'report.' It is an attack on our faith."
In another post, she asked, "Who funded this attack on 'Christ is King' Answer: the NCRI was founded in 2018 by Joel Finkelstein. Joel is the son of a rabbi who grew up in Tyler, Texas. He is a psychologist and a neuroscientist who wanted to research social media hate and 'identity politics.' This 'reverend' is on the regional board for the ADL Los Angeles and he serves on the advisory council for the ADL— and on their task force. Starting to make sense why he participated in this 'report'?"
Owens also spoke on the controversy on his show Candace. "You cannot serve both money and God," she wrote on X in a post sharing a clip of her podcast. "These tactics of trying to divide Christians between 'good little Christians' and 'bad Christians' are reminiscent of the psychological tactics deployed on American slaves. Not one inch. #ChristIsKing" She has also pointed out that the report was written by Jewish Zionists, two Indian Hindus, atheist Peterson and one "token" Christian Zionist Moore.
The controversy continued Friday, as many prominent Christian activists started to weigh in. "I checked the Form 990 and the National Contagion Research Institute is one guy. Someone wrote a 7 figure check, put one random nobody on payroll, and this is considered an academic institution," right-leaning commentator Cernovich wrotr on X Friday.
"Yesterday was a good day," Owens wrote Friday on X. "Even the usual Christian Zionists did not take the bait and recognized that what happened yesterday was a random and explicit attack on our faith—dressed up as an academic report and conducted by people who do not believe in Jesus Christ. There was absolutely no reason for them to launch their assault and they didn’t even muster a pretense. The unintended result will be that more people will awaken to exactly which faith it is that is truly under attack and by whom. #ChristIsKing"
In what appears as a rallying cry, conservative firebrand and US Naval intelligence veteran Jack Pososbiec wrote the following on X:
"We live in turbulent times—anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear knows that. The 4th Turning. The West has been unraveling, its moral fabric torn apart by decades of relativism, secularism, and a creeping authoritarianism dressed up as progress.
"In this chaos, Christians have a choice: cower in silence or stand firm with a declaration that cuts through the noise like a blade—Christ is King. This isn’t just a phrase; it’s a lifeline, a rallying cry, and a defiant assertion of truth. It’s essential for Christians today because it anchors us to the eternal when everything else is sinking sand.
"And make no mistake: those who smear it, who try to shame or silence it, aren’t just attacking words—they’re waging war on the soul of Western civilization. We must oppose them, not out of spite, but out of necessity if we’re ever to restore a moral core to our society.
"Let’s start with why Christ is King matters. For Christians, it’s the cornerstone of our faith—Jesus Christ isn’t just a teacher, a philosopher, or a feel-good mascot for self-help seminars. He’s the sovereign Lord, the Alpha and Omega, the one who conquered death and reigns forever.
"In a world spiraling into confusion—where men can’t define 'woman,' where children are mutilated in the name of identity, where power is worshipped over principle—proclaiming Christ is King is a rejection of the madness. It’s a reminder that there’s a higher authority, a transcendent order that doesn’t bend to the whims of ideologues or the tantrums of the mob. When everything’s falling apart, when the institutions we trusted turn against us, Christians need that anchor. It’s not optional; it’s survival.
"But here’s the rub: say those three words out loud, and the longhouse comes for you. You know the type—self-appointed speech police who clutch their pearls and cry 'bigot' or 'extremist' the second you step outside their script. They’ll call it divisive, offensive, even dangerous. They’ll dig through your past, twist your words, and sic their digital mobs on you. Why? Because Christ is King threatens their game. It’s a declaration of independence from their suffocating dogma, a refusal to kneel to the gods of the age—whether that’s DEI, climate hysteria, or whatever new fetish the left cooks up next. They can’t stand it because it’s a power they can’t control.
"This isn’t new. Speech policing is a hallmark of the left, straight out of the longhouse playbook. You’ve seen it: the endless lists of forbidden words, the committees formed to enforce them, the nagging tone that demands compliance or else. It’s the same dynamic that’s choked Western culture for too long—matriarchal scolding masquerading as moral superiority. The longhouse doesn’t want debate; it wants submission.
"And when Christians say Christ is King, they’re not just speaking—they’re rebelling. They’re tearing down the idols and putting the true King back on His throne. That’s why the smears come fast and furious. It’s not about the phrase itself; it’s about what it represents—a refusal to play by their rules.
"Look at the groups leading the charge against it. You’ve got the usual suspects: progressive activists, legacy media, atheists, NGOs, and those squishy 'tolerant' Christians who’d rather sip lattes with the culture than stand for anything. They’ll say it’s 'weaponized' by extremists, or that it alienates people, or—my favorite—that it’s “not the gospel.” Funny how they never cared about alienation when they were ramming their agenda down everyone’s throats.
"No, this is about power. They want to define what’s acceptable for Christians to say, to shrink our faith into a neutered, inoffensive box. Oppose them? You’re darn right we should. If we let them win this fight, we’re not just losing a phrase—we’re losing the ability to speak truth at all.
"Restoring a moral core to the West starts here. It’s not about nostalgia or some utopian rewind to the 1950s. It’s about rebuilding on a foundation that lasts. Christ is King isn’t a political slogan; it’s a metaphysical reality. It reminds us that justice, beauty, and goodness don’t come from human schemes—they flow from Him. The left’s longhouse can’t offer that. Their lists and committees just breed resentment and division. We’ve seen where their road leads: a society of atomized, anxious drones, afraid to say what they believe. Christians have something better—a King worth following, a truth worth defending.
"So stand up. Say it loud. Christ is King. Let the smears come—they’re a sign you’re hitting the target. Oppose the speech police, not because it’s easy, but because it’s right. The West hangs in the balance, and we’ve got a fight on our hands. Turbulent times call for bold faith. Anything less is surrender. When you stand before God, you cannot say, 'But I was told by others to do thus.' Or that, 'Virtue was not convenient at the time.' This will not suffice."
This is not the first time there has been a controversy over 'Christ is King.' Prominent Christians including Owens, has repeatedly said the phrase which she notably used during her public feud with Jewish Zionists Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and Ben Shapiro after her departure from The Daily Wire in March of last year. Her use of the phrase drew scrutiny when Jewish critics, labeled it as an antisemitic "dog whistle," because of her outspoken criticisms of Israel military bombardment of Gaza.
The story of Jesus' death has also stirred controversy online in recent years, as some Jewish groups tried to ban mentions of the factual account of Jesus' death as demanded by a Jewish mob.
However, Christian theologians, historians and priests agree on the Biblical accuracy and meaning to believers.
Following Jesus’ trial before Pilate, where the Jewish mob led by the chief pharisees, scribes and elders demanded Jesus’ death and called for the release of Barabbas, a criminal prisoner, instead ; Pilate, despite finding no guilt in Jesus, succumbs to the pressure to avoid a riot (Matthew 27:20-23).
“So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’ And all the people answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!’ Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.”
Pilate symbolically washes his hands (verse 24), trying to absolve himself of responsibility. The Jewish mob accepts the blame (“His blood be on us”), and Pilate then orders Jesus to be scourged and crucified (verse 26).
