When Religion and Politics Pretend to Be God

At Kingdom Life, everything begins with one clear reality: Jesus is King.

Not religion.Not political power.Not the systems of this world. Jesus. Alone. Is King.

This was the first and boldest confession of the early church. And it still pushes against everything that tries to take His place.

Beware of the Leaven

In Mark 8:15, Jesus warned,“Watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

He was naming two ditches — two false kings:

• The Pharisees’ leaven: man-made religion, rules without relationship

• Herod’s leaven: political power, hope in worldly systems

  
  

We fall into the same traps today. Some make religion king, thinking church attendance, moral performance, or tradition will save us. Others make politics king, placing their hope in leaders, laws, or culture wars.

But when Jesus is King, those things get filtered out.He becomes the voice we follow, the truth we live by, the King we trust, no matter what is happening around us.

Kingship Changes Everything

To say “Jesus is King” isn’t just a spiritual phrase. It means:

• We follow Him above every other voice

• We obey Him in the real decisions of life

• We trust Him more than we trust results, power, or influence

  
  

Kingship doesn’t make you more religious

. It makes you more surrendered.

A Disciple Who Follows the King

Discipleship is about becoming someone who actually follows Jesus.That’s why “Jesus is King” is the first of our Core Practices.

It shapes how we live, lead, multiply, and love. We don’t want Pharisee-formed people or Herod-shaped movements. We want Jesus-formed disciples who live with open hands and a clear yes.