The "Social Kingship of Christ" and Religious Pluralism: A Comparison of Two Broad Approaches

Abstract

precis: The titles of "Lord" and "King" have been applied to Christ since the earliest days of Christianity. Many have interpreted these titles as implying that Christ, as the God-human, is the only human to contain the fullness of the divine authority. In the Catholic tradition, this was also interpreted in a political sense, as implying that Christ is the highest authority in both the spiritual and the socio-political realms and that all authority, whether religious or secular, is derived from that of Christ. This implies a belief in the finality of Christ, that is, of Christ as the most definitive revelation of God to humankind and, therefore, as the highest authority. This essay examines different views of how to reconcile the belief in the finality of Christ with the reality of life in a pluralistic society, comparing two broad approaches put forward by Christians in recent decades—a confessional, and a more ecumenical approach.