The phrase, Christ is King, can be interpreted in many ways. While I know Christian chuches have been perpetrators of every kind of abuse at some point in history, that doesn't actually change Christ's message; and his message had nothing do to with submitting to authoritarianism, in my view.

When I hear or say that phrase, my belief is that there is no ruler on Earth who supersedes God. Others may interpret it differently, but I would argue that anyone using scripture to manipulate or dominate others have missed the mark.