Christian Zionism: Their Theology, Our Nightmare!

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On a pleasant Sunday afternoon in July 2000, members and pastors belonging to local Palestinian Evangelical congregations from the Palestinian territories gathered at the Bethleham Hotel to celebrate the formation of their council. An American woman who was present at the meeting approached on of the pastors and asked him if she could say a few words to the assembly. The pastor, desiring to show courtesy to the guest, asked the emcee (also a Palestinian pastor) if the lady could say her few words. The emcee, unaware of what was coming, agreed to let her talk. When the lady took the microphone, The audience couldn't believe the words that came out of her mouth. She professed to the Palestinian Evangelical Christians assembled there that she had a word from the Lord for them. "God," she said, "wanted them all to leave Israel and go to other Arab countries," She added that they must leave room for God's chosen people, the Jews. She warned the pastors and the audience that if they did not listen to the instructions which God had given her, God would pour out His wrath on them. When her agenda was recognized, one of the pastors came and whisked her away from the pulpit, but not before she served a mouthful of what is known as Christian Zionism.

This is not an isolated example by an overzealous Christian Zionist: every one of those pastors gathered in that assembly could tell similar stories. Campus Crusade for Christ, for example, invited an Israeli official and Alex Awad (Mr. Awad is pastor of East Jerusalem Baptist Church) for a live TV debate on the Arab/Israeli conflict in Kansas City, MO. When the time came for questions from the public, a man, after learning Pastor Awad was a Palestinian Christian, called to tell him that if he was truly a Bible-believing Christian and a true follower of Jesus, he would know that God had given the Holy Land to the Jews and that he and other Palestinian Christians should peacefully leave the country.

I am certain that most Christian Zionists are not as radical and confrontational as the woman and the man in my examples. However, many Christians in the United States and around the world cling to these ideas without critically examining them. Some of those who hold these ideas may not have heard the term Christian Zionist.

Influential TV evangelists such as Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, both staunch advocates of Christian Zionism, have warned and threatened US presidents against carrying out policies that would pressure Israel into making concessions to Palestinians on the pathway to concluding a peace agreement. They and other influencial Christian Zionists have cautioned and manipulated presidents against forcing Israel to abandon Jewish settlements in the West Bank as part of a "land for peace" deal.

What are the theological and eschatological (end time) beliefs of Christian Zionism?

Jews have special favor with God and neither time, history nor the religious conditions of Jews can affect or alter God’s special favor towards the Jewish people.

The Holy Land belongs to the Jews. It always has and it always will. Neither history, nor the passing of centuries, nor the religious or moral condition of Jews today can alter this fact.

Jews today are an extension of the Israelites in Biblical times. Therefore, just as the nations during the Old Testament era were judged as to how they treated ancient Israel, the same is true today. God will bless nations and individuals who bless the modern Jewish state and he will curse countries and individuals who curse it.

Old Testament prophecies, although uttered thousands of years ago, are being fulfilled in Israel today and have been since 1948 when the state was born.

God’s ‘end time’ plan is directly connected with modern Israel. Christians can speed up the coming of Christ, as they help bring about the fulfillment of prophecies that pertain to Israel. Dangers of the Teachings of Christian Zionism Most adherents of Christian Zionism are not aware of the destructive theological, religious and political implications of these ideas.

Dangers of the Teachings of Christian Zionism

Most adherents of Christian Zionism are not aware of the destructive theological, religious and political implications of these ideas.

Theological Implications

Theologically, Christian Zionism is a contradiction in terms. Zionism is a secular political movement that has clear political goals and has been nonreligious from its inception. Because of the political positions of Zionism, millions of people around the world equate it with racism. Therefore it is not to the advantage of Christianity to be in union with Zionism. Zionism deviates from the heart of the New Testament. New Testament Christianity proclaims “For God so loved the world “, while Christian Zionism proclaims “for God so loved modern Israel.” According to the book of Acts, Jesus made clear to Peter in a vision that God no longer favors one nation over others:

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. Acts 10:34–35

In the epistle to the Galatians, St. Paul confronted a group in the churches of Asia Minor that wanted to drag the new believers back to Judaism. Paul stood firmly against this group teaching the churches that in Christ there is no Jew or Gentile but that both have equal access to God through Christ.

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26–29

Christian Zionism influences its followers to be indifferent to the Biblical mandates on peace and justice. Hard-line Christian Zionists teach that peace between Israel and her neighbors could only be established by the anti-Christ, the archenemy of Christ. Consequently, religious or political leaders or organizations that endeavor to make peace between Israelis and Palestinians could be seen as a tool of the anti-Christ. Thus the more turmoil and suffering that the nations of the Middle East undergo the greater the evidence that God is carrying out his eschatological program. Eschatology for many Christian Zionists is far more important than Biblical teachings on peace and justice. Jesus told some religious teachers who derided the importance of justice:

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. Matthew 23:23

Religious Implications

Christian Zionism is adding fuel to the tension between Christians and Muslims. Many Christian Zionists, especially after September 11, 2001, began to see Muslims as enemies of God. TV evangelists went on the air publicly denouncing Muslims and Islam. Christian Zionists continue to talk about reaching the world for Christ. How can they do so when they are alienating and building walls of mistrust between them and over a billion Muslims? I too was once in this camp and I ask God's forgiveness for my attitude not resembling Christ.

Palestinian Christians have existed in the Holy Land since the day of Pentecost and have kept the torch of Christianity burning faithfully for the past two thousand years. If the Christian Zionists’ agenda is carried out, it will mean the death of Christianity in the Holy Land. The erosion of Christianity in her birthplace is a loss for the body of Christ everywhere. Can we imagine the Holy Land devoid of the Christian presence and a church which has been a faithful witness for Christ since the day the church was born?

Political Implications

Zionism is militarizing the church. The influence of Zionism on US Christians has helped alter Christians’ perceptions of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the war in Iraq. Christian Zionists overwhelmingly supported the war in Iraq and continue to support oppressive Israeli measures in the West Bank. For example, the slaughter of tens of thousands of Iraqi men, women and children in Iraq goes unnoticed and unprotested because of their belief that George W. Bush is a dedicated Christian president who is carrying out the will of God. Likewise, Israel’s disproportionate use of force against Palestinian civilians in refugee camps in Gaza and the West Bank is usually accepted by Christian Zionists. If condemned at all, it is equal to a slap on the wrist, while a disproportionate amount of blame is placed on the Palestinians who are, in every aspect of their lives, under Israeli control.

Unlike the prophets of the Old Testament, Christian Zionists have no prophetic words of rebuke for the state of Israel when the Jewish state indulges in oppression. Christian Zionists do not call for the state of Israel to do justice. Israel confiscates Palestinian land, demolishes the homes of the poor, destroys their agricultural land and siphons off their water resources, while many Christian Zionists continue to bless Israel and sing her praises. There are Israelis today, however, like the brave prophets of ancient Israel who do not hesitate to call their compatriots to pursue justice. Jeremiah reflected that courage when he said:

O house of David, this is what the LORD says: Administer justice every morning; rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done— burn with no one to quench it. Jerimiah 21:12

In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ calls all his followers to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). His teachings are often referred to as The Good News. They are God’s good news for the entire human race. Can we intentionally proclaim his teachings as good news for some but bad news for others? When the Bible is used to endorse the theft of countries and the suppression of nations, then the good news becomes bad news and the Bible is twisted into a manual for occupation.