A call for keeping Christian in Christian Zionism

What is a Christian Zionist?

A lot of people have opinions about Christian Zionism, but many don’t truly understand what it means or what those of us who hold this view actually believe. Too often we allow others to define the term for us. So it helps to begin by clearing away some common misconceptions.

Being a Christian Zionist does not mean blindly supporting every decision made by the Israeli government. Nor, does it mean offering unconditional or uncritical acceptance to every policy issuing out of the Knesset. It does not mean excusing injustice, nor does it mean ignoring the suffering of innocent Palestinians. Scripture consistently calls God’s people to compassion, fairness, and humility. The Torah teaches, “Do not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, since you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 23:9).

Supporting Israel must always be grounded in biblical values as well as promises, including the dignity and worth of every human life. As the prophet Micah reminds us, God requires that we “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him” (Micah 6:8). Any theology that overlooks the pain or suffering of the truly oppressed has journeyed far from the heart of God.

What, then, is Christian Zionism? Simply stated, it is the conviction that the Bible teaches God’s promises to Israel—especially those related to the land—remain in effect and valid today. Scripture repeatedly declares these promises to be “everlasting” and “forever.” Christian Zionism affirms Israel’s right to a Jewish homeland on the very soil their ancestors began inhabiting more than three and a half millennia ago. It teaches that while the church shares in Israel’s spiritual blessings, it does not replace Israel in God’s unfolding plan of redemption. The very existence of Israel stands as a powerful testimony to God’s faithfulness as a Promise Keeper.

To be a Christian means that through repentance and faith we have placed our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Understanding the essence of Zionism requires no more research than examining the root of its name—Zion. “Zion” appears more than 150 times in the Hebrew Scriptures, referring to the city of Jerusalem. Mount Zion stands at the heart of Jerusalem and is known as the dwelling place of God. Zionism is nothing more—and nothing less—than the historical reality that Jerusalem is the capital and home of the Jewish people, established by King David nearly 3,500 years ago. To be a Christian Zionist simply means that we, as followers of Yeshua, affirm this indisputable truth. 

Christian Zionism means that we are followers of Yeshua who believe the Jews have the right to live securely within the borders of their ancient homeland. We are passionate about this because our faith calls us to be passionate about the things that stir God’s heart. And He leaves no doubt about His love for Zion: “Thus says the Lord of Hosts: I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; with great fervor I am zealous for her” (Zechariah 8:2). Christian Zionists desire to love what God loves, with that same great zeal and fervor.

Yet within Christian Zionism lies an inherent danger. We can become so passionate in our support for Israel that we unintentionally become Zionist Christians rather than Christian Zionists. The order matters. We are not Zionist Christians; we are Christian Zionists. Nothing is more important than our personal relationship with the living Lord. First and forever, I am a Christian. My chief devotion is to Jesus Christ. Because of this, I take His promises in Scripture as faithful and true. And that is precisely why I am a Zionist—I believe God keeps His word. I hold in my hands, and in my heart, a Bible that is trustworthy, infallible, and unchanging.

My Jewish friends understand this clearly. I make no apology that the essence of evangelical faith is personal trust in Yeshua—His life, death, burial, and resurrection. If my Jewish friends were to ask me not to speak of this gospel, I would gently remind them they would be asking me to do something I would never ask of them: to stop being who I am. I would never ask a Jewish friend to stop being a Jew, and I hope they would never ask me to stop being a Christian. Sharing our faith is the very essence of our spiritual identity. In a sense, I often tell them, I have converted to their true faith, believing that Yeshua is the promised Jewish Messiah. Ultimately, we must leave such matters in God’s hands, trusting the words of Scripture: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” (Genesis 18:25).

Maintaining a primary purpose is essential for success in any endeavor. A pen’s primary purpose is to write. I would rather own a cheap, reliable pen than an expensive one that smudges and skips. An automobile’s primary purpose is transportation, to get us from point “A” to point “B.” I would rather drive an older car that always starts than a new one that frequently stalls. Likewise, our primary purpose as believers is to love God supremely—with all our heart, soul, and mind—and then allow that love to overflow to others.

When asked which of all the 613 commandments to the Torah was the greatest, Jesus replied: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hinge all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40). The greatest way to love Israel and stand with the Jewish people is to first love God with our entire being. This is our primary purpose.

The Apostle Paul echoes this priority: “In all things He must have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18). To the Philippians he writes, “This one thing I do… I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13). Not ten things. Not five. One thing. Focused devotion to Christ protects us from the rebuke given to the church at Ephesus, who had “left their first love” (Revelation 2:4).

The surest way to love Israel and oppose the rising tide of antisemitism is to love our Lord supremely. When we do, we learn to love what He loves and those whom He loves. Scripture is unmistakable as to God’s love for the Jewish people: “You are a people holy to the Lord your God… chosen… for His treasured possession… it is not because you were many that the Lord set His love on you and chose you… but because the Lord loves you” (Deuteronomy 7:6–8).

Though Scripture affirms God’s eternal covenant with Israel, believers must guard against allowing their passion for Israel to overshadow their supreme devotion to Christ. Keeping “Christian” front and center in Christian Zionism does not weaken our love for Israel—it strengthens it. Loving Yeshua supremely intensifies our commitment to His people. After all, how can we love our Jewish Messiah without loving the Jewish people. We read a Jewish book, the Bible. When we read it every day of our lives we tend to care even more deeply for the people who are at the center of the entire story.

One of the greatest dangers of Christian Zionism is that political activism can replace spiritual devotion. History teaches that God’s people stumble most often not when they reject Him outright, but when they elevate good things above ultimate things. Israel suffered discipline and exile when devotion waned and obedience faded. Christian Zionists should heed this warning. To champion Israel politically while neglecting the gospel spiritually and supremely is a recipe for our own failure. We must always remain true Christian Zionists, not simply Zionist Christians.

True love for Israel is not found in waving flags, catchy slogans, or political posturing. It flows from a heart passionately devoted to our living Lord, expressing love for the Jewish people whom He calls the “apple of His eye.”

Our ultimate hope is not in nations or military strength, but in the risen Lord Jesus Christ, who reigns over all. When He holds first place, our love for Israel is pure, faithful, and scripturally grounded. He is the coming King of Israel, who one day will reign from Jerusalem on the throne of David. Until that day—and every day in between—we must “do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31) and keep “Christian” in Christian Zionism.