Why Israel matters to Christians: A personal case for support

Since the founding of Israel just 77 years ago, millions of Christians have visited the Holy Land, and walked where the stories of the Bible unfolded. For countless believers, the Bible has come alive in new and vivid ways, leaving them with renewed faith and deep gratitude.

That was certainly my story. At 19, I studied in Israel for the summer, walking the stone streets of Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified and rose again, standing in Capernaum where He ministered, and exploring His hometown of Nazareth. Every site was infused with the Bible’s historical, geographical, and cultural context. The Scriptures leapt off the page. That visit forever changed the trajectory of my life, and ever since, I have supported Israel for affording me this life-changing encounter.

Today, as Christians debate global issues and the role of faith in public life, it is vital to remember that support for Israel is not only a matter of politics or theology. It is also deeply personal. Here are four reasons why Christians, regardless of denomination or background, should stand with Israel.

Israel Welcomes Christian Pilgrims

For Christians, a trip to Israel is far more than tourism. It is pilgrimage—spiritual retreat, education, and worship combined. Israel warmly welcomes believers to come and encounter the land of the Bible.

Many return home already planning their next visit, which explains the unusually high rate of repeat tourism. Israel doesn’t merely open its borders; it opens its most sacred places to prayer, worship and renewal. That hospitality is a gift Christians should not take lightly.

Israel Provides Access to Christian Sites

In much of the world, governments restrict access to religious sites or even persecute Christian worship. By contrast, Israel ensures that biblical places central to our faith remain open to all.

This means Christians can not only walk where Jesus walked but also gather for prayer and worship at the sites tied to His ministry, death, and resurrection. The freedom to encounter God’s Word in its original setting is a privilege that strengthens our faith and unites us more closely to Scripture.

Israel Preserves Sacred History

Israel also takes great care to preserve the archaeological treasures that validate and illuminate the Bible. Consider the contrast: in 1999, Muslim authorities bulldozed 9,000 tons of archaeologically rich soil from the Temple Mount and dumped it into the Kidron Valley—obliterating priceless artifacts of Jewish and Christian history.

In response, archaeologists launched the Temple Mount Sifting Project. With the help of more than 250,000 volunteers, over half a million artifacts have been recovered—some dating back to the First and Second Temple periods.

Israel itself would never have allowed such destruction. Instead, it carefully preserves and catalogs remains before any construction project. Christians should appreciate this stewardship, which both protects our spiritual heritage and strengthens our confidence in Scripture.

Israel Is a Haven for Christians

Perhaps the most overlooked reason Christians should support Israel is the safety and opportunity it provides to the Christian minority within its borders. Across the Middle East, ancient Christian communities are shrinking—often under violent persecution. In Israel, however, Christianity is not only surviving but growing.

Father Gabriel Nadaf, a Greek Orthodox priest, told the UN Human Rights Council: “There is one country in the Middle East where Christianity is affectionately granted freedom of expression, freedom of worship, and security . . . it is Israel, the Jewish State.”

Like all minorities in Israel, Christians enjoy equal rights and freedoms. By supporting Israel, we safeguard our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in a region otherwise hostile to their faith.

A Debt of Gratitude

For these reasons—and for the deeply personal encounters believers have in the land of the Bible—Israel is a blessing to Christians everywhere. We are indebted to the Jewish people for protecting our access to sacred sites, preserving biblical history, and safeguarding Christian communities.

Israel matters to us not as an abstract cause but in the most personal of ways. It is the land where our faith was born, and it continues to speak powerfully to God’s people today.

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