Some time ago a Christian friend asked about Zionism. At the time I couldn’t give a simple answer because I didn’t fully understand it myself. This is my attempt to give a short basic answer to that question.
“ZIONISM is an international political movement that originally supported the reestablishment of a homeland for the Jewish People in Palestine, and continues primarily as support for the modern state of Israel.” (Wikipedia)
In 1891 by the Austrian publicist Nathan Birnbaum used the word “Zionism” to describe this movement.
A ZIONIST is someone who supports the movement.
A CHRISTIAN ZIONIST is a Christian who supports the movement.
Many Christians support Zionism because they have been taught to do so in today’s church world. It is taught that God’s covenant with Abraham regarding land is to be applied to modern day political secular Israel. The teachings of Christian Zionism are based on an unscriptural interpretation of bible passages in the Old Testament such as Genesis 12:1-3.
Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
This often heard portion of scripture, “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee,” is taken completely out of context when applied to unbelieving Jews. In our day, the only blessing from God is upon the believer, both Jew and Gentile, who is filled with the Holy Ghost. The wrath of God is upon all unbelievers, whether they be Jew or Gentile.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
A Christian Zionist gives unconditional support to political secular Israel, as if God’s Israel and political secular Israel are one and the same. Christian Zionists support the Jewish people, and the nation of Israel, in all they do to gain or keep land. Christian Zionism incorrectly identifies who God’s Israel really is. It’s focus is on unregenerate ethnic Israel and an earthly piece of land, instead of focusing on the fact that everything designated in the bible as “forever” is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
In supporting Christian Zionism, many Christians could inadvertently end up supporting bloodshed and injustice. We as Christians are to love all people. As believers in Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, this is one subject we want to understand correctly, because lives and eternal souls are at stake.
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