8 Things Christian Zionism Is Not

Dispensationalism is a theology originating in the nineteenth century by Nelson Darby and made popular through the notes of the Scofield version of the King James Bible. It puts Israel and the church on two different tracks throughout history with an elaborate scheme of end-time events. While dispensationalists are pro-Israel, most Christian Zionists today do not adhere to this interpretation of Scripture. Christian Zionism does not hold to such a specific schedule of dispensations or end-time events and predates Dispensationalism by about 18 centuries![1]

Christian Zionism is not based on prophecy and should not be seen as an attempt to accelerate an apocalyptic timeline. Christian Zionism is based on God’s promises—those spoken to Abraham, made part of the Mosaic covenant, then confirmed by the Hebrew prophets. While the prophecies will most certainly come to pass, predicting how they will occur involves a good degree of speculation. The firm foundation of Christian Zionism is the very promises of God found in His covenants with Israel[1] and His faithfulness to fulfill those promises—not speculation.

The accusation that Christian Zionism is a heresy recently went viral when spoken by a well-known media personality who had only recently read the Bible for the first time and obviously did not know much Christian history as well. Some of the greatest and most respected Evangelicals in history were what might today be called Christian Zionists: Jonathan Edwards, John and Charles Wesley, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Bishop Ryle of Liverpool, Professor Jacob Janeway of the Scottish National Church, and many others. The only difference between them and today’s Christian Zionists is that they looked forward in hope to a future event; today’s Christian Zionists—numbering in the hundreds of millions—have witnessed the return of the Jews to their homeland and actively support a current reality.

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Some detractors claim that Zionism is just one of many nationalist movements of the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Though the Zionist movement did benefit from this wave of nationalism, it long predated it.[1] Christian Zionism views the Zionist movement of the late eighteenth century as a necessary political effort to realize the return of the Jewish people to Zion in fulfillment of God’s plans and purposes. He is sovereign and used nationalism to fulfill the longing to return to Zion, evident in the daily prayers of the Jewish people throughout their 2,000 years of exile.

It is also important to note that not all Jews were in exile, and generations have lived in the land of Israel for 3,000 years. Zionism is deeply connected to ancient, divine land promises, a consistent Jewish presence in the land, and centuries of Jewish longing to return home for those living outside it.

Israel’s detractors have tried to rewrite history in such a way that Israel is a colonialist aggressor founded on stolen land. If that were true, then Christians would be guilty of supporting theft of land.[1] It is important to establish that these claims are false. Though Jewish connection to the land spans some 4,000 years, modern Jewish immigration to then Palestine began with land purchases there in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and the creation of agricultural communities. When Israel declared independence in 1948, there was a transfer of public lands previously held by the British Mandate.

The new Israeli government invited Arabs living inside its borders to remain as citizens. However, the surrounding Arab nations responded by declaring war on the infant nation, displacing hundreds of thousands of Arabs and Jews. But Arab states failed to absorb the Palestinian Arab refugees, while Israel absorbed the Jewish refugees expelled from Arab nations. Vacated Arab properties were absorbed by Israel, just as vacated Jewish properties were absorbed by the Arab countries in which they had resided. While some grievances do exist, the overwhelming historical, legal, and demographic evidence affirms that Israel’s establishment was lawful and legitimate.

Another tactic Israel’s enemies use is to blame the Jewish State for being racist. Nothing could be further from the truth, but due to the effectiveness of this campaign, we must address it, or else Christian Zionism could be considered racist as well. When it comes to Israel’s treatment of the Arab people, one need only look to its Arab citizens to see that Israel is clearly not a racist state. The charge of apartheid (racial segregation) is based on the previous dismantling of the real apartheid regime in South Africa in the mid-90s; it is being used to isolate Israel internationally and bring about her de-mise through boycotts, divestments, and sanctions (BDS)

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Another accusation thrown at Christian Zionists is one of being anti-Arab, whereas Christians should love all people. A Christian approach to the Arab-Israeli conflict must be one not only grounded in love for all the people involved, but one that is biblically founded and discerns between what is historical fact and politically motivated mistruths. One will then understand that the greatest blessing for the Arab people is found in God’s covenant with the people of Israel. It is because of God’s love for the world that He brought into existence the nation of Israel through whom He would bring about His plan to redeem that world. His intention was not to bless the Jewish people to the exclusion of the rest of the world, but that through them, He would “bless all the families of the earth” (Genesis 12:3). Therefore, it is absolutely pro-Arab to be pro-Israel.

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The issue of justice is critical. Israel is required to treat aliens in the land well and not to oppress them (Exodus 22:21). If Israel is guilty of oppression or injustice, then her Christian supporters would be guilty of encouraging sin. So let’s look at Israel’s treatment of aliens, starting with the 2 million Arabs living in Israel. They have citizenship, can vote (including women), have freedom of speech, have their own political parties, serve in the Knesset, serve on the Supreme Court, and can even be “Miss Israel.” Israel is the only country in the whole Middle East in which the Christian Arab population is growing. Why aren’t the Christian Arabs fleeing Israel like they are the Muslim world? Obviously, they have found more justice in Israel than in any Arab country. That seems like pretty convincing proof that Israel is not an unjust or repressive country.

The Palestinian people living in Judea and Samaria (also called the West Bank) under the Palestinian Authority and in Gaza under Hamas do have more difficult circumstances and do not have the freedom of movement necessary to develop businesses, find jobs, or even get to a hospital sometimes. But to blame Israel for the tight borders and checkpoints without ever mentioning why they are needed is disingenuous. Decades of terrorism, suicide bombers, car rammings, and war necessitate them.

The real culprits here are the corrupt Palestinian leaders who have not only filled their own bank accounts instead of bettering the people’s lives but have refused to sit down at the negotiating table and hammer out a better life for their people. This is because of their Islamic ideology—not Zionism.

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Many criticisms of Christian Zionism are based on misunderstandings, which, unfortunately, often give rise to misleading narratives that distort biblical truth and harm the global Jewish community. Christian Zionism is not a newer, heretical movement, nor is it motivated by political opportunism or hostility toward Arabs. Christian Zionism seeks justice and loves all people—recognizing that blessing Israel is part of God’s broader plan to bring redemption to the world.

For this reason, all Christians must separate fact from fiction and understand what Christian Zionism is not so they can accurately convey its true beliefs and intentions to others. 

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