The term “Christian Zionist” was first used at the end of the nineteenth century; therefore, it is a relatively new concept and one that requires some explanation. In addition, it is often discussed amid controversy surrounding the highly emotive subject of modern Israel, leading to easy mischaracterization. Defining the term is therefore crucial, and a correct definition must start with an explanation of Zionism itself.
What Is Christian Zionism?
Zionism today refers to the largely secular political movement that began in the late 1800s and led to the founding of the State of Israel in 1948. Therefore, the term “Christian Zionism” could be considered an oxymoron describing a religious affiliation with a secular movement, which helps explain some of the misunderstanding and debate surrounding it.
Anti-Israel activists have demonized the term Zionism, which has had a detrimental effect on the use of the term Christian Zionism. It is the same with the term Evangelical Christian; anti-Christian liberals have so demonized the word “Evangelical” that, increasingly, Christians are no longer using it.
Personally, I do not want to give up on the term Zionism because it is, at its root, a biblical concept. The word “Zion” denotes Jerusalem, the very place God brought the people He chose for Himself to worship, and the center of His redemptive activity. Zion is a real place in Israel, but also a theological symbol of God’s faithfulness, kingship, and future restoration: from Zion, God’s law will go forth (Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2), and from Zion, Jesus will one day rule and reign (Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:9–12).
Ultimately, Zion (Jerusalem) is the one place on the face of the earth where God chose to set His name and dwell among His people:
For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: “This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.” (Psalm 132:13–14)
After Rome destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70 and the Jewish people were exiled among the nations, where they have been for over 2,000 years, the hope of returning to Zion became central to Jewish life, prayer, sentiments, and, most importantly, identity. Zionism is thus the modern political outworking of thousands of years of Jewish longing to return to Zion.
At its heart, Zionism is a religious movement that needed a political effort to make it a reality. Christian supporters of Israel tend to view Zionism within this biblical context and not as a separate political movement that is somehow distinct and to be disdained. It is a natural progression and a necessary expression of the spiritual love for Zion found in the Bible.
Who Are Christian Zionists?
A definition of Christian Zionist would then be a Christian who supports the right of Jews to self-determination in their ancient homeland. Under this definition, former International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) Executive Director Rev. Malcolm Hedding writes that “many Christians would qualify, no matter what their reasons are for this support.”[1]
The term was first used in 1897 at the First Zionist Congress by Theodore Herzl. This father of the Zionist Movement used the term when acknowledging the presence of several Christians among the Congress attendees. One of those Christian Zionists was Jean Henri Dunant, founder of the Red Cross. Those Christians supported the return of the Jews to their homeland for both biblical and moral reasons—it was an act of justice for a persecuted people.
8 Reasons Christians Should Support the Return of the Jewish People to Their Ancient Homeland and the Modern State of Israel
Much has happened since 1897, and today, there are many reasons a Christian should support the return of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland and the modern State of Israel. What follows are a few of the most common, spanning from personal, practical, and political to biblical.
1. Personal Reasons
Millions of Christians have visited Israel and its holy sites and seen their Bible come alive in profoundly life-transforming ways. It only stands to reason that these pilgrims return with an excitement about Israel and a deep appreciation for the country. They were blessed by the fact that Israel protects their access to sacred places and preserves the archaeological treasures of biblical history found there.
2. Communal Reasons
Christians support Israel because Israel provides the only safe haven for Christians in the Middle East and is consequently the only country in the region in which the Christian community is growing. This Israeli minority enjoys full Israeli citizenship, freedom of worship, and greater opportunities for advancement than in any Muslim country.
3. Practical Reasons
Israel’s incredible contributions across healthcare, agriculture, and technology are saving lives, creating jobs, and enriching communities worldwide. Israel is home to over 1,000 medical device companies and ranks among the world’s leading countries in terms of patents per capita. These companies are leading at the intersection of hi-tech and healthcare and generating cutting-edge devices and medical care used in hospitals around the world.
4. Political Reasons
Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East and shares our values of freedom of speech, freedom of worship, and human rights. By supporting Israel, America not only helps safeguard democracy in the Middle East but also strengthens its own security and global leadership. We benefit greatly from Israel’s intelligence and security expertise.
5. Economic Reasons
Support of Israel is a good investment. All 50 states in the United States benefit from cooperative agreements with Israel, and out of 250 multinational companies with operations in Israel, 80 percent are US companies. Benefits like this are realized around the world, and the greatest blessing for the Palestinian people lies in an alliance with Israel through which they, too, would enjoy the benefits of her strong economy and free society.
6. Legal Reasons
Israel’s founding was completely legal and formulated by the community of nations as reflected in the 1917 Balfour Declaration, the 1920 San Remo Conference Resolution, the 1922 League of Nations vote, the 1947 UN Partition Plan, and Israel’s admission to the United Nations in 1949. Every country in the Middle East was founded out of the same legal process after the end of the Ottoman Empire. Israel’s founding was legal, and Christian support is justified.
7. Moral Reasons
The tragic history of Jewish-Christian relations was plagued by antisemitism perpetuated by confessing Christians. The acknowledgment of this history has moved many Christians today to condemn the demonization of the Jewish people and stand with Israel while seeking ways to establish a new relationship with them based on mutual respect. Their support of Israel is an outgrowth of their desire to make amends and be a blessing to the Jewish people.
8. Biblical Reasons
The biblical basis for Christian support for Israel is extensive and is not reliant on one isolated section of the Bible but is found throughout. Old Testament covenants concerning the calling of the Jewish people and their gift of land beginning in Genesis 12 are affirmed throughout the Psalms, the prophetic books, and the New Testament. God’s Word makes it unmistakably clear: we have a biblical mandate to love and bless the people and nation He set apart to bring glory to His name and to fulfill His redemptive plan for the world.
CONCLUSION
One must conclude that while there are many convincing arguments based on history, morality, and common sense to support Israel, for Bible-based Christians, the biblical basis for Christian support of Israel—Christian Zionism—trumps them all and demands our lifelong pursuit of loving and blessing the Jewish people. My next article will discuss the biblical basis for supporting Israel in greater detail.
[1] Malcolm Hedding, “What Is Christian Zionism?” Charisma Magazine Online, 26 Mar. 2010. https://mycharisma.com/news/what-is-christian-zionism2/. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
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