Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent words to evangelical leaders should trouble Christians. When the prime minister of a foreign country tells American believers that Israel and evangelical Christianity “are one” and urges them to “fight,” Christians ought to stop and exercise spiritual discernment.
Our identity is not determined by an alliance with Washington, Jerusalem, or any other earthly government. The Church is one body in Jesus Christ:
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles.”
—1 Corinthians 12:13, KJV
I am deeply concerned that many Christians fail to distinguish between biblical Israel and the modern State of Israel. They read the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and ancient Israel and automatically transfer every one of those promises to a political state established in 1948.
That conclusion should not be accepted without careful examination of the New Testament.
Biblical Israel and the Modern State
The modern State of Israel is a political nation with a government, an army, political parties, courts, borders, and national interests. Like every other government, it makes decisions that may be wise or foolish, just or unjust, righteous or sinful.
Biblical Israel was a covenant people called by God for a particular purpose in the unfolding plan of redemption. Through Israel came the patriarchs, the prophets, the Scriptures, and, according to the flesh, Jesus Christ.
Paul wrote:
“Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.”
—Romans 9:4–5, KJV
Christians should never deny this sacred history. Christianity arose in a Jewish setting. Our Lord, His apostles, and the earliest believers were Jewish. The Old Testament remains the inspired Word of God.
But acknowledging the Jewish roots of Christianity does not require us to identify the modern Israeli government with the kingdom of God.
Paul immediately added:
“For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.”
—Romans 9:6, KJV
Natural ancestry and national identity do not automatically produce spiritual faithfulness. That principle was true in the days of the prophets, true in the days of Christ, and remains true today.
The Church Is Not Under Netanyahu’s Authority
Benjamin Netanyahu is the prime minister of Israel. He is not a pastor, apostle, prophet, or teacher appointed over the Christian Church. He cannot define our mission, identify our enemies, or tell us when faithfulness to God requires military conflict.
Our commission came from Jesus Christ:
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
—Mark 16:15, KJV
The mission of the Church is not to advance the foreign policy of Israel, Iran, Russia, Turkey, or the United States. Our calling is to preach Christ, make disciples, care for the suffering, pursue holiness, love our enemies, and bear witness to the kingdom of God.
Rabbinic Judaism does not recognize the New Testament as authoritative Scripture or confess Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah and Son of God. Therefore, why would Christians allow an Israeli political leader, speaking from a Jewish-national perspective, to tell the Church what the New Testament requires of us?
That is not an insult against Jewish people. It is a necessary theological distinction.
The New Testament belongs to the Christian Church as its authoritative witness to Jesus Christ. Its meaning must not be surrendered to politicians, lobbyists, military leaders, or prophecy teachers whose interpretations are designed to produce support for a particular government.
Opposing War With Iran Is Not Fighting Against God
One of the most dangerous claims being circulated is that Christians who oppose war with Iran are opposing Israel and therefore fighting against God.
That is false.
A Christian may oppose the Iranian government, condemn its persecution and violence, and still oppose an American or Israeli war against the Iranian people. Those positions are not contradictory.
Iran’s rulers must answer to God for their actions. Israel’s rulers must answer to God for theirs. America’s rulers must do the same.
No nation receives a divine exemption from the demands of justice.
“He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.”
—2 Samuel 23:3, KJV
Before supporting another war, Christians should ask serious questions:
Has every reasonable path toward peace been exhausted?
Is the stated threat supported by trustworthy evidence?
Who will suffer and die if war begins?
How many civilians will be killed?
Will the conflict protect life or unleash greater destruction?
Are Christians being led by Scripture, fear, political loyalty, or propaganda?
Asking these questions is not rebellion against God. It is moral responsibility.
Peacemaking is not cowardice. Jesus said:
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
—Matthew 5:9, KJV
Christ did not say, “Blessed are those who support every war proposed by a nation calling itself our ally.”
“Judeo-Christian” Does Not Mean Political Unity
The phrase “Judeo-Christian heritage” can have a legitimate historical meaning. Christianity inherited the Hebrew Scriptures and shares certain moral concepts with Judaism. We should recognize that history honestly.
Nevertheless, shared historical roots do not make Christianity and modern political Zionism one faith. They do not require Christians to support every Israeli military campaign. They do not turn Israel’s national interests into commandments from God.
When political leaders use religious language, we must examine what they are asking us to support.
Netanyahu’s statement that Israel and evangelicals “are one” deliberately joins two different identities. It suggests that criticism of Israel is criticism of evangelical Christianity and that opposition to Israel’s wars is opposition to our own faith.
That is a political strategy, not New Testament doctrine.
Christians are spiritually one with every person who has been redeemed by Jesus Christ—Jew or Gentile, Israeli or Palestinian, Iranian or American.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
—Galatians 3:28, KJV
Our unity is in Christ, not in nationalism.
Criticism of Israel Is Not Antisemitism
We must also be careful on the other side. Opposition to Netanyahu must never become hatred or contempt for Jewish people.
Antisemitism is evil. Jewish people must never be blamed collectively for the actions of the Israeli government. We must not ridicule their ancestry, language, religion, or history. We should reject conspiracy theories and sweeping accusations against an entire people.
But condemning antisemitism does not require silence concerning the actions of Israel’s government.
We can oppose antisemitism while opposing the bombing of civilians. We can honor Jewish history while rejecting Christian Zionism. We can pray for the people of Israel while criticizing Netanyahu. We can reject terrorism committed against Israelis while also grieving for Palestinian and Iranian families.
Governments are not races. Political criticism is not racial hatred.
The attempt to label every criticism of Israel as antisemitism is intellectually dishonest and spiritually dangerous. It places a government beyond moral examination.
Judge the Fruit
The question is not whether Netanyahu can trace his ancestry to Abraham. The question is whether his actions and policies produce righteous fruit.
Jesus gave us the standard:
“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
—Matthew 7:20, KJV
We must apply that standard consistently. When Iran speaks in the name of God, examine the fruit. When Israel invokes biblical history, examine the fruit. When American leaders wrap military policy in Christian language, examine the fruit.
Does it produce justice, mercy, truth, and peace—or fear, destruction, hatred, and death?
A political leader’s use of biblical words does not sanctify his political objectives.
My Loyalty Belongs to Christ
My faith is in Jesus Christ, not Benjamin Netanyahu. My hope is in the kingdom of God, not the military strength of an earthly nation.
I will pray for Jewish people, Palestinian people, Iranian people, Muslims, and Christians throughout the Middle East. Every one of them bears the image of God. Every one of them has a soul. Every innocent life destroyed by war represents someone Christ commanded us to love.
I will oppose antisemitism, but I will not allow accusations of antisemitism to silence legitimate criticism of a government.
I will honor the Jewish roots of Christianity, but I will not confuse biblical Israel with the modern State of Israel.
I will pray for peace, but I will not accept the claim that opposing war with Iran means fighting against God.
The Church must never become the religious publicity department of an earthly government. We do not take our marching orders from Washington or Jerusalem.
Our King is Jesus.
Our gospel is the message of salvation.
Our weapons are not carnal.
Our kingdom is not of this world.
Our loyalty belongs first, last, and forever to Jesus Christ.
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