For years, Christians have been told, “You must bless Israel.” We have heard that standing with the modern State of Israel guarantees God’s blessing, while questioning its government brings God’s curse. Genesis 12:3 is repeatedly quoted:
“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee.” — Genesis 12:3, KJV
But God spoke these words to Abraham. Their ultimate fulfillment is in Jesus Christ, the promised Seed of Abraham:
“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 3:16, KJV
The promise cannot rightly be turned into a blank check for the modern Israeli government. God never commanded Christians to bless injustice, excuse the killing of innocent people, or give unconditional support to an earthly government.
What Does It Mean to Bid Someone “God Speed”?
The Apostle John gave the Church a serious warning:
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” — 2 John 9, KJV
John then wrote:
“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” — 2 John 10–11, KJV
The immediate subject is the support and endorsement of false teachers who deny the doctrine of Christ. Nevertheless, the principle is unmistakable: Christians must not place God’s name and blessing upon those who reject Christ and practice evil. To bid someone “God speed” is to express approval, encouragement, and support for what that person is doing.
If Christians pronounce God’s blessing upon an earthly government while it commits injustice, are they not lending the name of Christ to those actions? If they defend everything that government does, provide unquestioning political support, and silence those who speak for its victims, are they not in danger of becoming partakers of its evil deeds?
Can We Bless Those Who Reject Christ?
Jesus said:
“He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.” — John 5:23, KJV
The Apostle John wrote:
“Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father.” — 1 John 2:23, KJV
And Jesus declared:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” — John 14:6, KJV
How, then, can Christians claim that rejecting Jesus Christ does not matter because the people involved are associated with the modern nation of Israel? The gospel does not provide one means of salvation for Jewish people and another for Gentiles. Peter proclaimed:
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” — Acts 4:12, KJV
We should love Jewish people. We should pray for them. We should oppose antisemitism, racial hatred, and violence against them. Paul expressed his deep concern for Israel:
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” — Romans 10:1, KJV
Why did Paul pray for their salvation? Because ancestry alone does not save anyone. Jewish people, Palestinians, Arabs, Americans, and all other people need salvation through Jesus Christ.
Loving people does not require endorsing their religion, nationalism, government, or military actions. Genuine Christian love speaks the truth and calls every person to repentance and faith in Christ.
Christian Zionism Has Confused the Church
Christian Zionism has persuaded many believers that the modern State of Israel occupies a place above moral examination. Actions that Christians would condemn if committed by another government are defended when Israel commits them.
Civilian deaths are dismissed. The suffering of Palestinian families is minimized. Churches are damaged, communities are displaced, and children suffer, yet some Christians continue to say, “We stand with Israel.”
But what exactly are they standing with?
Are they standing with innocent Jewish people who need protection from hatred and terrorism? That is right.
Are they standing with innocent Palestinians who need protection from bombing, displacement, hunger, and violence? That is also right.
Or are they standing unconditionally with a government and defending everything it does? That is where Christians can become partakers of evil.
Scripture commands:
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” — Ephesians 5:11, KJV
It does not say to reprove darkness everywhere except in Israel. God has never had two standards of justice—one for Israel and another for the nations.
“Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.” — Proverbs 20:10, KJV
If killing innocent people is wrong when our enemy does it, it remains wrong when our ally does it. If forced displacement, collective punishment, cruelty, and vengeance are evil in one nation, they are evil in every nation.
Biblical Israel Was Not Above God’s Judgment
Even ancient Israel never possessed an unconditional license to practice evil. God repeatedly sent prophets to confront Israel’s rulers and people.
Isaiah cried:
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.” — Isaiah 5:20, KJV
Jeremiah stood against false prophets who promised peace while the nation remained in sin:
“They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.” — Jeremiah 6:14, KJV
Amos condemned those who oppressed the poor:
“For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.” — Amos 5:12, KJV
The prophets did not hate Israel. They spoke because they loved God, truth, and righteousness. They understood that covenant privilege did not remove moral responsibility.
If God judged ancient Israel for oppression and bloodshed, why would Christians imagine that the modern State of Israel is exempt from judgment?
“For there is no respect of persons with God.” — Romans 2:11, KJV
Our Allegiance Belongs to Christ
The Church does not belong to Israel, Palestine, or America. The Church belongs to Jesus Christ.
“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 3:20, KJV
No national flag belongs beside the cross as though the two possess equal authority. No government should receive the unconditional loyalty that belongs to Christ alone.
When political Zionism demands that Christians remain silent about injustice, we must obey God rather than men. When religious leaders tell us to bless actions that violate the teachings of Christ, we must refuse. When politicians use Scripture to justify bloodshed, the Church must answer with the Word of God.
The Christian standard is not, “Is Israel doing it?”
The Christian standard is, “Is it righteous in the sight of Jesus Christ?”
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” — Matthew 5:9, KJV
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” — Matthew 5:7, KJV
“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” — Matthew 22:39, KJV
Love the People, but Do Not Bless the Evil
This message must not be used to promote hatred against Jewish people. Jewish people must never be treated as collectively responsible for the actions of Israel’s government. Many Jewish people themselves oppose injustice and mourn the deaths of Palestinians. Likewise, Palestinians must not be treated as collectively responsible for the crimes of militant organizations.
Every innocent life has value before God.
We can love Jewish people without endorsing Judaism’s rejection of Christ. We can love Israeli citizens without endorsing every action of their government. We can love Palestinians without endorsing terrorism. We can pray for everyone while refusing to place God’s blessing upon evil.
Jesus commanded us to love even our enemies:
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.” — Matthew 5:44, KJV
This personal blessing means seeking their good, praying for their salvation, and responding without hatred. It does not mean blessing their false doctrines, violent policies, or evil deeds. We bless people by pointing them to Christ; we do not bless evil by calling it good.
The Church Must Decide
The Church must decide whether it will follow Jesus Christ or political propaganda. We cannot condemn one nation’s violence while blessing another nation’s violence. We cannot preach that Jesus is the only way to the Father and then imply that those who reject Him already possess God’s approval.
Second John’s warning should cause every Christian to examine his allegiance:
“For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” — 2 John 11, KJV
If “blessing Israel” means loving Jewish people, praying for their salvation, protecting them from hatred, and seeking peace, then Christians should do so.
But if “blessing Israel” means granting unconditional approval to a government, excusing injustice, defending the killing of innocent people, or blessing those who reject Christ while they carry out evil actions, then Christians must refuse.
We must not become partakers of another government’s sins.
We must stand with Christ.
We must stand for truth.
We must stand for justice and mercy for Jewish people and Palestinians alike.
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” — Micah 6:8, KJV
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