Recently, I read an article on Ron Unz’s website, “How ‘Israelism’ Has Replaced Christianity as the American Civic Religion.” The article argues that many American Christians have allowed devotion to the modern State of Israel to replace their devotion to Jesus Christ.
Unz sometimes speaks too generally about Jewish people. We must distinguish between the Israeli government, Israeli citizens, Jewish settlers, religious extremists, Jewish supporters of the war, and Jewish people who courageously oppose injustice. No entire race or religious people should bear collective guilt for the actions of particular leaders.
Nevertheless, the article raises a question that Christians cannot avoid:
What happens when professing Christians knowingly defend, finance, bless, or excuse evil because it is committed by the government of Israel?
Words That Should Trouble Every Christian
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir recently called for Israel to kill “30 to 40” people in Gaza every night. He spoke about people who were not presenting an immediate threat and declared that some were “not worthy of life.”
These were not the careless words of an unknown person. Ben-Gvir is Israel’s national security minister. He sits in a position of governmental authority and helps shape national policy.
His words were dehumanizing, dangerous, and evil.
Every human being—Jew, Palestinian, Muslim, Christian, Arab, or Gentile—is made in the image of God. No political leader has the moral authority to declare an entire class of people unworthy of life.
The Bible says:
“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
— 1 John 3:15, KJV
Ben-Gvir’s words do not represent every Israeli or every Jewish person. His political party does not command the support of a majority of Israel’s population. There are Jews in Israel and throughout the world who oppose the war, condemn the killing of civilians, defend Palestinian rights, and plead for peace.
We must recognize those distinctions.
At the same time, Ben-Gvir is not entirely separated from the political system that has placed him in power. He leads an elected party and remains part of the governing coalition. Responsibility therefore extends beyond one man. It includes those who knowingly support his program, the officials who keep him in office, the leaders who excuse his language, and anyone who carries out unlawful commands.
This does not justify blaming every Jew. It does justify asking what has happened to a society when such language is tolerated in the highest levels of government.
The Danger of Generalization
I understand why people begin speaking in general terms. We commonly say “the Americans,” “the Russians,” “the Muslims,” “the Republicans,” or “the Jews.” Human nature tends to place people into broad categories, especially during war.
When a country identifies itself as the Jewish state, when its leaders claim to speak for Jewish people, and when those leaders are elected by Israeli voters, it becomes difficult for many observers to separate the government from the people.
Nevertheless, Christians must try to make that separation.
The guilt of a political leader must not automatically be transferred to every member of his race or religion. Jewish people who resist injustice should not be charged with the deeds they opposed. Jews living in America and other countries did not elect Israel’s government. Even within Israel, many people voted against the governing coalition or now oppose its conduct.
The prophet Ezekiel wrote:
“The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”
— Ezekiel 18:20, KJV
We should therefore identify wrongdoing as precisely as possible. We can speak of the Israeli government, particular military commanders, extremist settlers, religious-nationalist parties, and the citizens who knowingly support their actions.
That is not weakening our condemnation. It strengthens it by placing responsibility upon those who truly bear it.
My Greatest Concern Is the Church
My deepest concern, however, is not simply what Ben-Gvir says. My concern is what professing Christians say in response.
Some Christians appear willing to defend almost anything committed by Israel. They excuse the killing of civilians, the destruction of homes, the displacement of families, and language that treats Palestinians as less than human.
If the same words were spoken by a Muslim leader, these Christians would immediately condemn them. When an Israeli official speaks them, however, they search for some biblical prophecy with which to justify them.
This is a dangerous spiritual deception.
The apostle John warned:
“For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
— 2 John 11, KJV
In its immediate context, John was warning the Church about receiving and endorsing false teachers who did not abide in the doctrine of Christ. We should not pretend that John was speaking specifically about the modern State of Israel.
The moral principle, however, remains: knowingly endorsing and assisting evil makes us participants in it.
There is a difference between ignorance and deliberate approval. A Christian who has received false information may be deceived. A Christian who learns the truth and condemns wrongdoing is not responsible for it. But a Christian who knowingly celebrates civilian suffering, excuses murderous language, or teaches that God approves of injustice becomes a moral partaker in that evil.
Christian leaders who use the Bible to persuade their congregations that Israel can do no wrong bear an especially serious responsibility.
Israel Has No Moral Immunity
Some Christians believe that because Israel is “God’s chosen people,” the modern Israeli government must be defended regardless of its conduct. That teaching cannot survive an honest reading of the Old Testament.
God repeatedly sent prophets to condemn Israel’s rulers for oppression, violence, idolatry, corruption, and the shedding of innocent blood. Israel’s calling never gave its leaders immunity from judgment. In fact, their calling increased their accountability.
The Lord declared through Amos:
“You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
— Amos 3:2, KJV
Being chosen did not mean that evil became good whenever Israel committed it.
The same is true today. The modern State of Israel must be judged by the same moral standards applied to Iran, Russia, Palestine, China, or America.
Supporting the right of Jewish people to live in safety does not require supporting every action of the Israeli government. Condemning the crimes of Hamas does not require treating every Palestinian as a terrorist. Mourning Jewish victims does not require ignoring Palestinian victims.
Every innocent life has value before God.
Christianity Without Christ
“Israelism” becomes idolatry when loyalty to Israel takes precedence over the teachings of Jesus. It becomes a substitute religion when support for a foreign government becomes the test of Christian faithfulness.
Jesus did not say:
“Blessed are the warmakers.”
He said:
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
— Matthew 5:9, KJV
Jesus did not tell us to declare our enemies unworthy of life. He said:
“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
— Matthew 5:44, KJV
These commandments apply even during war. They apply to Jews, Palestinians, Muslims, Christians, Israelis, Iranians, and Americans.
Our loyalty is not to Benjamin Netanyahu, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Donald Trump, an Israeli political party, or an American political movement. Our loyalty belongs to Jesus Christ.
Judgment Must Begin With Us
It is easy to condemn an Israeli minister. It is more painful to examine the American Church that gives political, financial, and theological support to such policies.
Peter wrote:
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God.”
— 1 Peter 4:17, KJV
The first question for Christians is not simply, “What is Israel doing?”
We must also ask:
Why are Christians calling evil good?
Why do we excuse conduct from Israel that we would condemn from another country?
Why do some Christians show more loyalty to a modern government than to the words of Jesus?
Why are Palestinian Christians treated as though their suffering does not matter?
Why are Jewish voices for peace ignored?
Why has opposition to war become a greater offense in some churches than hatred, vengeance, and the shedding of innocent blood?
We Cannot Bless What Christ Condemns
I reject antisemitism and the collective condemnation of Jewish people. I also reject the teaching that the Israeli government possesses divine permission to commit injustice.
Those positions are not contradictory. They are both required by Christian truth.
We must condemn Hamas when it murders innocent people. We must condemn Israeli officials when they call for indiscriminate killing. We must condemn settlers who terrorize Palestinian families. We must condemn antisemitism wherever it appears. We must also condemn Christian leaders who bless evil because it serves their political theology.
Every person must answer for what he does, supports, excuses, or celebrates.
Christians cannot bless what Jesus condemns. We cannot call hatred righteousness. We cannot treat Palestinian lives as worthless. We cannot use prophecy to excuse cruelty. We cannot bid evil “God speed” without becoming partakers in its deeds.
Our allegiance belongs to Christ alone.
When a nation demands that we ignore His commandments, we must obey Christ.
When political leaders tell us that some people are not worthy of life, we must answer that every person bears the image of God.
And when Christians are tempted to defend evil because of the flag under which it is committed, we must remember the words of the apostles:
“We ought to obey God rather than men.”
— Acts 5:29, KJV
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