What troubles me about Christian Zionism is how easily political loyalty can overshadow the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some Christians speak as though supporting the modern State of Israel is the measure of faithfulness to God. But where does Scripture make allegiance to an earthly government the test of Christian obedience?
Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Our first allegiance belongs to Him.
I disagree with dispensational teaching when it creates the impression that Jewish people have a saving relationship with God apart from Jesus Christ. Whatever our understanding of prophecy, we cannot set aside the Lord's words:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." — John 14:6
Peter proclaimed that same message to the rulers of Israel:
"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
No separate gospel removes the need for Christ. The gospel calls Jew and Gentile alike to repentance and faith.
Judaism does not confess Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God. That is a fundamental disagreement with Christianity. John addressed the denial of Christ plainly:
"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." — 1 John 2:22
That passage identifies a teaching opposed to Christ. It does not authorize hatred of Jewish people, nor does it justify calling every dispensational Christian an enemy of Christ. Many sincerely confess Jesus while holding interpretations of prophecy that I believe are mistaken. We should examine those teachings carefully and judge them by Scripture.
My concern is this: when Christian support for Israel excuses injustice or silences the call to receive Christ, that support has departed from the Christian message.
Israel's own prophets never taught that being chosen by God placed the nation beyond accountability. They warned that privilege brought responsibility.
"You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities." — Amos 3:2
Notice that word therefore. Their relationship with God made their disobedience more serious.
Jeremiah confronted people who trusted in their religious identity while refusing to change their conduct:
"Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these." — Jeremiah 7:4
God required them to amend their ways, execute judgment, and stop oppressing the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. They were also commanded not to shed innocent blood (Jeremiah 7:5–6). Possessing the temple did not excuse their sins.
Should Christians today offer any government an exemption from those moral demands?
Isaiah declared:
"Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow." — Isaiah 1:17
A preacher who excuses others' oppression because of a prophecy interpretation needs to reconsider that interpretation. Supporting Israel's existence or caring about its people does not itself violate God's commandments. Excusing wrongdoing does. God's standards apply to Israel, its neighbors, and our own country.
Jesus loved Jerusalem. He wept over it. Yet He also warned of judgment:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee…" — Matthew 23:37
Then He said:
"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." — Matthew 23:38
His love did not prevent Him from speaking the truth. His warning came from a heart that desired to gather the people to Himself.
Those words had a historical fulfillment in Jerusalem's destruction. Christians differ over how other prophetic passages relate to Jerusalem's future. We should be careful not to claim we know the timing or details of another judgment. We can say with certainty that God calls people to repentance and holds nations accountable for injustice.
How will Christian Zionists explain judgment if their teaching has led people to believe that Israel enjoys unconditional approval for its actions? How will they reconcile political endorsement with the prophets' demand for righteousness?
Paul's desire for Israel was clear:
"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." — Romans 10:1
That should be our desire, too. Paul also warned Gentile believers against boasting over Israel: "Boast not against the branches" (Romans 11:18). We have no grounds for pride, contempt, or hatred. We stand by faith and depend on God's mercy ourselves.
As a country preacher, we must love Jewish people enough to proclaim Christ, love Palestinian people enough to care about their suffering, and love our own country enough to confront its wrongdoing.
The message is repentance. The hope is Jesus Christ. Our responsibility is to speak truth, seek justice, show mercy, and remain faithful to the Lord.
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