Zionism is one of the most controversial topics in the world today. In this article, we’ll explore what it means to be a Christian Zionist, whether or not you are one, and why it even matters.
What is a Christian Zionist?
Here is the definition of the term:
“Someone who belongs to or supports a political movement that had as its original aim the creation of a country for Jewish people, and that now supports the state of Israel.”
To phrase it slightly differently, a Zionist is someone who supports the Jewish peoples’ right to a Jewish state.
Oftentimes, people consider “support” to be something that you can show while standing idly by, but in the case of Zionism, it takes on a more significant meaning.
Pro-Israel vs. Christian Zionist
A pro-Israel person may look like someone who supports Israel and the Jewish people either quietly or from the sidelines. A Christian Zionist, on the other hand, is someone who is actively engaged in ensuring the Jewish people have rights to their homeland. While any support for the Jewish people is to be admired, one quote sticks out in my mind when action is not applied to the situation:
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
This quote by German Pastor Martin Niemöller highlights that a lack of action leads to more tragedy for everyone. This places an emphasis on the fact that, as Christian Zionists, we are not Jews, however we have the responsibility to speak out in advocacy for the Jewish people.
Digging Deeper on Christian Zionism
We now understand that a Christian Zionist is someone who actively supports Jewish presence in their homeland. This raises the question: where exactly is their homeland? The reality is that you can support the Jews living in Tel Aviv and Haifa and still miss a large part of Christian Zionism. The heart of this movement is to support the Jewish people in the entirety of their land. In order to truly support the Jewish people in a Jewish state, you must do the following:
- Support Jewish presence in Hebron, where it is recorded that Abraham bought a plot of land to bury his beloved wife Sarah.
- Support Jewish presence in Shiloh, where the Israelite tabernacle stood for 369 years.
- Support Jewish presence in Shechem, where Jacob bought a plot of land and where Joseph’s bones are buried.
- Support Jewish presence in Jerusalem and, specifically, on the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism.
This may sound a bit radical to many people. Even more so, many people across the world today directly oppose this ideology. The fact remains that the Jewish people have a right to sovereignty in their homeland, and this includes even the most contested areas.
Christian Zionism Goes Deeper Than Land Disputes
Though the main focus of Christian Zionism is the Jewish peoples’ right to their own nation, Zionism has become much more significant in social settings. This saying has never rang more true than it does now:
“Anti-Zionism is antisemitism.”
The concept of these two ideologies are now so closely intertwined, most people do not differentiate between Jewish people and Jewish Zionists. Modernly, every Jew is at risk because anti-semites consider them to be Zionists, whether or not they have any affiliation or concern for a Jewish state.
This means that, in the current climate, a direct influence of Zionism is standing against antisemitism on all fronts. This can be expressed in countless different ways. Here are a few ways you can combat antisemitism:
- Educate yourself on the conflict
- Research the complex history of the Jewish people
- Advocate for Israel on social media
- Advocate on college campuses
- Rally support for the Jewish people
- Help to educate the people around you so that they can better engage in supporting the Jewish people and Israel.
While these may seem like small steps, they’re actually incredibly important in the battle against antisemitism. Ignorance and baseless hatred are the two biggest factors in antisemitism and why it’s still rearing its ugly head today. By actively educating and advocating, you’re helping to change the narrative that has led to millenia-old hatred.
Antisemitism today isn’t that bad, right? Unfortunately, antisemitism has begun to run rampant in countries all across the world. On college campuses, roadsides, workplaces, and nearly every other domain, Jews are facing extreme antisemitism. Some of it comes in these forms:
- Calls for the dissolution of the only Jewish state
- Baseless claims of genocide
- Vandalism
- The resurgence of Nazi propaganda
- Violence
- And other atrocious crimes
Needless to say, it is imperative that this antisemitism is addressed with a strong understanding of the situation.
Are You Willing to be a Christian Zionist?
Are you sold on being a Christian Zionist? We do have one more important factor to address about Zionism. Being a Zionist and going against the crowd will be difficult, but that doesn’t make it any less important.
Christian Zionists are few and far between. Most people prefer to sit on the sidelines and support the Jews from a distance. It’s long overdue for a shift in this mentality. Now is the time to stand and actively engage in the fight for the Jewish people and the Jewish nation.
During the Holocaust, it’s likely that most people didn’t have any real issues with the Jews, but because of fear chose to remain silent. The same can be said for today. However, in our lifetime, let’s choose to loudly advocate for the Jewish people and fight for them instead of standing idly by as they are loaded into train cars.
Being a Zionist will not always be easy; fighting for things and people that matter generally comes with some difficulty, but the blessing of supporting the Jewish people far exceeds any hardship you may experience. The Jewish people matter, the Jewish nation matters, and your support matters.
