Christian Zionists Support God’s Plan for the Ages

May 12, 2015

by: Rev. Cheryl Hauer, Associate Editor

Zionism could be defined as the belief that the Jewish people have a political, historical and/or moral right to self-determination and a peaceful existence within the borders of their ancient homeland, today known as Israel. At times a social, political and nationalistic movement, it is deeply rooted in Judaism, and calls for the return of the exiles from the nations as foretold by the prophets millennia ago. It is the expression of a deep yearning in the Jewish heart as passionately stated in Psalm 137: “By the rivers of Babylon there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion” (v.1).

Christian Zionism is the belief that such yearning is God-inspired and the Zionistic aspirations of the Jewish people are firmly rooted in the Scriptures, both the Tanakh (Gen.–Mal.) and the Writings of the Apostles (N.T.). It sees the establishment and growth of the modern State as fulfillment of Bible prophecy but recognizes that the government is made up of duly elected men, capable of making mistakes as is any governing body. Therefore, it does not encourage slavish loyalty to the State. However, it does embrace and encourage support for Israel’s right to exist in its ancient homeland as a Jewish state with self-determination and the right to safety and security for all its citizens.

On the Frontlines

Recently, however, Christian Zionism has become the target of those who would delegitimize Israel. Christian Zionists have been repeatedly accused of adhering to the most extreme ideological positions of Zionism and becoming a detriment to peace. Detractors have wrongly called Christian Zionism “crassly simple” and claim it turns the Gospel into a message of colonialism and militarism. Christian Zionists have even been called enemies of democracy and the true Gospel. Critics have charged that one must be a dispensationalist to believe in Christian Zionism. And, even more startling, Christian Zionism is repeatedly referred to as a “modern theological and political movement.” Simply put, this is historical revisionism. An honest look at history reveals the deep historical and biblical foundations of the movement, interdenominational in scope and clearly predating the advent of dispensationalism.

A Look at the History Books

The term “Zionism” was first coined at the end of the 19th century by the Jewish scholar Nathan Birnbaum. But biblical history reveals a love for Zion, whether referring to Jerusalem or the nation of Israel itself, as intrinsic to the Jewish people. From the first dispersion to today, a longing for its streets and hillsides has burned in the hearts of those in the Diaspora (Jewish population outside Israel). However, by the Middle Ages the vast majority of Diaspora Jews were confined to ghettos as a hated minority and a scapegoat for society’s ills. Envisioning a return to the Land as a sovereign nation was nearly impossible.

Except for Christians

In the 12th century, Christians who believed in the biblical injunction to restore the Jewish people to their ancient homeland began to appear on the scene. Francis Kett was the first to lose his life for his belief in a Jewish return to ancient Palestine. He was burned at the stake in 1589. In the ensuing centuries, countries as far flung as Australia, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, South Africa, and Switzerland, produced Christian pastors, politicians and leaders who believed the Bible contained the clear message that God would restore His people to their ancient homeland.

In the 16th century, British Ambassador Giles Fletcher, a Christian lecturer and professor at Kings College Cambridge, was an outspoken proponent of the Jewish return to Jerusalem. His countryman, Sir Henry Finch, was also a jurist, theologian and biblical expositor. In 1621, he wrote a book entitled, The World’s Great Restoration, urging the Jewish people to reassert their claim to the Promised Land. In the 17th century, Irish philosopher and deist John Toland brought a similar message to the Church in his country.

The 18th century saw the likes of Colonel George Gawler, distinguished Australian military officer and outspoken Christian, who wrote prolifically about the return of the Jewish people to their land. In one article he wrote, “I should be truly rejoiced to see in Palestine a strong guard of Jews established in flourishing agricultural settlements and ready to hold their own upon the mountains of Israel. I can wish for nothing more glorious in this life than to help them do so.”

In the 19th century, Canadian reformer Henry Monk swore a solemn oath that he would not shave or cut his hair until Palestine was restored as a Jewish state. He even attempted to enlist the help of Abraham Lincoln and Queen Victoria in accomplishing what he saw as a biblical mandate. In that same time period, Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II dedicated his life to the study of the Hebrew language and the restoration of the Jewish people to their homeland.

Christian History Supports Zionism

Countless Christian leaders throughout the centuries, including the likes of William Blackstone and Charles Spurgeon, recognized that the restoration of the nation of Israel was part of God’s plan for the ages. Bible-believing leaders from Napoleon Bonaparte to Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln would agree as well. Christian history is rife with those who today would raise their voices in support of Israel’s right to exist as Jewish state. And though they might differ on the details, they would certainly all agree that Christian Zionism has been around for a long, long time.

As Christians today, we have a choice to make. Will we be swayed by historical revisionism, falling prey to emotional arguments that are not based on fact? Or will we, like so many of our Christian predecessors, allow historical reality and biblical truth to guide our decisions? Will we shirk our responsibility to be supporters of Israel? Or will we join those who risked so much to stand with the Jewish people? A lot is riding on that decision, for Israel, for the nations and for every one of us.

Photo Credit: HelenOnline/commons.wikimedia.org