There have been a number of conferences, articles and events held recently about the Israel-Palestinian crisis that unfortunately promote myths and untruths about those of us who believe the Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people by virtue of God’s covenant with the Patriarchs.
As always, there are dedicated and godly believers on both sides of these issues and our posture must always remain respectful in spite of deeply-held differences. However, we must also be honest with one another.
I usually try to remain positive and to keep the dialogue constructive, but this is becoming increasingly difficult. There are a growing number of untruths being promoted in the debate, and I am sorry to say that the rhetoric is also becoming harsher in tone.
This is why I want to take a moment and try and shed more light than heat on five of these critical untruths in the hopes that our dialogue will remain friendly, although it may be passionate. We must seek the truth and always treat each other in a way that honors the Lord. This can only happen when we respond to one another in love and clarity.
Myth #1 – Christians who love Israel do not care about Arabs, Muslim or Palestinians
Nothing could be further from the truth. Most of the Christians I know who support Israel do so because they believe the Bible, which includes John 3:16 – that God sent His son to die for the whole world. This includes Jews, Arabs, Muslims, and all nations and religious groups on the face of the earth. Most of us who support Israel and the Jewish people have a sincere love and compassion for the peoples of the Middle East.
Arguing that Christians who love Israel do not care about Arabs is a straw man argument, overly simplistic, naïve and untrue. Believing that God gave the land to the Jewish people does not mean that one automatically lacks compassion or concern for Palestinians and many others.
Myth #2 – Christians who believe that modern Israel is the fulfillment of prophecy believe that the government of Israel “can do no wrong”
This is also patently untrue. Personally, I do not know any Jewish person or Christian who believes that any government “can do no wrong.” This is once again a straw man argument designed to bolster a more radical fundamentalist Muslim narrative of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
We believe the land belongs to the Jewish people because it was promised to the chosen people in God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:18-21, 26:3-5) and reiterated throughout the remainder of the Bible. We also believe that the long-awaited kingdom of God is coming, and the Messiah will reign upon His rightful Davidic throne. Only then will we witness a perfect government.
You might take a moment and go to videos.chosenpeople.com for the messages from our conference, The People, the Land and the Future of Israel for detailed biblical teaching on these topics.
Myth #3 – Christians Who Believe the Land Belongs to the Jewish People Unfairly Favor the Jewish People Over the Palestinians
Of course there are fringe “believers” on every side of an issue, and certainly this is true of Israel’s Christian supporters. It is perhaps less true today than in previous years amidst the euphoria of the formation of the state of Israel. However, many of those who are critical of Christian supporters of Israel do not believe that God granted the deed to the Land of Israel to the Jewish people. Therefore, any support for Israel is deemed “over the top” and “imbalanced.” The biblical teaching on land ownership seems to be getting lost in the shuffle of our varied narratives.
Can people be unfair? Of course – we are all sinners and we need to become more like Yeshua, filled with His love and compassion for all! As a Jewish believer I have felt the sting of anti-Semitism and know from first-hand experience that prejudice is hateful and destructive. We must ask God to cleanse our hearts of all prejudice and for the strength to treat others in ways that please Him.
However, it is unfair for enthusiastic support of Israel as a Jewish homeland, based upon an understanding of the Bible, to be deemed anti-Palestinian. This is indeed prejudice.
As Reb Tevya said in Fiddler on the Roof, “Next time choose somebody else!” It was not man’s idea to choose the Jewish people and give them a Land – it was God’s. Supporting Israel’s claim to the Land is not a question of fairness or unfairness! It is affirming God’s choice and celebrating and supporting His plan.
God regularly makes promises of blessing and judgment to specific groups of people. He even specified future blessings for Israel, Egypt and even Assyria:
In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance” (Isaiah 19:24-25).
Specific promises to specific people and nations are common throughout the Bible. This does not indicate favoritism, as God is fair and just. Yet it does demonstrate that God treats different groups differently according to His holy purposes.
Myth #4 – Jewish people do not yet have a right to the Land because they have not recognized Jesus as Messiah
Clearly, the majority of Jewish people alive today have not yet come to know Jesus as Messiah. If this were true – I would be blessedly and happily unemployed. However, our God of grace did not promise the land to the Jewish people on the basis of their deserving it, any more than the salvation we enjoy was earned (Eph. 2:8-9).
God never rescinded the covenant He made with Abraham, and that sacred agreement endures from generation to generation. The Jewish people have a divine right to the land at all times. God gave the land to the Jewish people as a gift.
Thus, Jewish ownership of the Land is always available to the Jewish people based upon the covenant God made with the Patriarchs, but peace will not come until the Prince of Peace reigns (Isaiah 9:6-7).
We now await the rest of the story as, according to the Bible, the Holy Land will experience the zenith of Shalom (peace) when the Jewish people turn to Jesus and He returns to reign as king (See Zechariah 12:10, Romans 11:25–29 et al.) In that day the nations of the world will join in the celebration as well! (Zech. 14:16-19)
Myth #5 – Jewish people lost their election and right to the land when they rejected Jesus
This is a basic tenet of what we called replacement theology. It goes like this – the Jewish people rejected Jesus, so God rejected the Jewish people – the Church then is the new Israel and has replaced Israel. Therefore, all the promises of God to the Jewish people are fulfilled in the Church. As a result, the promise of the land of Israel has been taken away from the Jewish people and can no longer be taken literally!
My response to this is to simply quote the Apostle Paul, who wrote in Romans 11:28-29.
From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Does this sound to you like God has rejected the Jewish people? Absolutely not!
If we begin our discussion by believing that God gave the Land of Israel to the Jewish people, then we can discuss the ways in which this might be effectuated peaceably and fairly.
On the other hand, if we do not believe the Jewish people have a divine right to the Land, then the discussion is really of a different nature. All we have left to talk about is politics and our mutual narratives and how we might live as believers in spite of our very deep differences. Another good discussion! Either way, the Scriptures reminds us to Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you” (Psalm 122:6).
Our fervent prayers for the crisis can only help and lead us to work together towards the greater end of proclaiming the Gospel, so that individual Jewish people and Palestinians come to know Jesus as their Messiah.
This gives peace a chance!
Understanding the Arab-Israeli Conflict:
What the Headlines Haven’t Told You
Going beyond media images for an in-depth look at the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, this book places the “crisis that never ends” in its scriptural, historical, and prophetic contexts.
Understanding the Arab-Israeli Conflict challenges the reader to think biblically as we stand with Israel in “praying for the peace of Jerusalem.” By Dr. Michael Rydelnik, professor of Jewish Studies at Moody Bible Institute.
Dr. Mitch Glaser 
Thank you for your always insightful perspectives on complicated issues. Unfortunately, almost every evangelical Christian that I speak to about this issue believes each of the “myths” that you present. I offer that these are not myths at all and are very “fact”. I have been personally insulted for my position on the Israel-Palestine question, my beliefs being called into question as well as my integrity. I believe in G-d’s promises to all of his children, without exception. I could really use some talking points about why it’s been so hard for that promise to become fulfilled for Israel? I can see where some would explain that the promise is yet to be fulfilled and it won’t be until some sort of condition is met. If G-d meant the promised land to belong to Israel, then there should not be required political maneuverings or war. I struggle with this despite my otherwise confident stance on the matter of the land belonging to Israel.
I confess Yahshua as my Lord Messiah, the Holy One of Israel.
I consider the Bible, all of it, Old and New Testaments taking into account this testimony & advice from my Jewish brother, Peter, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Yahshua Messiah, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (II PETER 1:16-21)
The Bible presents us with the whole counsel of God so we must strive to understand His Word in its entirety. We must never cherry-pick selected portions of Scripture or allow ourselves to become confused or manipulated by bias or misrepresentation. As in the Book of Daniel the command is given to “understand the matter, and consider the vision.” (DANIEL 9:23) In the Book of Matthew Yahshua tells us, (“whoso reads, let him understand:”). (MATTHEW 24:15) God declares the end from the beginning. (ISAIAH 42:9)
God sent His Messiah for all humanity; to seek and save what was lost for His glory. He sent Him to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel (MATTHEW 10:5-8) as well as to bring righteous judgment to the Gentiles. (ISAIAH 42:1-4) Messiah Yahshua made a covenant with all people, Jew and Gentile, for reconciliation with God and to fulfill God’s plan of Redemption. (ISAIAH 42:5-7; 52:13-15; 43:1, 5-11)
As we know YHWH proves faithful and true. He delights and assures in keeping His promises. All His covenants, including His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for the Land of Promise shall come to pass. For Yahshua Himself tells us so.(MATTHEW 5:17-18)
“Bless YHWH, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless YHWH, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (PSALM 103:1-5)
Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.
Pingback: Should Christians Support Israel? | PA Pundits - International
When is this anti-Zionism crusade going to end? A few days ago I was asked to write an opinion piece for a poll on whether or not Israel should be illigetimized. After researching back to before the 8th Century (BCE) I could find no reason why the Palestinians should be given the rights to what, obviously, belongs to Israel.
Never in my life have I seen one ethnicity be the target of so much hate and destruction.
And why?
I fear when the end times come God’s wrath on the world will come tenfold.
Ah, Joseph, take heart. The persecution of the Jews was meant to break the hearts of all those of us whose had hearts to break. Without the holocaust, Israel would never have become a nation.
These ARE end times … as Moses said at the Red Sea, “Stand back and see the deliverance of the LORD.’ This time shock and awe will be a event that will leave us singing the Hallelujah Chorus, whether we can carry a tune or not.
The times of the Gentiles have come to the end.
Needless to say, I am printing this blog post out to share with some friends who also have encountered many of these myths. Sadly, these myths are truths to so many…it feels like an uphill battle. Thanks so much for putting down in words what I have often thought to say in rebuttal.
I may be guilty of being one of those Christians who think Israel can do no wrong.
When balanced with the hateful treats made daily from the nations surrounding Israel, I believe their forbearance is a miracle.
I know many Jews in the USA that abhor any attempt of Israel to stand up for itself, they have even called Netanyahu crazy! These are Jewish people I respect, admire and love!!! I think they are crazy!
Ahmadinejad is the clone of Hitler. We Christians lost ALL of our moral authority when we let Germany mow down the Jewish people in WWII. When Hitler ranted his hate. We did not pay attention. Roosevelt even refused to allow them to escape to the USA!
We only entered the war because Japan attacked us – not to eradicate the satan of Berlin. Are we going to do the same thing again?
What good is Christianity if it produces followers with no strength of character, compassion, courage, sense of justice, or defense of our defenseless brothers?
We had better NEVER let that happen again. We had better stand up with Israel. …
GOD IS WATCHING!!
Hear, hear! I am concerned for the ranting against illegal immigrants, too. Their are many parallels. Some Christians can defend the cruelty against illegals immigrants and don’t know they are repeating Germany’s arguments against the Jews during the Holocaust era.