Tell me more ×
Christianity Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 12 down vote favorite
3

*note: please do not mistake this question as necessarily my personal option.

Where this question comes from may not be obvious to some depending on where you live, so let me explain. Here in the Southern part of the United States of America, my parents' church (evangelical, Assemblies of God) will hold, from time to time, a pro-Israel rally. At these rallies, up on stage, as well as members of the audience will wave American and Israeli flags together during a worship service. Prayers are offered up supporting Israel and afterwards a sermon is delivered explaining why it is so important for Christians to support Israel.

It is not typical, as far as I know, to actually hold rallies in support of Israel, but the general feeling among Christians here is that they should be in full support of Israel (and by extension, support policies of the USA that support Israel).

The argument generally goes something along these lines:

  • God has blessed Israel and therefore is guiding them, in general, in the correct direction, and we should support this.
  • Based on the Old Testament, God has promised this land to the Israelis, so it is their right to have it.
  • The modern state of Israel is the embodiment of many of the end-times prophesies (see Hal Lindsey’s "Late, Great Planet Earth")
  • That Israel is the only true democracy in the region, and as Christians we should support democracy, especially in a region such as this.
  • That Israel is surrounded by Muslim dictatorships/extremist who would like to see it destroyed. As Christians we are against Muslim dictatorships/extremist (esp. here in the last 10 years) and therefore should support Israel.

My question: is this a legitimate viewpoint? Should we as Christians support the modern state of Israel? If you think these are legitimate reasons, then please expand. Otherwise, why not?

share|improve this question
I couldn't expand on that if I wanted to. I agree we should fully support Israel for all of those reasons. – David Stratton Sep 30 '11 at 20:45
Can this be reformed to a lot if that content could be an answer rather than embedding it in the question and asking a yes/no question about it's validity? – Caleb♦ Sep 30 '11 at 20:56
Related question: Is the Israel of the NT the modern country? – Caleb♦ Sep 30 '11 at 21:08
@caleb Certainly, though I prefer of someone else did it since it does not represent my pov, also I am driving :-p – aceinthehole Sep 30 '11 at 21:10
@celab then again it might be a good sounding board – aceinthehole Sep 30 '11 at 21:23
show 1 more comment

2 Answers

up vote 12 down vote

While I believe there are political reasons to support or not support Israel, I don't feel any of those are "Christian" reasons to support Israel.

  • God has blessed Israel and therefore is guiding them, in general, in the correct direction, and we should support this.

Israel is a Jewish state. Unless God is guiding the people to follow Jesus, I'm not sure what the correct direction would be.

  • Based on the Old Testament, God has promised this land to the Israelis, so it is their right to have it.

If it is still their right to have it by God's will, then they will have it.

  • The modern state of Israel is the embodiment of many of the end-times prophecies (see Hal Lindsey’s "[Late, Great Planet Earth][1]")

I'm not sure I know of any end time prophecies that require Israel to be held by Jewish (or any other) government.

  • That Israel is the only true democracy in the region, and as Christians we should support democracy, especially in a region such as this.

While politically many will say we should support democracies, I don't think the Bible tells us to support democracies.

  • That Israel is surrounded by Muslim dictatorships/extremist who would like to see it destroyed. As Christians we are against Muslim dictatorships/extremist (esp. here in the last 10 years) and therefore should support Israel.

I don't think we should be declaring war on Islam. As Christians we are called to be peaceful.

share|improve this answer
up vote 5 down vote

There are a host of "end times" prophecies that cover Israel, in both figurative and literal senses, and that God is not "done with her" yet.

The clear list, along with debated lists, would be far too long enumerate herein.

We know that Israel as God's chosen people was fulfilled in the coming of Christ, and that as a nation per se, they do not hold the same preferential status from God that the church now does.

Personally, I don't think Christians should "support" any particular state over another - our job is not political, but evangelical and social (in the respects of seasoning and influencing society via our lives and our witness).

I do believe that Christians should oppose many states because of their harsh treatments of believers and others.

Also, personally, I think that the modern statehood of Israel is a Good Thing™ in its region, and that many/most of the nations that surround it are to greater and lesser extents Bad Things™.

As to generalizing my personal beliefs and thoughts on the matter to the entirety of christendom, however - I believe that would be an imposition against Christian liberty.

see this quick google search for a start

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.