American Christian Zionists now confront twin threats: vicious antisemitic attacks from the extreme right and growing apathy among Gen Z, who are cooling toward Israel under a flood of pro-Palestinian social-media propaganda. To counter these challenges, I urge our friends in American churches to renew their support for Israel by resting it on four solid biblical pillars.
1. Why has God resurrected Israel?
The first pillar is the universal mission of the State of Israel, true Bible-based universal Zionism. The restoration of Israel—let’s call it more accurately “resurrection”—goes far beyond merely fulfilling prophecy. Yes, God has kept His promise and raised the dry bones. But for what purpose beyond mere survival and blessing the world with new technologies?
Israel’s survival is not the end; it is the means to fulfill God’s greater mission. As the “light unto the nations,” Israel must guide humanity toward a new level of dialogue with God and deeper partnership with the Creator: “and the Earth will be filled with God’s knowledge as waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9).
Most Christians today see Israel’s resurrection only as a sign that Jesus’ return is imminent and passively wait for it, nothing more. They need a tectonic shift in perspective: Christ is not “coming”; he is already here. Jesus has returned in the form of his resurrected nation: Israel is the Christ of history. His enemies want to reverse this resurrection and crucify Him again. Will Christians stand idly by?
2. News for Christian antisemites
The second pillar confronts the mother of all blood libels: the accusation that Jews committed “deicide” by killing Jesus. To anti-Israel pseudo-Christians on the right, such as former Fox News host and current podcaster Tucker Carlson, who recycle this ancient slander, the answer is clear and historical: Rome killed Jesus because Jews followed him.
Crowds of Jews flocked to Jesus, believing Him to be the triumphant son of David who would perform miracles, end the Roman yoke and purify the Temple. Alarmed by His growing following and perceived rebellion, Rome arrested and crucified this “King of the Jews,” mocking the royal aspirations of his Jewish supporters with the sign INRI. Research it. This is fact.
3. True care for Palestinians
What should we tell well-meaning Republican youth who care about social justice for Palestinians? First, present facts that dismantle Hamas propaganda about “occupation,” “genocide” and the rest. But go further: Communicate the hard truth that Israel is the only party genuinely trying to help Palestinians escape the hell of jihad, an ideology that has brainwashed every Palestinian child.
Those who push for “rebuilding Gaza” or “establishing a Palestinian state” are, in effect, working to perpetuate endless conflict and suffering for Jews, Christians and Muslims alike. If you truly want to help Palestinians, take a principled stand: Support their resettlement.
4. Honoring the father
The fourth pillar reveals the deepest bond between America and Israel. The line from Sinai to the American Constitution runs straight through Jerusalem. Sever that line, and America loses its very identity.
Why has God blessed America and made it great? To conduct a grand experiment: creating an exemplary society united not by common ancestry (as most nations are) but by common values—biblical values, which are fundamentally Jewish values.
Under U.S President Donald Trump, America has begun restoring those values domestically. In foreign policy, the president has adopted a transactional approach, supporting allies who advance American interests. So far, this aligns with the supreme biblical value of justice: “Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:16).
This does not require intervention in every conflict; battles must be chosen wisely. It absolutely does not mean sending American troops to impose democracy on cultures unready for it. It does mean stopping horrific massacres, especially when air power can achieve this with minimal American loss of life. Recall Rwanda in 1994, when then-President Bill Clinton’s America stood idly by.
The Trump administration has already shown what biblical foreign policy looks like: bombing Iran to prevent nuclear massacre and targeting Boko Haram in Nigeria to protect innocent Christians.
If America abandons the project of building a nation on shared biblical values, what is left? A diverse people united only by the pursuit of comfort? A giant shopping mall? Without those values, that mall will soon be looted and burned.
The overarching principle uniting these four pillars is this: supporting Israel fulfills the fifth commandment: Honor your father and mother. Israel is not merely America’s partner; it is family—America’s father in faith. That is why the founding fathers envisioned the United States as a “New Israel,” even proposing the Exodus scene for an early draft of the Great Seal.
If you fail to defend your father when he is attacked, then you are a coward—an ungrateful, unprincipled egotist. Enemies and friends alike will despise you, and God will withdraw His favor.
God placed the fifth commandment on the same tablet as the four commands governing man’s relationship with Him. The other five concern relations between people. Parents belong on the “man-to-God” side because honoring them, for an adult, is as seemingly “irrational” and non-transactional as keeping the Sabbath or not misusing God’s name. Murder or theft brings tangible consequences; disrespecting parents often does not. Yet God understands and intervenes on their behalf. America does not want Divine intervention against itself over Israel.
Importantly, Israel is no helpless, aging parent. It is a vibrant, strong and prosperous nation. Most U.S. aid to Israel returns to America through purchases from the military-industrial complex. Israel, in turn, provides priceless intelligence and cutting-edge technologies.
In practice, the relationship is transactional. In spirit, it must be rooted in non-transactional mutual gratitude and love—a true family bond.
The new generation of American evangelicals must internalize this message. America needs Israel’s values and secure existence to truly become great again. Ultimately, this, too, is transactional.
