The Bible tells us to support Israel
Contemplating an Instagram message to my anti-genocide post
I am vocal on my personal instagram stories about what I believe. I have a lot of followers from my pastoral days that engage the things I post. I specifically only use stories because it takes out the element of public emotion and fights. It’s a one on one conversation in my private messages.
I posted a story early on in Israel’s first invasion into Gaza. I said something among the lines of:
“Jesus’ kingdom is completely against violence, show me how carpet bombing innocent civilians equates to the ways of Jesus”
The picture from the story included a blanket over a small child with rubble from a missile as the background.
I was surprised when I got a reply from a well respected elderly woman in the Church I used to pastor at. I hadn’t talked with her in a while and remembered her passion for Jesus. I admired her for her faith and I truly think you could never shake the foundation of Jesus from her soul. She responded to my story by saying,
But Diego, the Bible tells us to be pro-Israel
In that moment, my heart sank. This is the kind of blind loyalty to a conservative evangelical culture that is so embedded into some Christians. I knew I couldn’t respond to her through an instagram message of all the reasons I disagree with that statement. Maybe part of it is still my wrestle with not wanting to let people down with telling them my actual thoughts on Christianity today. I responded with the following:
I respectfully disagree, but that’s ok. I try to emulate Jesus’ life, and nowhere do I see violence as a valid response.
She then responded by inviting me to dinner at her house with her husband of which I respectfully declined. (I found this really interesting as a response. What is it about disagreement where Christians often feel the need to mend the uncomfortability by inviting someone over? Would we have discussed the topic in full?)
In the following days, I did a deep dive into how conservative evangelicals came to the conclusion that the Bible tells us to be pro-Israel. As I watched Israel kill innocent Palestinians, over and over again, I could never imagine a God, that I would want to follow, that would count this as a win. Death and love cannot marry.
The questions that kept me up at night were:
How do they see carpet bombs killing children and think this is the Lord’s work so that Israel can triumph?
When did God promise that his kingdom could only be ushered in the through the “physical” nation of Israel?
Did Jesus not flip all of this logic upside down when he died on the cross, showing us God is NOT for power structures here on earth? He exchanged his crown for a crown of thorns!
A Biblical Response to the “Pro-Israel” Stance
The International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem, wrote the ten reasons why we should support Israel. If you have a moment, please review these reasons as I will reference them in the following section.
A common theme of their Biblical position, is pulling scripture from the Hebrew Bible. Contextually, all of it was written from the human perspective of Israelites understanding that THEY were God’s chosen people. Obviously, Jewish people still have an understanding that they are God’s chosen people (which there are scholars that analyze that even in the Hebrew Bible, God’s chosen people were not only restricted to Israelites. That’s for another time).
My specific area of experience is with Christianity and the life of Jesus. The purpose of Jesus and His kingdom was to extend the understanding of WHO it was for and WHERE it is.
The WHO:
Jesus primarily engaged with a diverse range of people during his earthly ministry. Here are some key groups and individuals he interacted with:
- Jewish Leaders and Scholars: Jesus often debated with fellow Jews, including religious leaders and scholars, on matters related to faith, law, and interpretation of Scripture. His interactions with them were often intense and challenging. He challenged their understanding of God more than ANYONE else.
- His Disciples (Apostles): Jesus chose twelve apostles to be his close companions and learners. They played a pivotal role in his ministry, witnessing his miracles, receiving in-depth teachings, and actively participating in spreading the gospel message.
- Common People: Jesus frequently engaged with ordinary people, including fishermen, tax collectors, Samaritans, and those in need. He healed the sick, comforted the brokenhearted, and taught them about God’s kingdom.
- Outcasts and Sinners: Jesus showed compassion to those considered outcasts by society, such as lepers, prostitutes, and tax collectors. He welcomed them, forgave their sins, and offered them hope. The emphasis here is on the OUTCASTS of society. Those that no one ever thought God would engage with. (Is there a parallel here for Christians who think Palestinians and Island are the LAST people God would engage with?)
- Children: Jesus valued children and used them as examples of humility and faith. He blessed them and encouraged their innocence and trust.
- Women: Jesus treated women with respect and dignity, which was uncommon in his cultural context. He engaged in meaningful conversations with women, such as the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:7–42). The way Jesus interacted with women was highly controversial in ancient near-eastern culture. Jesus still decided to break down those barriers and treat them with dignity and respect.
The WHERE:
Jesus proclaimed the arrival of the kingdom of God during his ministry. It was HERE not elsewhere or some future eternal utopia. His words carry profound meaning, and they appear in different contexts across the Gospels.
- Mark 1:15: In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus’s opening words set the tone for his ministry: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” 1. Here, Jesus emphasizes that the kingdom of God is not an abstract concept but a dynamic reality that has drawn near. The phrase “at hand” suggests that it is on the cusp of dawning and, in some sense, already present.
- Luke 17:20–21: In Luke’s account, Jesus responds to questions about the kingdom of God. He says, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” 2. This statement highlights the internal nature of the kingdom — a spiritual reality that transcends physical boundaries.
- Parables and Metaphors: Throughout the Gospels, Jesus describes the kingdom using metaphors and parables. For instance, he compares it to a mustard seed, bread, and fish. In Luke 17:21, he declares, “The kingdom of God is in your midst” 3.
I mention “where” Jesus said the location of his kingdom is, for the purpose of emphasizing it had NOTHING to do with the physical state of Israel.
Conclusion
Drawing from the life of Jesus and his teachings, it’s very difficult to come to the conclusion that Israel is by any means God’s chosen nation to usher in his kingdom. With Jesus and his death on the cross, the playing field has been completely leveled. If there was ever a question of a hierarchy of importance to God, the cross completely demolishes that assumption.
Therefore, Christian reader, see the genocide of Palestinians as an immense sorrow in the eyes of God. Every man, woman and child is an image bearer of God despite their choice of religious text that they follow. The loss of a Palestinian life is just as erroneous as a loss of Jewish life.
Jesus preached a kingdom of peace, non-violence, mercy and justice for the oppressed. Listen to the God incarnate you follow. Please.
