Christian Zionism (1948–2006)
I found a great site that is targeted specifically at removing the philosophy of Christian Zionism. If you’re not familiar with what that is, here is a definition.
Christian Zionism is the belief among some Christians that the return of the Jews to the Holy Land, and the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, is in accordance with Biblical prophecy, and is a necessary prerequisite for the return of Jesus to reign on Earth. This belief is commonly, though not exclusively, associated with evangelical Protestants around the world. (Wikipedia)
This political ideology centers around Dispensationlism which is alluded to above. Dispensationlists believe that God has a distinct plan for Israel and the Church, and that we must support the state of national Israel because the Jews still have right to the land per God’s promise in Gen 15:18. Here is an article that not only completely eradicates any possibility of holding onto Dispensationlism, but also the philosophy that we as a country should support national Israel.
An Alternative Theology of the Holy Land: A Critique of Christian Zionism
Check out Sabeel. I have a link to it on my blog.
I am very interested in this topic. Thanks for posting on it.
I haven’t yet finished reading the whole thing (in fact, I’m only through point 2). I plan to read the whole thing, digest it and comment more. But before I forget or it gets too complex, I wanted to post a question/challenge I have to something Dr. Sizer wrote in point 2. I quote:
“Christian Zionists insist that because the Jews have never literally occupied the entire land promised to Abraham, from the Nile to the Euphrates, this promise must still await future fulfillment. Hence their support not only for the occupation and settlement of the West Bank but implicitly the rest of the Middle East as well. Such reasoning ignores the way the Old Testament writers themselves understood the promise made to Abraham. God reaffirmed that same promise to Joshua.
Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. (Joshua 1:6)
The question then arises, did Israel ever do so? While it is true that the Jews have never exercised political sovereignty over all the land between the Nile and the Euphrates, nevertheless Joshua makes clear that in that generation the covenant promise had indeed been fulfilled.
So Joshua took the entire land, just as the LORD had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war. (Joshua 11:23)
So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. (Joshua 21:43–45)”
I would challenge the notion that the Israelites never possessed the entire land God promised them. Check out this link: http://www.bible-history.com/map-davids-kingdom/map-davids-kingdom_near_east.html
It’s a map of the kingdom David ruled over. Those boundaries only lasted a short while. But they did exist. I think it is important to recognize this, because as Jews understand it (and I think the messianic prophecies agree) the Messiah is very much a type of David. The whole idea of a Messiah started (I know we can find the scarlet thread throughout the Bible, but the actual word and idea of a redeemer Messiah started) after the first exile.
The Israelites longed to have their kingdom back and began talking about a Son of David who would restore it.
If we take away the fact that David ruled over the literal promised land, we cut at the root of Messianic prophecy.
I don’t think this nullifies Dr. Sizer’s point, and I plan to continue reading, but I wanted to bring that thought up for discussion. Any idea of how we might be able to contact him?
The article is saying that they did indeed attain all of the geographical promised land. Who’s taking away from the fact that David ruled over the literal promised land? Not Dr. Sizer. You have to keep in mind that the Old Covenant “champions of faith” (Heb 11) all looked forward to a heavenly rest.