There are many conspiracy theories that seek to divide people. In reality, our understanding of God through Scripture continues to develop as believers study, debate, and wrestle with its meaning. That should not be surprising—we are talking about God, not merely politics or human institutions.

Historically, Jewish communities were often known for preserving their religious identity and, at times, peacefully resisting pressures to conform to surrounding authorities. While there were certainly instances of violence involving Jews, they were not generally regarded as a military threat requiring violent suppression. Yet throughout history, Jewish communities have repeatedly been the targets of persecution, discrimination, and scapegoating.

Responsibility for that history is not limited to any one group. While Jewish communities have faced hostility in various Muslim societies, they have also suffered greatly under Christian rulers and institutions. In many periods, Christians acted as though they knew what was best for the Jewish people, often with tragic consequences.

Today, some of the tension between certain Christian and Jewish organizations centers on questions of free expression and the boundaries of acceptable public discourse. Some Jewish advocacy organizations place a strong emphasis on combating antisemitism, including speech they believe contributes to hatred or discrimination. Some Protestant Christians, particularly those influenced by traditions emphasizing freedom of conscience and open debate, worry that these efforts can at times cross into censorship.

As a result, it is not uncommon for a Christian who is accustomed to criticizing ideas—including those within Christianity—to be surprised when criticism involving Judaism or Jewish organizations is characterized as antisemitic. For many Protestants, this raises broader concerns about freedom of speech and freedom of conscience. They often connect these concerns to the example of Jesus Christ, whose condemnation they see as a warning against suppressing truth through the abuse of religious or political authority.

What Is Christian Zionism?

Christian Zionism is a religious and political movement within Christianity that supports the return of the Jewish people to the historic Land of Israel and views the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 as the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. Many Christian Zionists believe that the restoration of Jewish sovereignty in the region is a necessary step leading to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. 

The term Christian Zionism largely replaced Christian restorationism during the mid-20th century as Christian supporters increasingly aligned themselves with the modern Zionist movement.

The roots of Christian Zionism can be traced to 17th-century English Puritanism, where expectations of a Jewish restoration first gained prominence. According to Israeli historian Anita Shapira, these ideas influenced Jewish Zionist circles during the 19th century, particularly through English evangelical Protestants.

Many forms of Christian Zionism have also held that, in the fulfillment of biblical prophecy, Jewish people will ultimately come to accept Jesus as the Messiah. This aspect of the movement has contributed to skepticism among many Jewish communities, particularly regarding the motives of some evangelical supporters of Israel who also engage in missionary efforts directed at Jews. The major Christian churches in Jerusalem have likewise criticized Christian Zionism, describing it as a harmful or damaging ideology.

Early Protestant Reformers, including Martin Luther and John Calvin, did not promote the idea that the Jewish people would return to the land of Israel as part of biblical prophecy. Luther initially hoped that Jews would embrace his reform of Christianity after his break with the Catholic Church, but when this did not occur, he became one of their harshest critics. Like the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Lutheran and Reformed traditions generally taught that the Christian Church had become the "spiritual Israel," with believers in Christ replacing ancient Israel as God's covenant people—a theological position later known as supersessionism.

At the same time, the Protestant emphasis on sola scriptura ("Scripture alone") and the widespread translation of the Bible into vernacular languages encouraged individuals to interpret the Bible independently of established church traditions. 

Among some radical Protestant groups, this led to renewed interest in the Hebrew Scriptures and the people of ancient Israel. Rejecting the veneration of saints as unbiblical, these groups instead emphasized the patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament, a trend reflected in the growing popularity of biblical names such as Abraham, Jeremiah, Daniel, Zachariah, and Samson.

As a Christian, I am a follower of Christ as revealed in the Gospels. To truly understand Jesus Christ, however, one cannot ignore the Old Testament. The Old Testament provides the context that makes Christ's ministry and message fully understandable.

Matthew 17:12
12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

Because of the depth and richness of the Old Testament, it can be easy to view the New Testament as secondary. Yet, as a follower of Christ, I believe Yeshua brings far greater clarity to the Old Testament than many Christians realize. The Old Testament points forward to Him, and the New Testament reveals its fulfillment.

People, in general, often believe that freedom of any kind must ultimately be controlled by mortal men. Non-believers sometimes imagine that when Jesus Christ said, "Love thy neighbour as thyself," He was advocating weakness. In reality, I believe this command is one of Christianity's greatest strengths.

Mark 12:28-31
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Some Jews, when they feel they are under attack, respond by using whatever resources they have available. One could argue that they are acting to defend what they understand to be God's Old Covenant with Israel. Christians, however, believe that Christ established the New Covenant, which I understand as centering on grace, liberty, and freedom in Christ.

To be fair, there are also Christians who support censorship. Like every group of people, some are more inclined to rely on their own assumptions than to carefully study the Word of God.

I was recently listening to a very popular content creator who, in my opinion, clearly has not read the Bible thoroughly, yet regularly speaks as though he fully understands it. Much of his content revolves around Jews. He has every right to express his opinions and to invite guests who reinforce his perspective. But if you are a Christian, I believe you should ask yourself a more important question: Are you representing Yeshua in the way He would want to be represented?

Yeshua is, in many ways, an easy message to embrace. Eternal life? Sign me up. But if someone concludes that all of the world's problems ultimately stem from the Jews, then I believe it's worth asking whether we, as Christians, should first examine our own shortcomings—beginning with how we teach Scripture and raise our own children.

I believe the New Testament is the final authority in my life, but I would never discard the Old Testament. Without its context, Christ can easily be misunderstood. Likewise, I do not believe Christianity teaches forced redistribution of wealth. Christ voluntarily gave up His life so that those who believe in Him may receive eternal life. His sacrifice was freely given, not compelled.

Many Jews today, like many who identify as Christians, do not strictly follow the teachings of their own religious tradition. The word orthodox generally means conforming to what is traditionally accepted as true or correct.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ challenged many of the religious authorities of His day. His teachings often conflicted with the established religious leadership, which contributed to the opposition He faced. As a Protestant Christian, I believe every tradition should ultimately be measured against Scripture. Even within Christianity, I sometimes struggle to understand forms of faith that emphasize rigid tradition over the freedom I believe is found in Christ. The God I know is a God of abundance.

When I hear the term Christian Zionism, it does not personally resonate with me. I can understand how someone might become deeply attached to the Old Testament, but I believe God chose Israel so that, through them, the world would come to know Him, culminating in the coming of Jesus Christ.

Many people today criticize Europeans and those of Christian heritage. Yet I believe that many societies historically shaped by Christian values have contributed significantly to developing institutions that promote stability, civility, and higher standards of living for people from many different backgrounds—even as many individuals within those societies have become secular or atheist.

I say all of this because, ultimately, I do not believe the focus should be on who God used or what they looked like. What matters is whether God used them to draw humanity closer to Himself.

As a Christian, I do not view non-believers as enemies or infidels. Instead, I genuinely feel compassion for them. Because I believe God has promised eternal life through Jesus Christ, I am free to love others unconditionally and to advocate peacefully for a society rooted in liberty and equal dignity. I do not fear those who seek to silence opposing views, because the greatest attempt to silence truth was the crucifixion of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Yet His death accomplished the very salvation His enemies sought to prevent.

Because of that, I do not need to make other people my enemies. I trust God's New Covenant to accomplish His purposes in His own time. If you have never done so, I encourage you to consider making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior today.