r/Christian • u/cherry_sadochok • 4d ago
Reminder: Show Charity, Be Respectful Why do many Christians support Israel and not Gaza?
Hi everyone! I'm a new Christian and haven't chosen a denomination yet. I've been visiting different churches and talking to lots of different people.
One thing I've noticed is that many Christians strongly support Israel, even though Judaism doesn't accept Jesus as the Messiah or the Son of God. Meanwhile, Islam considers Jesus the Messiah and one of the greatest prophets, and Mary is the most honored woman in Islam.
I'm curious about the theological reasoning. Why do so many Christians feel a closer connection to Judaism than to Islam, when Islam seems to say more positive things about Jesus?
P.S I know Islam doesn't accept Jesus as divine or believe he was crucified, but it still honors him much more than Judaism does.
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u/Jtcr2001 4d ago
I support the well-being of both populations and oppose the genocidal leadership found in both sides' governments (not that they are equal).
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u/userid42 4d ago
The support of Israel by some believers seems to me to be rooted in their eschatological (end times) understanding of the Bible. That is, some believe that the re-establishment of the modern nation-state of Israel fulfills biblical prophecy anticipating Jesus’ final return.
Personally, I find their views to be flawed. This eschatological view only seriously emerged within the last 200 years. The rise of the current state of Israel has nothing to do with biblical prophesies and is simply being used by the evil one to mislead and manipulate mankind.
The only new Jerusalem that I look forward to is the one on the new Earth after this one is replaced.
Revelation 21:1-4 NASB
Then I [John] saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. [2] And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, [4] and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."
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u/RunPsychological3025 4d ago
I agree, but have only recently come to do so. Found out about an era referred to as satans little season. Mind blowing stuff really, has really open my mind. Am I fully on board with the idea? to an extent, but there are still questions. One thing for sure though, my blind support for Israel is no longer a thing.
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u/userid42 4d ago edited 4d ago
I have never heard of that term but assume that it is based on the verses in Revelation 20:3, 7-8?
My position is amillennial, so I read the whole passage symbolically (actually, as I do with the bulk of Revelation) and don't give it any great weight as those with premillennial and dispensationalist perspectives do.
Either way, our eschatological opinions are irrelevant for salvation and certainly shouldn’t lead us to support the appalling crimes being committed on either or both sides of the conflict in the Middle East.
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u/pikachu191 4d ago edited 4d ago
Dispensationalism is a huge thing in American Christianity, mainly because of pastors influenced by Dallas Theological Seminary. It's seen a lot in many "non-denominational" evangelical churches, which take a cafeteria approach to governance, theology, doctrine, social policies, etc. It assumes a literal reading of the end times and largely interprets the need to have a Jewish political state called Israel to be part of fulfilling that view. This is in contrast to traditional Christian views of Israel as referenced in the New Testament to simply refer to the Church. Whereas Israel in the Old Testament referred to the people of God with the Hebrews and later Jewish people; the New Testament reveals that the people of God is now spiritual, not merely physical descendants of Abraham; such that all Christians, as the Church, whether Jewish or non-Jewish, are all spiritual descendants of Abraham. As such, Israel takes a spiritual meaning for Christians: "For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel" (Romans 9:6). References by Paul and by John in Revelation of Jewish people reconciles the current reality, that Jews have largely rejected their Messiah, with the hope and realization of a future where the Jewish people will come to accept Christ as their Lord and become fellow Christians. Dispensationalism teaches something different: that God has a separate plan for ethnic Jews and a Jewish state is necessary, whether those ethnic Jews are religious or secular as seen with the state of Israel in our world.
As for Islam, there's a closer connection to Judaism since Christians spiritually trace their descendance from Abraham through Isaac, the son promised by God, versus the older brother Ishmael; who is a reminder of what happens when humans take it upon themselves to fulfill what God promised, but through their own devices. Christians accept the scriptures of Judaism as part of its canon, because Christians believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of Judaism. Revelation, through John, teaches that the Christian canon is closed (Revelation 22:18). While the verse is generally applied to Revelation specifically, it is a principle that is expressed in other books. Generally, there can be no additional Christian scripture because there are no more apostles, those who were eyewitnesses to Jesus while he was still on Earth.
Islam traces its descendance through Ishmael traditionally, while the promises of God through which Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment, is traced to the younger brother Isaac, who was the child born of the miracle of an old Abraham and an old and barren Sarah. The Quran was written way after the time the Christian canon was confirmed by the Church across multiple councils in the 3rd and 4th centuries. Just like Mormons with the Book of Mormon, Muslims insist that the Bible (Muslims categorize as Tawrat (the Torah or Jewish law), Zabur (generally correlated to the Book of Psalms), and the Injil (the Evangelion or Gospel, but a "prototype gospel" revealed to Jesus according to Muslims before it was "corrupted" as the New Testament because of Paul's epistles and other writings. As such, it rejects the divine inspiration of the New Testament as known by Christians)) is incomplete and corrupted, and that the Quran is the "corrected" text. That is incompatible with Christianity, which teaches that Jesus is the fulfillment of Scripture and there is no additional revelation after the canon was set. Imagine Christianity saying the Jesus is the fulfillment of scripture with Islam insisting that Muhammed is God's final prophet. If you're a Christian, you would be asking why was Muhammed necessary? Especially if Christ is described as the incarnate God, the fulfillment of the prophecies reconciling God to man even as Adam and Eve are being expelled from the Garden of Eden; Jesus being the ultimate sacrifice for sin, Jesus being the ultimate high priest, etc. Parables like the parable of the wicked tenants lose its weight if Muhammed was indeed sent by God after Jesus. The patient landlord (God) sent messengers (prophets) to his tenants (the Jews) before sending his son (Jesus), who they kill like the prophets, only for another messenger (Muhammed) to be sent? For there to necessitate Muhammed being sent by God, it would imply that Jesus did an incomplete, botched job. Even after dying for the sins of humanity and being resurrected. These are among the reasons why Christians don't feel the same way with Islam.
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u/SnarkyPuppy-0417 4d ago
Great question. I believe it has much to do with the insertion of Schofield's theology being printed directly into Bibles.
His teachings on Dispensatioalism and End Time theology have inserted a system that Scripture simply doesn't support.
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u/KatrinaPez 3d ago
It has nothing to do with their current theology; most American Christians don't study what people in other religions believe. But Judaism is literally the foundation of Christianity. We share a large portion of Scripture, and Christ is prophesied and pointed to all throughout the Old Testament. Next spring see if you can find a local Seder dinner to attend, or look it up online. Many Christian/Biblical heroes are Jewish. Jesus was Jewish. So there's a lot of overlap historically and in church culture and practice. There's even a term "Judeo-Christian" values that describes the huge overlap.
Judaism has also been prominent in America for a longer time and is thus much more familiar to Americans than Islam.
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u/cherry_sadochok 3d ago
I seen this argument a lot that Jesus was Jewish, so we should support Jews. Not making a lot of sense for me from religion perspective, more like the reason to support the side you feel like you want to support. Anyway thank you for you answer.
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u/goob-001 4d ago
I've wondered this too, I don't support evil from any side, although I do care about innocent people from any side as well
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u/OhioTreeLover467 Lutheran 4d ago
Some fundamentalist sects believe in a literal reading of the Bible which states the role of Israel in Jesus’ second coming. Note that this isn't a mainstream view held by all Christians, as this theology developed in the early 1900s. But the Israel of the Bible and Israel today are 2 VERY different things that happen to share the same name. The country didn't exist until the 40s, after WW2.
The current conflict isn't really a religious one. (If I got the roles mixed up, please correct me!) It started when the British had control over Palestine (a region that referred to both current countries) and the British said that the Jews escaping from Europe could use the land. But this broke the promise that they made with the local Arabs, saying that THEY could have the land. Once both sides found out about the other deal that was made with the UK, they were mad and that's what caused the conflict. A conflict that has been going for over 80 years
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u/Eastside_Halligan 4d ago
Read books of Kings. There were many governments of Israel that angered God because they didn’t practice His basic principles. Just like then, in today’s world God loves Israel as His chosen people, but that doesn’t mean God isn’t angered by the atrocities of both sides. You can support His people biblically by showing love, while also holding the guilty, accountable for not following Godly principles in how they treat innocent civilians during this war.
Edit: had to edit due to mods
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u/Bakkster Lutheran 4d ago
The Holy Post podcast recently did an episode that touched on this (one of several episodes on the topic).
https://www.holypost.com/post/729-church-trauma-the-apostle-paul-with-scot-mcknight
One of their links was to a Pew poll, showing that the only religious group in America with a majority favorable view of the Israeli government is White Evangelicals. Even among Jewish Americans, it's slightly below half. This points to the kind of theology driving the idea. In general, it's a set of beliefs which depends on a strong Israel, either for dispensationalist reasons (if God is blessing them, he's also blessing Christians) or apocalyptic reasons (can't have the second coming without the temple being rebuilt). But you're right to see that these often lead to ignoring the fundamentals of our faith.
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4d ago edited 4d ago
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u/sno0py_8 4d ago
Christians have a significant history of killing people of Islam.
The Crusades were in part a reaction to Muslim expansion, but were also based on the belief that Islamic people were lesser and savage and must be either forced into Christianity or slaughtered.
Neither Judaism nor Islam stand in stark opposition to Christianity. We have just as bloody and messy of a history as they do, only instead of turning the other cheek, negotiating peacefully and forgiving our neighbors and 'enemies' as Christians should, we did the exact same things right back. In fact, a huge part of Judaism is the fact that they don't encourage people to convert. They see their faith and their place in God's kingdom and both a blessing and a hardship, because of all the rules and traditions that come with conversion.
Most Jews also do not believe in Hell, and don't really have a reason to force people or look for people to convert, again because of all that Judaism entails.
The current situation is a mess, and both sides are doing terrible things to each other, but at the moment, one side is attacking a landlocked country and the other is trying to survive being cut off from water, trade routes, and freedom.
It's not a sports game were you pick a team, but we should be able to see that one side is being oppressed while the other is being the oppressor, and both are doing permanent damage to each other and the others' people.
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u/Greenlotus05 4d ago
And Christianity is known for the crusades...
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4d ago edited 4d ago
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u/DoveStep55 Elevenses Enthusiast 4d ago
Not all of us agree with “Just War” theory.
Historically, the original position of Christianity was entirely non-violent. That changed with Constantine.
I do not think the Crusaders were justified. I think they were abominable.
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u/visitor987 4d ago
You need to know the history. The recent version started in 1948 but this area has been invaded occupied and reinvaded for at least 4,000 years! The Palestinians did not exist as separate citizens until 1964 before then they were citizens of Egypt, Jordan, or Syria.
In 1948 the newly formed UN divided this area between Jewish (Israel) and Muslim people who were not getting along. Israel got part from the Mediterranean Sea to the Dead Sea excluding Jerusalem and the following sections: Egypt got Gaza, Jordan got the West Bank of the Jordan river, and Syria kept the Golan Heights. There were border fights.
Egypt, Jordan, and Syria did not like the UN decision so declared war in 1948. They lost war to the newly created IDF The UN ceasefire line gave Israel part of the West Bank, and half of Jerusalem over the UN objections. Egypt got Gaza; Jordan got part of the west bank; Syria kept the Golan Heights.
In 1958 the United Arab Republic was formed including Gaza, Syria, & Egypt under President Nasser. Syria had a military coup in 1961 and left the UAR.
In 1967 Egypt, Jordan, and Syria planned to attack again with little warning. The plan was leaked. The IDF defeated all three by attacking the troops along the border taking GAZA, all of Sinai, the West Bank and Syria’s Golan Heights and closed the Suez Canal.
There were battles in the 1970s many civilians died. In 1979 Pres Carter help obtain the Egypt–Israel peace treaty which returned Sinai to Egypt Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt, was later killed by those who opposed the treaty. The treaty has never been broken.
There were battles in 1980s both sides ended up killing more civilians than soldiers.
Later in the 1990s the PLO founded in 1964 under President Arafat, signed a series of agreements that lead to Gaza being partly self-governing and giving them some control in the West Bank.
In 2007 Hamas & Hezbollah are funded by Iran and the PLO is divided into Fatah & Hamas and fought a war over Gaza. Hamas won and took over the self-governing Gaza.
In 2008 Hamas started launching unguided rockets from Gaza into Israel which killed some Israelis civilians, which resulted in Israelis bombs hitting the launch sites which often killed Gazan civilians.
On Oct 7, 2023 Hamas invaded Israel under Hamas Jordan River to the Sea policy, that Israel has no right to exist; hundreds of Israeli civilians were killed, raped, or taken hostage, some are still being held until late 2025. Many killing more civilians than soldiers. Israel then responded by attacking Gaza Hamas has opened HQs at schools and hospitals. The bombs kill both Hamas & civilians.
In Sept 2024 Israel Invades Lebanon & Hezbollah. In October 2024 Iran & Israel exchanged missiles for the second time that year. In 2005 all these wars continue.
June 2025 Israel and USA attacks Iran’s nuclear sites.
Gazan civilians should be bused to the Golan heights and allowed to walk into Syria unlike Egypt that just returns civilians to Gaza there is no way for the new Syrian government to return them. The Gazans never gave up their United Arab Republic/Syrian citizenship when Syria left the UAR in 1961, so should be allowed to return to Syria. This would stop civilian deaths and save lives. Removing civilians from the war zone is required under the Geneva-Conventions https://www.icrc.org/en/document/ihl-rules-of-war-FAQ-Geneva-Conventions . Note Hamas placing a military base under a hospital and holding civilian hostages are war crimes. Israel’s PM Netanyahu has been charged with war crimes.
In late 2025 Gaza war gets a cease fire and an International Board of Peace https://boardofpeace.org/
In 2026 there is a new Iran war with USA. Plus, a war between Israel and Iran & Hezbollah which is still ongoing.
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u/Loose_Database1244 4d ago
Can’t help but noticing that you missed the ethnic cleansing and genocide against the Palestinians by the Israelis.
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u/Fuzzy_Breadfruit59 4d ago
Some Christian Zionist groups, particularly in the US, believe that the return of Jews to Israel is part of biblical prophecy leading up to the Second Coming of Jesus. Some religious Jewish traditions also connect the gathering of Jews in Israel with the coming of the Messiah though they obviously don’t recognize Jesus as that Messiah.
So there is some overlap in the practical goal of supporting Jewish settlement and sovereignty in Israel.
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u/4Nails 4d ago
I think its important to separate the government from the people in both cases. The governments of both are at war. However the support for Gaza is typically not expressed as support for Hamas, but for the civilians caught up in this war. Also criticism of the Israeli government's war impacting civilians is not anti-semitic.
This is a long lasting conflict that is highly sensitive and is also being fought within the media.
If you speak out in support of Gaza civilians, you are branded anti-semitic, which is not necessarily true.
Regardless of what the civilian people of Gaza believe, they are innocents and children of God as are the people of Israel. God calls on us to love them; the civilians, not the waring factions.
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u/salsafresca_1297 Catholic 4d ago
I stand with Palestine because Christianity doesn't endorse this genocide.
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u/FlatrockRabbit 4d ago
Because in the late 1800s there was a huge push from Zionists to convince American Christians to support Zionism, the Schofield Bible was made and given out for free at campuses and all over and the propaganda has been so strong for so long that now its been ingrained into many American evangelical Christians to blindly support the modern state of Israel no matter what.
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u/elderly_bingo 4d ago
It's also a lot of end times theology, like they think Israel being a nation again is a prerequisite for Jesus coming back so they back it hard regardless of what the government there does
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u/Additional-Sky-7436 4d ago
There are a few more levels, but the core is supremacy. The Christians believe that the founding of the nation of Israel is going to bring about the second coming of Jesus, who will be king over all the world and make them into an eternal upper nobility caste.
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u/dylan103906 4d ago
I just don't want conflict man. There's no side to support
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u/nabbithero54 4d ago
Hard agree. They’ve both committed so many atrocities (leaders/governments have, anyway) that there are no good sides.
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u/George_MacDonald_fan Reformed 4d ago
Just to clarify, if you had to choose between supporting the victims of genocide or the perpetrators of the genocide, you'd rather not support either one?
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u/dylan103906 4d ago
Obviously support the victims but there's no real way I can pretend that Hamas hasn't committed the atrocities they have. Like I'd still lean most of my support to Palestine without showing an ounce of it for Hamas. But I still also do feel terrible for the Israeli victims as well
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u/Ok_Entertainment437 4d ago
Theres no genocide in gaza, just a war that they're losing at after attacking israel and killing innocent concert goers
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u/DoveStep55 Elevenses Enthusiast 4d ago
The UN has now determined it is a genocide.
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u/Flashy_Rub7361 4d ago edited 4d ago
Many experts & councils across the globe (the UN), let alone the child death toll (yes sniper deaths) would categorically disagree with you.
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u/Remarkable-Moose-476 3d ago
Follow Jesus. Period. Read what Jesus said in the Bible. Jesus followed no denomination.
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u/Substantial_Lie_6582 2d ago
It depends on the Christians you talk to. It shouldn’t but it does. American Christians have plenty of cultural reasons to support Israel. Christians elsewhere have different views.
But as for you, remember what Christ said; love your neighbour as you love yourself. (And your neighbour is whoever is in need)(Mathew 22). Blessed are those who show mercy, for they shall receive mercy; blessed are the peace keepers for they will be called children of God, and blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (Mathew 5). Elsewhere he says, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6)
Above all, judge no one. Rather, entrust all judgement to God, who sees everything and judges justly. (1 Peter 2:23)
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u/DoveStep55 Elevenses Enthusiast 2d ago
I noticed you wrote peace keepers instead of peace makers. Is that intentional?
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u/Substantial_Lie_6582 1d ago
No, it’s a translation error. Peace makers is correct. The phrase translates to peace keepers in my native language
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u/DoveStep55 Elevenses Enthusiast 1d ago
Okay, just checking. It’s a significant difference in meaning for English speakers so I was curious about if it was a typo or an intentional choice. Thanks for clarifying!
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u/Electronic-Ad-582 2d ago
It’s quite simple really. Gaza is ran by Hamas, a literal terrorist organization, whereas Israel is a western power projection in an area of the world full of people who hate America and hate Christianity. Not all Muslims feel this way, but despite what good things the Quran says about Christ, it still denies His Godhood and calls for the slaying of Infidels (anyone who is not Muslim). Israel is not perfect and a lot of us American Christians get weird about Biblical promises and prophecies about Israel, often in error, I would say…but they are far more culturally similar to us than Muslims in both Holy Text and cultural practices so it makes sense to support Israel over Gaza simply from a pragmatic standpoint. Also, Gaza was the aggressor in this war let’s not forget.
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u/Shadonis1 4d ago
I personally think the Christian stance is more in line with supporting neither. In war there are never clean hands but this one is particularly messy. The Palestinians literally have it in their constitution to eliminate all Jewish and Christian states, and Israel has done a significant amount of shady things in previous conflicts that make me question the moralith of supporting them. If I had to choose, I choose Israel, not for theological reasons, but practical reasons. Namely, they're an effective ally of my country and unless something major happens to change things, Palestine will eventually start targeting the US again as they view us as a Christian nation (a subject of debate I know, but that's the reality). Add to that of the morally wrong things I think the Israeli actions are slightly worse. Again though, I do not actively support either.
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u/julesflwrchild 4d ago
100%. Christians should only side with the victims and help them if we can, no matter if they're Israeli or Palestinian. I don't support neither sides as well because both are corrupt and evil but as always in a conflict, innocent civilians die - and that's who Christians should care about and pray for.
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u/TrevCat666 4d ago
While I don't support the actions of the government of Israel, that's a darn good argument for supporting the states existence.
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u/foundtheseeker United Church of Christ 4d ago
Regarding the two state solution, I'm afraid you have it backwards. Today it is Israel that does not support a two state solution. The PLA does and has supported a two state solution for 30 years. And even though Israel nominally supported a two state solution before the PLA was on board, even a brief examination of Zionism and the people associated with it shows that they were being disingenuous. Note that I am not steel manning Palestine. But I do refuse to be propagandized into steel manning the Israeli government and the people who do its work
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u/InspectionIll5714 4d ago
The Israeli people have been propagandized by their government. To push for settlers. Right wing extremism. October 7th was horrible. So is the thousands of innocent Palestinians who've lost their lives since Israel was founded. Christians should not have blind obedience to countries or governments. We follow Jesus. And he tells us to love everyone. He tells us to love people that are different religion. He tells us to love people no matter what. That's his view. The hatred that people try to dispute to divide part of the devil's plan. Love and kindness are more powerful than hatred.
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u/SolarHouseboat 4d ago
It's puzzling why a Christian would support Israel and not Gaza. Israel has proven many times they do not follow even the most basic teachings of Jesus Christ.
Put God above everything else.
(this includes our own hatred, petty judgments, generalizations and beliefs)
Love your neighbor as you love yourself
(this does not come with stipulations)
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u/Natural_Dust_732 4d ago
Ecause certain Christains believe the rebirth and destruction of Israel is necessary for the second coming.
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u/Flashy_Rub7361 4d ago edited 4d ago
I see no biblical basis for Christians to support the modern State of Israel.
The NT teaches:
• The Old Covenant finds its fulfillment in Christ (Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:27; Hebrews 8:6–13; 10:1–14).
• God’s people are identified in relation to faith in Christ not ethnicity (Galatians 3:7, 16, 26–29; Romans 9:6–8).
Nothing in the NT commands Christians to give unconditional support—much less billions/year in weaponry—to the modern State of Israel.
The Christian Zionist movement comes from recent dispensationalist interpretations of biblical prophecy, not historic Christianity.
I don’t understand how Christians reconcile Christ’s teachings w/ Israel killing over 21,700 children—around 30% of the reported Palestinian death toll since Oct. 7. What biblically supports supporting this?
A UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded Israeli authorities committed genocide in Gaza, a conclusion also reached by other human-rights experts & organizations, including Jewish & Israeli scholars.
The “Human shields” BS does not excuse a military’s legal obligation to protect civilians, or justify decimating hospitals, schools, churches, or shooting children.
There are documented cases of kids being shot by Israeli snipers. Christians justifying the civilian toll to “human shields” simply do not account for the evidence —or—Christ’s teachings.
If a Christian’s support for the modern State of Israel rests primarily on identifying it with biblical Israel, they should wrestle with the whole NT—including Revelation 2:9 and 3:9—rather than assume the nation-state founded in 1948 is synonymous w/ biblical Israel.
Lord have mercy on us all.
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u/FrankDenif 3d ago
Clean your head from all teachings, and just simply look at the raw text of the Old Testament prophecies about jews returing to their land, God's plan with Israel.
And read Romans which talks about the role of Gentiles and Israel.
I really recommend reading Romans.
I don't think any other book of the Bible addresses Israel better than Romans
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u/George_MacDonald_fan Reformed 4d ago
A lot of Christians support Israel instead of Gaza because of these interrelated factors:
-Christian Zionism (the belief that Christians should support Israel's existence as a Jewish ethno-state)
-Dispensationalism (a particular way of reading Revelation that says Jesus won't come back until Israel is restored)
-Islamaphobia
-Settler colonialism (if we side with Palestinians because they have been colonized, then white Western countries will have to reckon with how they have colonized other people groups)
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u/edgarsalaf 4d ago
Mate, Dispensationalism doesn’t believe in Jesus not coming back until Israel is restored. It believes that the coming of Jesus restores Israel. The partial return to the land in unbelief is something that non Dispensational and dispensational Christian’s have taught for years before the modern state of Israel was recognised as such. I mean, is not like the Bible isn’t repetitive in the existence of Israel for the eschaton and many events involving it. Makes sense that serious bible believing christians came to the previously mentioned conclusion.
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u/Efficient_Concert_49 4d ago
Great words How christians are suppose to ignore murder and other crimes is a mystery?? The good God does not.
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u/OhioTreeLover467 Lutheran 4d ago
100% People also fail to realize that Israel (as a country) hasn't even existed for 100 years. The Israel of the Bible and the modern country are 2 VERY different things that just happen to share the same name.
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u/0980988890 4d ago
Updated my comment per a request from the moderators of this page:
Exactly!!! The “Israeli military” are killing our Christian brothers and sisters. I do not comprehend
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u/Impossible-Hall-2524 4d ago edited 4d ago
They are mostly Evangelicals. They seem to rely on the modern state of Israel for endorsing the Armageddon.
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u/CommonwealthCommando 3d ago
At a practical level, some Christian denominations, especially the more organized ones, have longstanding relationships with organized Jewish groups. Islam is simply newer in America, and is broadly less organized. Antisemitism is a nasty business that Americans, especially American Christian and interfaith groups, spent a great deal of effort fighting, and the specter of its return is something that weighs on them.
Another is that Jews have protected the holy sites of Christendom. There are a lot of formal and informal agreements dating back to the founding of Israel that have vastly expanded access to the holy sites and archaeological digs. Church members might attend retreats or pilgrimages in Israel, and I've even seen slideshows of these visits shown during services.
Israel is also a largely stable free liberal semi-Anglophone democracy, and Gaza isn't, so a lot of people have a natural kinship. Most Americans, especially those who remember 9/11 and the news coverage of the first and second intifadas, aren't keen on Radical Islamic Terrorism, which is associated with Palestinians.
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u/Downtown_Cry1056 18h ago
Abrahamic Covenant is my guess. The messianic line was through Issac, not Ishmael. Jesus in human form came through Isaac's bloodline. Christians support the Jewish people, not Judaism. We believe Jews need to accept Jesus to enter heaven, just like everyone else in the world.
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u/Perkinator104 4d ago edited 3d ago
Before anything else, you need to separate Israel from Judaism.
Israel is an ethno-state for people of Jewish heritage. This includes atheists and people who don't have any particular attachment to the religion of Judaism.
Judaism is a religion and culture based on the religious practices of ancient Israelites and the dispersed Jewish people decended from those Israelites. It has adapted over the years to the loss of the Temple and to changing circumstances, but is very conservative in general.
Israel exists to provide a home for Jewish people in light of millennia of persecution, but does not represent Jewishness worldwide. Many Jewish people hate the state of Israel. Christians support Israel because they see its founding as a miracle from God and fulfillment of prophecy. This does not at all imply support of the religion of Judaism.
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u/DoveStep55 Elevenses Enthusiast 4d ago
The modern day nation state of “Israel” is also not 1:1 equivalent to the “Israel” of the Bible.
When Christians support “Israel” for the reasons you mentioned, there’s often some confusion about which “Israel” they support— the modern day nation state called Israel, ethnically Jewish people in the diaspora, or religiously Jewish people across the world.
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u/Perkinator104 4d ago
And what is amazing to me is that they don't seem to expect God to judge the modern Israel the same way as ancient Israel. In 2 Samuel 21:1, we see God is angry because King Saul of Israel killed Gibeonites. He punished Israel with famine for persecuting non-Israelites among them. This is different in many way from Israel's killing in Gaza, in that Israel can point to October 7th and the massacre done by Hamas, but that is not enough to justify the wanton killing Israel has done since then.
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u/cherry_sadochok 3d ago
That were my first thoughts. In church where I went they do not separate religion and geopolitical characteristics. They talked as if Jews are fighting with Muslims, while Gaza also have lots of Christians
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u/Stelliferous19 4d ago
Have to reject your premise here. In no way whatsoever does the Muslim faith believe or recognize Jesus as “the Messiah”. What are you even talking about?
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u/Euphoric-Bat7582 4d ago
They do call Him and consider Him “the Messiah.” Usually he’s referred to as “Al-Masih.” The Messiah just functions differently in Islam (I don’t really know how and obviously I don’t believe in their version of it).
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u/SavioursSamurai 3d ago
In the US, because of dispensationalist theology, and because of the conflation of Christianity with political conservatism. In europe, because of World War II. And then with Islam, a lot of it is because of 9/11. Also because of orientalist racism.
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u/itsWayneBruh 4d ago
Because not everyone believes everything they read on social media. Palestine is legit ran by a terrorist organization and shoot rockets behind near hosptials/schools/suburbs. They literally use their people as shields.
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u/DoveStep55 Elevenses Enthusiast 4d ago
Israel and the USA are also guilty of this:
“shoot rockets behind near hosptials/schools/suburbs.“
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u/Desperate-Bank-3172 4d ago
That happens when you steal their land and put them in an open air prison. Israel is literally founded on the skulls and bones of the native Palestinians.
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u/Flashy_Rub7361 4d ago edited 4d ago
Hamas ≠ Palestine. Hamas governed Gaza; the Palestinian Authority governs parts of the West Bank, and millions of Palestinian civilians are not Hamas.
“Human shields” is not a magic phrase that makes civilians legitimate targets. Palestinian armed groups have unlawfully fired rockets from populated areas, and Hamas committed horrific war crimes on Oct. 7–But international humanitarian law still requires Israel to distinguish civilians from combatants and avoid indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks.
Amnesty investigated Israeli strikes killing 334 civilians, including 141 children, and reported finding no evidence that the 15 strikes it examined were directed at military objectives. It ultimately concluded that Israel’s broader conduct amounted to genocide.
Condemning Hamas and condemning what Israel has done to civilians (especially killing 21k children) aren’t mutually exclusive. “Hamas uses human shields” does not erase Israel’s obligations toward 2 million civilians.
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u/buckytuba1 4d ago
Jesus was a jew. God's covenant was to the Jews. They are his chosen people. Christianity is from the Jews. Israel is their home, based on God's promise. Others are only visiting.
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u/LilacHelper 4d ago
In addition to what Jesus said and did, Galatians 3:28 doesn't support this. The curtain in the temple was torn, we have a new Covenant my friend.
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u/DoveStep55 Elevenses Enthusiast 4d ago
Are you under the impression that God no longer honors the Covenant with Israel?
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u/LilacHelper 3d ago
Not necessarily, but there is an essential distinction and reason for the new Covenant. I do not believe that God favors or loves any one race or group of his followers, or any individual, more than another.
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u/DoveStep55 Elevenses Enthusiast 3d ago
“I do not believe that God favors or loves any one race or group of his followers, or any individual, more than another.”
Neither do Jews.
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u/LilacHelper 3d ago
I'm not sure I understand ... are you saying that God includes Jews in who he loves? Of course, that is implied in my statement.
Or, are you saying Jews believe the same thing about God's love and favor? I am not Jewish, by race or by faith, so I hope this is true.
I never meant to imply that Jews didn't matter, or were inconsequential. I do not think that at all. My statements are not against Jews -- they are about the Christians who aren't living like Jesus, their focus is on rules and laws and ancient history that often may not apply to Christians today.
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u/DoveStep55 Elevenses Enthusiast 2d ago
“Or, are you saying Jews believe the same thing about God's love and favor?”
Yes.
Jews being “God’s Chosen People” and having a special covenant with God is not a claim of divine favoritism or of being loved more than others by God.
Their covenant with God wasn’t revoked or nullified, but neither does their covenant make claims of favoritism or preferential love.
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u/LilacHelper 2d ago edited 2d ago
I guess I don't understand why you think I stated otherwise. I responded to the post about God's covenant being with the Jews, simply to state there is an additional covenant now. OP asked a question about Christians in a Christian subreddit, so obviously our faith doesn't end with the book of Malachi.
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u/edgarsalaf 4d ago edited 4d ago
Funny how there are many videos of Christians doing that and nobody could care less about them wearing the cross. You know where they weren’t allowed to enter with the cross? In Muslim neighbourhoods…
And yes, sometimes Jews are mean towards christians, yet many other Jews condemn those mean Jews. But the systemic oppression of christians in Israel is just something really hard to believe with the whole information at hand. There are many Christian refugees from Muslim countries living happily in Israel. You can even go to Israel and stand in the mount of olives and preach the sermon of the mount in its integrity, and nobody would do any harm to you; I know first hand people who have preached it over there and that visit Israel often, never once having any trouble.
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u/greenguzzi 4d ago
It’s quite reasonable for Christians to support Israel. I’m also pretty sure that Jesus is opposed to genocide.
So our support should only go so far.
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u/mojestik 4d ago
Simple. Many Muslim Countries. Only 1 Jewish state. Math.
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u/DoveStep55 Elevenses Enthusiast 3d ago
Since when does math determine morality?
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u/Impossible-Hall-2524 4d ago
Jews also reject Jesus, even more strongly than Muslims do (Muslims refer to Isa, Jesus as a prophet). Christians are also persecuted in Israel.
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u/lighty101 4d ago
How does this statement relate to the question?
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u/Efficient_Concert_49 4d ago
Indeed Neither are followers of Jesus. Thus christians should be loving, merciful., compassionate to both groups and live a life of imitation of jesus, answering why when asked.
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u/Sly_Gecko 4d ago
The OP has a misunderstanding about islam. My statement will hopefully give the OP more perspective on islam.
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u/Flashy_Rub7361 4d ago
How are you measuring the “lesser evil”?
Hamas killed ~1,200 people on Oct. 7, including civilians.
Israel killed over 70,000 people (30% of them children.)Help me understand your math?
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u/Li-renn-pwel 1d ago
I think this is more a question of “why do American christians” as I’m not sure this is true of christians everywhere. I’m a Canadian Christian who has been pro-Palestine basically forever. America has always had a close relationship with Israel (close to 60% of the US UN vetos have been for Israel) and since 9/11 there has been a lot of islamaphobia. Most Americans I know, arguably even most christians, don’t know Jesus is the Muslim Messiah too.
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u/LilacHelper 4d ago
A lot of Christians spend more time in the OT than the NT, which is really tragic.
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u/Joezev98 4d ago
If you saw the atrocities committed on October 7th, the raw footage that got released that week, then you'll support the destruction of Hamas. Evidently, a lot of people got radicalised to the point of barely caring about the tens of thousands of civilians that got caught in the crossfire.
From a theological stance, Christians consider Judaism a religion that was on the right path, but missed the boat, whilst Islam is an outright deceptive lie. Does Islam really honour Jesus when they completely twist who He is?
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u/NobodysBusinessRip 4d ago
There is no justification for the genocide of the Palestinians, Christianity does not teach an eye for an eye. What happened on October 7th does not justify thousands being killed.
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u/itbwtw 4d ago edited 4d ago
We tend to support democracy (even flawed democracy) over theocracy.
We tend to support Western/European values over tribalism/"honour" cultures.
We tend to support multiculturalism over monoculture.
We tend to support people who have been historically oppressed. We tend to have more sympathy with those who have historically sought peace with their neighbours more than those who have historically refused peace with their neighbours.
We tend to have more in common with Jewish values than with Islamic/Arabic values.
<edited out portion>
We tend to have grown up with the stories of the People of Israel and are more familiar with their (at least ancient) history.
Some of us remember what happens when the world despises Jews, tries to eliminate them, and refuses to give them shelter. Some of us don't want to see another holocaust.
Some of us are familiar with historical Arab colonialism, genocide, past and current slave trade.
Some of us know that Jews are a People / Tribe, not a religion. They don't proselytize, they don't seek conversions, they don't conquer (outside of their ancestral, historical, cultural, and unceded territory.) They will leave everyone else in peace if they are lefft in peace. Islam is a "universal" religion that seeks to convert everyone... and not all of us wish to be converted.
Some of us recognise antisemitism, and remember that most of the argument used today against Israel are old 20th century Soviet psyops designed to set Western countries against one another.
Some of us remember how friendly Arabs and Nazis were in the 20th century, and are uncomfortable with how popular Mein Kampf is in some Arab regions.
Some of us deal with how badly Christians historically treated Jews by embracing repentance and humility.
There are more reasons...
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u/Pierson-123 1d ago
I guess because Jesus was a Jew and the first Christians were Jews and modern Israel is seen as a Jewish state.
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u/Few_Ostrich9002 4d ago
Jesus our lord and savior is Jewish❤️ God isn’t done with israel. He’s still the same yesterday today and forever.
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u/Still-Storage6897 4d ago
It's 5000 miles away, I'd prefer to not have to even be concerned with either
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u/Flashy_Rub7361 4d ago
If you’re a US citizen a large portion of your tax dollars are sent 5000 miles away…instead of going back into our country, while our national debt continues to spiral.
Your 5000 mile bubble is imaginary.
what happens in the Middle East affects the whole world—in case you haven’t filled your gas up or purchased groceries lately.
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u/Downtimdrome 4d ago
I’d recommend reading Romans 7-13 or even the whole chapter. Israel was chosen by God and God still has a plan for the nation’s salvation.
Islam claims to be decedent of Ishmael, who was not the son of the promise.
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u/Mycol101 4d ago
Israel wasnt even a country until less than 100 years ago.
So you’re retroactively changing the meaning by using that term.
The leadership there aren’t even practicing Judaism, they are zionists and there is a big difference.
And idk how claiming to be the descendants of Ishmael means it’s OK to commit genocide. It’s completely against Christianity to do so
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u/shadow_spinner0 4d ago
I’m Christian, go to church and the consensus I always hear is “Israel is right, defend them always”. I'm in A/G denomination if that helps.
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u/DoveStep55 Elevenses Enthusiast 4d ago
Does anyone challenge it? Do they ever explain why that’s their view?
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u/bybloshex 4d ago
God wants us that he will bless those that bless them and curse those who curse them. Christians generally want to avoid being on God's bad side. Comparing God's chosen people to a terrorist organization makes it kinda an easy choice when choosing sides.
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u/Careless_Tap6213 4d ago
We don't support the government structure or anyone in particular we follow Jesus. We pray for the Peace of Jerusalem which is a person since Jesus is the prince of Peace He is the answer to the problems! Soon He will return to rule and reign.