Why Do Christians Support Israel?
Stand for Israel | December 5, 2022
There are many reasons why Christians support Israel. One of the most important is God’s promise to bless those who bless Israel. Giving to His people not only fulfills this biblical calling, it also provides help to people in need. Many Christians support Israel and her people because they are filling a moral duty while carrying out God’s Word.
5 Reasons Why Christians Support Israel
Whether through prayer, acts of service, or simply standing in solidarity, for Christians, supporting Israel provides an opportunity to live out God’s call to love our neighbors and care for those in need.
1. God Blesses Those Who Bless Israel
By supporting Israel, Christians believe they are living by the Word of God. And, as God promises in Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Scripture tells us that if we send blessings to Israel and her people, those blessings will be returned. What a great way to act on Scripture and give as God has given to us. And, as we read in the Bible, these blessings will be returned.
2. Christians’ Opportunity to Be Part of Biblical Prophecy
Biblical prophecy comes to life in Israel. Israel is mentioned in the Bible over 2,500 times, and is where many stories, lessons, and parables throughout Scripture took place. As mentioned in the Bible, God gave the deed of this land to Abraham and Isaac. God trusted these Israelite men to not only take care of His land, but to carry on His Word.
Isaiah 11:12 says, “He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.” When biblical prophecy is fulfilled, all of God’s people will come home to Israel. Supporting Israel and her people is an opportunity to take part in rebuilding God’s Promised Land.
As mentioned above, Israel is the setting and backdrop for many Bible stories. That’s why it’s so important we do everything we can to preserve God’s Holy Land. It’s home to many biblical sites and is significant to both Jewish and Christian faiths. The people of Israel already live in a state of vulnerability, a tiny country surrounded by enemies, and they need our help. Providing aid to Israel will both preserve the land where our faiths began and provide comfort to the many people who live there who are suffering.
Photo Credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
3. Israel is Allies with the U.S.
Freedom of religion, democracy, and security are important values to many. It’s important to support those who support us, including in matters of national security. Israel and the United States have been long-time partners in security. Both parties share a foundational bond of being democracies.
This deep partnership has been essential since 1948 when the United States was the first country to recognize the modern state of Israel. Over the decades, both nations have stood together through challenges, reinforcing their bond through action and solidarity.
At the heart of this relationship lies mutual respect, as both Israel and the U.S. strive to uphold freedom in volatile regions. Israel acts as America’s strategic partner in the Middle East, providing intelligence, counterterrorism expertise, and military collaboration. In return, the U.S. offers essential military support, emphasizing the value both nations place on security and shared responsibility.
This friendship is about more than political alliances. As Yael Eckstein reflects in A Celebration of Independence and Friendship, the relationship between Israel and the U.S. is also rooted in shared ideals of freedom, peace, and prosperity for all.
The alliance is sustained by more than governments—it extends to people of faith, organizations, and individuals committed to supporting Israel. Through initiatives like The Fellowship’s work, Americans actively contribute to these shared values by providing aid to vulnerable communities in Israel and supporting efforts that promote peace and stability. Together, these efforts embody a lasting partnership built on shared values and a commitment to a brighter future for all.
4. A Better Understanding of the Bible
Israel also gives us a better understanding of the Bible. Being able to visit the places where so many beloved Bible stories took place can be truly enlightening for people of faith, and can even help spread God’s Word. Being able to visit Israel not only educates us on the history of our faiths, but can strengthen and provide direction to our personal lives. The feeling of connection to the Holy Land after a visit to Israel is a moving experience.
There are many stories in the Bible that took place in Israel, and the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) is predominantly based in Israel. It is where both the Jewish faith and Christianity really started. Visiting the land of Israel, we can truly feel the presence of God. One example of this would be the Western Wall. Many go there to pray, and feel closer to God in these moments. Landmarks like the Western Wall are not only important for people of faith to have a tangible place to feel closer to God, but also serve as an emblem of faith for those who may have never heard God’s Word. While comforting to those who already believe in Him, tangible landmarks from the Bible can speak to God’s power for those who do not.
Biblical Passages That Inspire Support for Israel
The Bible is filled with passages that emphasize the importance of the land of Israel and the call to bless and support God’s people. These Scriptures not only deepen our faith but also provide a foundation for standing with Israel today. From God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:3) to the prophecies of Israel’s restoration (Ezekiel 37:21-22), the Bible repeatedly highlights the significance of the Holy Land and the Jewish people.
Visiting these sacred sites brings these Scriptures to life, allowing believers to walk the paths of the prophets and experience firsthand the stories that shape our faith. Through this biblical connection, we are reminded of God’s enduring promises and the importance of building bridges with the people of Israel.
Here are key biblical passages that inspire support for Israel:
- Genesis 12:3 – “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (God’s covenant with Abraham, calling nations to bless his descendants.)
- Psalm 122:6 – “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure.’” (A call to actively seek the welfare of Jerusalem and its people.)
- Isaiah 62:1 – “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.” (A declaration of commitment to the restoration and peace of Israel.)
- Ezekiel 37:21 – “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land.” (A prophecy of Israel’s restoration to its homeland.)
- Romans 15:27 – “For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.” (An encouragement from the Christian Bible for Christians to support the Jewish people.)
5. Christians Want to Build Bridges with Jews
The Jewish people have faced enemies for thousands of years. They have gone through many harsh trials simply for being Jewish. The Holocaust is just one example of how Jews have been persecuted for their faith. Building bridges of fellowship and understanding between Jews and Christians honors and supports Israel, the land from which both of these faiths stemmed.
Edith Schaeffer, author of “Christianity Is Jewish,” discusses how Christianity stems from the Jewish faith, concluding that both the Christian and Jewish faiths are built on the same principles. Christian Zionists recognize the immense spiritual debt that Christianity owes the Jewish faith and feel they owe the Jewish people honor, respect, and support. It’s important to embrace our similarities and support one another, just as it’s crucial that we remember what divided us in the past and remedy those divisions.
Loving Your Neighbor: Fulfilling the Biblical Mandate to Serve Others
Christians also recognize with sorrow and repentance the persecution Jewish people have faced throughout history. Creating a new relationship based on mutual respect and understanding is the way to do this. Many Jewish people are still suffering in Israel—with no heat, limited access to food, and without reliable medicine. Supporting elderly and vulnerable Jews is just one way to build these new relationships, and to serve our brothers and sisters in faith.
Inspired by the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Christians are called to care for others in times of suffering and crisis. Today, that call is more urgent than ever, as many Jewish people in Israel continue to face the harsh realities of conflict, especially following the devastating October 2023 attacks. Communities were left shattered, and elderly and vulnerable people struggling without basic necessities such as housing, food, heat, and medicine.
Building bridges through compassion and service reflects God’s love and offers healing where it’s needed most. The Fellowship responds immediately in times of crisis, providing food, emergency equipment, trauma counseling, and bomb shelters to protect victims of terror and war. Supporting these efforts not only demonstrates solidarity with the Jewish people but also fulfills the biblical mandate to love our neighbors as ourselves. Your involvement can bring light and hope to those in desperate need, ensuring that together we embody God’s love through meaningful action.
Should Christians Support Israel?
There are many people who believe Christians should support Israel. Pastor and Sr. Director of Church Outreach at The Fellowship Roger Cheeks is just one of these Christians who support Israel and her people.
In his words, “As a Christian, I support Israel because I believe that I am blessed as a result of my support to Israel.” Diving deeper, Cheeks explains that Romans 11:17 comes to mind when thinking of Christians supporting Israel: “… some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root.”
Christians supporting Israel is just one way that God’s people can remain united. Pastor Cheeks says, “The children of Israel are God’s special people; and the promise of blessings the Lord would grant to Abraham and those who bless them is still an active truth!” Using Pastor Cheeks’ words for inspiration we can see that Scripture really does promise to bless those who bless Israel and her people.
Further explaining his support, Pastor Cheeks says, “I support The Fellowship because of its prophetic call and biblio-centric focus found on Scripture, especially Isaiah 58. It supports the humanitarian work The Fellowship does for the Jewish people worldwide and the people in Israel.”
Support Israel and the Jewish Nation
Turn your love and commitment for Israel into action. The Fellowship helps vulnerable Jewish people with aliyah (immigration to Israel), security, and other essentials—in Israel and all around the world. Answer God’s call and bless Israel and her people with your best gift today!
