Christian Zionism In The News

Why are Christian Zionists Silent?

November 8, 2023

This summer, large and unprecedented protests broke out in Israel over Prime Minister Netanyahu’s controversial proposals to overhaul the nation’s judiciary. His opponents warned that his proposals were a step toward ultranationalism and authoritarianism. Christian Zionists, who customarily take sides in the nation’s politics, were uncharacteristically silent on the issue. Why?

In this lengthy and carefully researched article, Daniel Hummel traces Christian Zionist leaders’ evolution from outspoken supporters of Israeli political parties to practitioners of studied neutrality in order to remain on good terms with the governing coalition in the Israeli Knesset.

Hummel observes that “neutrality may be strategically wise, but in terms of underlying values there is, among some Christian Zionists, an expressed preference . . . for the ‘ultranationalist’ position.” He then goes on to say, “As the ground shifts, and the judicial changes advance through the Knesset and prompt reactions from all corners, practicing neutrality for the sake of friendship has become an instinct among those Christian Zionists closest to the centers of organizational and diplomatic influence.” The result? Silence on this crucial Israeli issue of judicial overhaul.

Daniel G. Hummel is the author of “Covenant Brothers: Evangelicals, Jews, and U.S.-Israeli Relations” and “The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism: How the Evangelical Battle over the End Times Shaped a Nation.” He serves as the Director for University Engagement at Upper House, a Christian study center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The article, “Israel’s Current Crisis Exposes Christian Zionism’s Contradictory Ideals” was published in New Lines Magazine on September 7, 2023.

To read Hummel’s article: Israel’s Current Crisis Exposes Christian Zionism’s Contradictory Ideals