Why Evangelical Christians Are Obsessed With Israel

It’s not because they love the Jews.

People often point out the Republican’s solidarity with Israel as the reason they couldn’t possibly be antisemitic. The problem, however, is that these right-wingers and evangelical Christians don’t genuinely care about the Jews. Their obsession with Israel, as with most obsessions, is a very selfish one.

They believe that they will be blessed if they “support Israel.” It’s merely another thorny tendril of prosperity teaching in America.

Growing up in the late 80s/early 90s, the only church I frequently attended was a Messianic congregation for Jews and Gentiles in the suburbs of Minneapolis. This is where I got a firsthand look at the Conservative’s pro-Israel agenda.

The congregation was led by Jewish men, but most of the members were gentiles. And most of these gentiles were Christians who were for whatever reason “on the fringe.”

Honestly, Messianic Judaism attracts an awful lot of weirdos, and this congregation was terrible at keeping them out. They didn’t even try.

The problem with fringe people infiltrating the community is that they tend to go for conspiracy theories, and fall for any system that says they’re special and elite. The messianic movement appeals to many types of people, but one dangerous type includes those who want the hallowed distinction of practicing “real Christianity.”

Such folks join the messianic movement like it’s a secret club. They’re proud to be in some inner circle learning what so many other Christians don’t know. It’s a very selfish mentality.

Even as a child, I felt torn because it felt like I was surrounded by adults who merely play-acted at Judaism. The church was of course, a church, and not a synagogue. They chose Jewish words and blessings when it suited them--the same goes for religious garb. Nothing was authentic. The people were decidedly Pentecostal and some just happened to inappropriately wear tallit.

As years passed, the messianic movement gained momentum only because of the Hebrew roots movement. Many Christian churches wanted to learn about the Judaic traditions which the original Christians practiced.

Perhaps it could have been a noble cause, if it hadn’t been so damn selfish. Because at the same time, mega-rich televangelists like Benny Hinn and John Hagee began this very insidious teaching that America and Israel have an intertwined destiny, and that God wants America to stand with Israel. God would bless America, as long as we stood by Israel. It became practically as strong a belief as any in the pro-life movement. And it wasn’t about helping others, but helping themselves.

My mother was a part of this Pentecostal pro-Israel agenda. They spoke in tongues and believed Israel as a state and political power could do no wrong. So she was upset when I began attending a very different kind of messianic synagogue in my twenties. One that made waves for being “too Jewish.”

This is how you know where a Christian really stands with the Jews. Do they support the state or the people? The reality is that evangelical Christians who are pro-Israel are merely using Israel for their own political gain. And that’s why they cannot handle any criticism of Israeli politicians, but lose their shit about messianic Jews who don’t believe in the Trinity.

My mother freaked out about my attending shabbat and havdalah services with people who didn’t  put God into her evangelical box. Again, it was “too Jewish" and not Christian enough. Too liturgical. Christians like my mother didn’t have a whole lot of appreciation for the focus on authenticity. They’d prefer to enjoy their Christmas and Hanukkah.

They sure as hell don’t want to know about the antisemitic roots of their Christian traditions, including why they eat ham on Easter. They want to have fun at a Jewish seder at Passover, and then go to their regularly scheduled Easter egg hunts too. They don’t want to do the work involved with cleaning and searching for chametz.

Never mind the fact that the New Testament discourages mixing politics and religion. Nevermind the fact that Jesus, er, Yeshua is never shown to have the desire to be a political leader. Evangelical Christians are stubbornly political and preoccupied with the frivolous belief in pro-Israel blessings.

The uncomfortable reality is that evangelical Christians see America as the Israel that never was. They believe that God chose Israel to be His people, and so they’ve got to join the team too. Except that means the Jewish people got God wrong and failed to follow Jesus. So it’s up to American gentiles to pick up the slack and behave better as God’s “grafted in” people.

I wish I was joking, but that’s the genuine mindset. After all, that’s why God allowed the holocaust to happen according to John Hagee--because Jews got God wrong and needed to come back to Him. In Israel. Magical Israel.

A very specific kind of Christian has been pandering to Israel for the past few decades, and it isn’t because they love the Jews or care about human rights. They don’t believe human rights violations have ever been committed by Israel. Many of these people refuse to give Palestinians any human rights because of these beliefs. (Ironically, most of my messianic, “too Jewish”friends disagree and support human rights for all.)

It’s because the evangelicals care about themselves. It’s self-indulgence and a helluva lot of privilege. And to claim that this administration cannot possibly be antisemitic because Ivanka Trump is married to Jared Kushner is about as helpful as any white person saying, “Hey, I can’t be racist because I’ve got brown friends!”

Evangelical Christians are obsessed with Israel but absolutely tone deaf when it comes to supporting the Jewish people. Just in case you need an example of how bad it gets, Vice President Mike Pence campaigned for the GOP in Michigan and asked Loren Jacobs to lead the rally in prayer. Pence identified Jacobs as a leader of the Michigan Jewish community, and the moment was intended to honor and remember the Jewish victims of the Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting.

Except that Jacobs isn’t really a Jewish leader at all. He’s one of the fringe Messianic Jews who in fact “disparages Jewish tradition.” Not only that, but even the Messianic Jews say he doesn’t speak for them.

Loren Jacobs is not a Jewish leader in any way, shape, or form. He’s just another Christian play-acting at tiny pieces of Judaism so he can hope to convert more Jews for Jesus. But that’s the kind of Jew our administration feels is worthy of leadership. Someone who can’t be mistaken for being too Jewish.

After all, evangelical support for Israel is all about being on God’s side. You know, the white, American, Christian one.