Christian Zionism violates Christian spirituality

As a Christian, I am appalled by the heretical teachings of Christian Zionism that have permeated certain influential American elites and made them complicit in the genocide in Gaza - currently and for decades.

Zionist ideology has become a significant political force in the US with religious fervour and supports the colonial project by politically and financially promoting a greater Israel.

As a political and religious ideology, Christian Zionism advocates the return of the Jewish people to the Holy Land in a Christian context.

It also holds the view that the founding of the state of Israel in 1948 was in line with biblical prophecies transmitted through the Old Testament: the restoration of Jewish sovereignty in the Levant.

The movement's theological roots can be traced back to 16th century Protestantism and the Puritans of the 17th century, who interpreted biblical texts in relation to the return of the Jews to the Holy Land.

The expectation of a Jewish restoration among Christians has its roots in the thinking of the English Puritans of the 17th century.

Christian pro-Zionist ideals emerged in this context.

The contemporary Israeli historian Anita Shapira suggests that England's Zionist Evangelical Protestants passed this notion on to Jewish circles around 1840.

From these facts, one can see that Christian Zionism has nothing to do with the broader ancient teachings of Christianity. It literally picks and chooses biblical verses to fit its ideology.

The misguided notion that the modern state of Israel is equivalent to ancient covenant Jews is the greatest folly that must be rejected.

It is imperative that Christian churches around the world, including in Malaysia, expose this great distortion of the Christian faith that has led to wars and destruction in the Holy Land.

In other words, Christian Zionism, which is a political movement, distorts the spiritual essence of Christianity, which is based on the universal love, mercy and compassion of Christ and is diametrically opposed to the thought patterns of Zionist colonialism.

Ronald Benjamin is secretary. Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.