Does the Bible Command Christians to Support Modern Israel?
What most evangelicals get wrong about Genesis 12:3, 1948, and biblical allegiance.
In the wake of renewed violence between Israel and its neighbors, many Christians, especially in America, are once again repeating the same line: "We have to support Israel. It's biblical."
But is that actually true? Does the Bible command us to support the modern nation-state of Israel founded in 1948? Or have we confused a modern political reality with an ancient theological promise?
A Nation Born in 1948, Not the Old Testament
Let’s start with the facts. The modern state of Israel was established in 1948 by a United Nations resolution. It was born out of decades of Zionist lobbying, British colonial withdrawal, and the horrors of the Holocaust. Its formation was political, not miraculous.
Yes, it occupies some of the same land described in the Bible. But the government of modern Israel is a secular democracy, not a theocracy ruled by prophets or priests. Its leaders are politicians, not descendants of David. It doesn’t operate by Mosaic law. And unlike ancient Israel, it has no temple, no sacrificial system, and no Levitical priesthood.
What Genesis 12:3 Actually Says
One of the most quoted verses in these discussions is Genesis 12:3:
“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.”
Here’s the problem: this was a promise made to Abraham, not the Israeli State. In the New Testament, Galatians 3:7 makes it clear that “those who have faith are children of Abraham.” That promise wasn’t tied to a modern political entity, it was fulfilled in Jesus Christ and extended to all believers.
To apply Genesis 12:3 to a 20th-century state is to rip the verse out of context and use it as a political weapon.
The New Testament Vision of Israel
The New Testament redefines the concept of Israel. Paul writes in Romans 9 that “not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.” And in Galatians 6:16, he calls the Church “the Israel of God.”
In other words, God's covenant people are no longer tied to ethnicity or geography, they're tied to faith in Christ.
God’s chosen people now include both Jews and Gentiles who have been united in Jesus. All believers, regardless of race or nationality, are now part of the Body of Christ.
Supporting the Jewish people? Yes. Sharing the gospel with them? Absolutely. But giving political, military, or financial support to a secular government because it bears the name “Israel”? The Bible never commands that.
What This Doesn’t Mean
Let me be clear: I’m not saying we should oppose Israel. I’m saying we need to think biblically, not nationalistically.
Christians should advocate for peace, justice, and the well-being of all people in the region, Jewish and Palestinian alike. We should care about human rights, mourn civilian deaths, and pursue reconciliation wherever possible.
Blind allegiance to any government, Israeli, American, or otherwise, is not a Christian virtue.
Why This Matters Now
Too many Christians treat support for Israel as a test of faith. That’s not just unbiblical, it’s dangerous. It can lead to:
Ignoring the suffering of Palestinians
Justifying violence in the name of prophecy
Confusing God’s kingdom with geopolitical agendas
Jesus didn’t die for a flag or a border, He died for souls. His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).
Final Thoughts
We are called to love the Jewish people, but also the Palestinian, the Iranian, the Syrian, and every image-bearer of God. And we are called to be loyal first and foremost to the Body of Christ, not any one nation.
So the next time someone says, “We must support Israel, it’s in the Bible,” ask:
Which Israel?” And “Where exactly does it say that?”
Because if we’re going to be people of the Word, we need to stop letting politics shape our theology, and start letting theology shape our politics.