A Small Catechism on Christian Zionism
Yesterday, over at The Daily Wire, I posted an essay entitled, Why Ted Cruz Is Wrong About Christian Zionism. 99.9% of the commenters aren’t thrilled with me; let’s put it that way. BUT, that’s okay. I wanted to share part of that article here. To read the entire thing and to get the full context, head on over the Daily Wire.
Q. What is Zionism?
A. People mean different things by the term. Some mean simple political support for the State of Israel, as one might support any ally. Others mean support for a Jewish nation-state, without any claim about biblical prophecy or divine promises. Even Theodor Herzl, the father of political Zionism, proposed other possible locations for such a state. The term itself, then, does not necessarily carry any theological meaning.
Q. What is Christian Zionism?
A. It is the ideological belief that the modern State of Israel fulfills biblical prophecy concerning the restoration of the Jewish people and that the promises made to Abraham, especially that of land, await a future political realization.
Q. Why is the ideology of Christian Zionism incompatible with Catholic teaching?
A. Because the Church teaches that the promises made to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; CCC, 1725) have already been fulfilled in Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven, not in any modern political state.
Q. How are the promises to Abraham and Israel understood in the Church?
A. They have been fulfilled and transformed in Christ, who established the new covenant open to all nations (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:20).
Q. Who now constitutes the people of God?
A. Those united to Christ through Baptism, as St. Paul teaches (Galatians 3:7-9; 27-28; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:13). The Gentiles are grafted into Israel (Romans 11:17), making the people of God no longer defined by ethnicity or territory.
Q. What is the proper understanding of the promise of land?
A. It points beyond itself to the Kingdom of God and the New Jerusalem (Hebrews 11:10; Revelation 21:1-2). As Benedict XVI writes, it ultimately “refers to the future world and relativizes the different affiliations to particular countries” (Communio 45 (2018), p. 177).
Q. Why does the Church reject a theological reading of a modern state?
A. Because, as Benedict XVI explains, a state understood as the fulfillment of God’s promises is “unthinkable within history according to Christian faith” (Communio 45 (2018), p. 178).
Q. How does the Church view the modern State of Israel?
A. As a legitimate political reality, but not as the fulfillment of Scripture. The Jewish people, like every people, have a natural right to their own land.
Q. Why must this distinction be maintained?
A. To avoid confusing the order of grace with the order of politics.
Q. What does the Church affirm about Israel’s election?
A. That it endures, as “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).
Q. How is this election fulfilled?
A. In Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection bring Israel’s original vocation to be a holy nation, a royal priesthood, and a light to the nations to its ultimate fulfillment.
Q. Can I be against Christian Zionism without being anti-Semitic?
A. Yes. Catholic teaching clearly distinguishes between anti-Semitism, which is always condemned as a sin, and legitimate political or theological disagreement with Zionism or the policies of the modern State of Israel. As the Church teaches, “mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel’s spiritual love, [she] decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone” (Nostra aetate, n. 4). This distinction also means that legitimate criticism of governments must not be confused with hatred of a people. As Archbishop Alexander Sample notes, “All Christians must reject unjust discrimination on the basis of religion or ethnicity. But that principle must not be misused to silence legitimate criticism of governments.”
Q. What, then, is the Church’s final judgment on Christian Zionism?
A. It is an ideology that misplaces the fulfillment of God’s promises by assigning to a political state what belongs to Jesus Christ and the Church that he established.
I appreciate how concise this is! I have always enjoyed your material, Matt, but I cannot support The Daily Wire in its current state. Big love to you, Michael Knowles, & Matt Walsh though.
Thank you do much Matt for this explanation! I have never understood any of this. When others have tried to clarify what you have clarified - its like going down a rabbit hole. Im not goid with long explanations or answers. The more plainly said, to the point & without a lot of dressing, the better I understand.