This webinar addresses how the US administration is embracing Christian Zionism and “end time” theology to justify unconditional support for Israel and unprovoked war against Iran.
View my presentation on YouTube.
You can download an outline of my presentation here
See here for other translations and additional resources
The continuation of war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza and the West Bank, now spreading to Lebanon, Pete Hegseth’s transformation of Pentagon into a Holy War Department, and the White House becoming a war cheering prayer house – all of those are necessitating a thorough conversation on the issues of Christian Zionism, dispensationalism, Christian nationalism, antisemitism and bad theologies that inspire the escalation of growing chaos and confusion in the US and the Middle East.
For that purpose we have updated several recent interviews with Rev Dr Stephen Sizer and created four 30-minute features. In the part one we are setting a stage for better understanding of Christian Zionism today by asking questions such as: How did we get here? Is the modern-day State of Israel a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy?
Rev Stephen Sizer said: “Ironically, it was Christians who sponsored and facilitated Zionism. Christian Zionism is simply Christian support for Zionism, but it preceded Jewish Zionism by at least 50 years. And today, nine out of 10 Zionists in the world are Christians. So Zionism is predominantly a Christian heresy. It’s a bit like saying, I’m a Christian racist. You can be a Christian or a racist, but you can’t be both. You can be a Christian or a Zionist, but you can’t be a Christian Zionist because Zionism is synonymous with supremacism, racism, apartheid. And that’s only been achieved through the use of military force, by ethnic cleansing, by expelling people off their land, demolishing their homes, forcing them to live as a subjugated people in an apartheid state. That’s what Israel is today. So, it’s anathema from my perspective that Christians would even dream of supporting such a monstrous creation.”
Further information on the historical roots and theological basis and political agenda of Christian Zionism
This webinar will address how the US administration is embracing Christian Zionism and “end time” theology to justify unconditional support for Israel and unprovoked war against Iran.
Some Americans have referred to what it is doing in Iran as the US’s “Holy War”. Mike Huckebee, the US’s Ambassador to Israel, remarked in February that it would be fine if Israel took control of land that would include a huge swathe of the Middle East.
Such positions come from an interpretation of Bible verses identified as Christian Zionism. This theological and political belief system says that the modern State of Israel’s existence is a fulfilment of biblical prophecy and a necessary sign to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It combines strong support for Israel, particularly regarding control over Jerusalem and the West Bank, with an end-times world view.
During this hour-long webinar, Stephen Sizer will provide a summary about Christian Zionist beliefs. He will be followed by Michael Spath who will unpack how Christian Zionist theology as influenced US foreign policy and how US churches are responding to it.
This month we’re continuing the conversation about Christian Zionism with Rev. Dr Stephen Sizer, the first Director of ISCZ. We’ll uncover more about the history of Christian Zionism and learn about why engaging in the work to combat this theology is so necessary.
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Scientists tell us that we can survive for about three weeks without food, three days without water but only about three minutes without oxygen. If that is true physically, it is also true spiritually. Our gospel and epistle readings for today, while written by Luke and Paul with different purposes in mind, actually complement each other. They describe the two most fundamental ways we grow to know God and become more like Jesus. Bible reading and prayer can be likened to breathing. Spiritual breathing. We breathe in God’s word and breathe out God’s word in our prayers – that is, the scriptures guide us in what to pray, when to pray and how to pray.
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Christians gathering at the Church at the Crossroads conference in Glen Ellyn, Illinois in September, issued a vital and timely declaration. In it, they sought to respond to two public calls from our Christian siblings in Palestine and the Middle East: “An Open Letter from Palestinian Christians to Western Church Leaders and Theologians” (October 2023) and “A Collective Call to the Global Church from Middle East Evangelical Leaders” (August 2024).
Unable to attend personally, I nevertheless wholeheartedly endorse the declaration and urge you not only to sign it, but pledge to share it and endeavour, with God’s help, to make it a reality.
Read and endorse the Declaration here
View resources and recordings from the conference here
Church at the Crossroads was held on September 11-13 in Glen Ellyn, IL.
It is a gathering of Christians who recognize that the church stands at a defining moment–Jesus is urgently calling us back to the narrow way of the cross. As violence escalates in Israel and Palestine, and some in the Church use Scripture to justify war, occupation, or silence, we must ask: Have we traded the gospel of peace for the false promises of security and comfort?
At this crossroads, the Church must choose. Will we follow the political idols of our day—or Jesus, who disarmed the powers and made peace through His blood?
Rooted in Scripture and led by Palestinian Christian leaders—alongside pastors and peacemakers from across North America—this conference invites American Christians to engage in honest reckoning, prophetic reflection, and faithful action. Through worship, prayer, teaching, and fellowship, we are called to repentance, renewal, and courageous discipleship. This is a space to confront harmful theologies, rediscover the gospel of the Kingdom, and stand with all who seek justice in the land.
Jesus is calling the Church—not to comfort, but to faithfulness, peace, and costly love.
Will we follow?
The Institute for the Study of Christian Zionism publishes the Journal for the Study of Christian Zionism.
The first edition includes an article of mine on the history of Christian Zionism and the Church of England.
You may download the journal here.
It was my great privilege to be the founding director of the Institute.
“GAZA TODAY has become the moral compass of the world,” insisted the Reverend Dr. Munther Isaac in his 2023 Christmas sermon, entitled “Christ in the Rubble.” Lamentably, many Christian leaders in the United States and Europe have stood by, Genocideunwilling to criticize Israel for what is increasingly recognized as a genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people. This article assesses the official statements of the Church of England on the genocide in Gaza published since Oct. 7, 2023, and the moral integrity of the church’s stance on Gaza. Continue reading…
On Holy Saturday, we held a multi-faith vigil for Palestine in the Lower Gardens in Bournemouth. We walked in solemn procession to the pier, dug a grave in the sand and buried dolls representing the 15,000+ babies killed by Israel in Gaza. I spoke briefly about the Palestinian Christian community and their resilient faith contrasted by the silent complicity and cowardice of Western church leaders unwilling to hear and respond to their cry for justice.
“Gaza today has become the moral compass of the world”,[1] insisted the Reverend Dr. Munther Isaac in his now famous 2023 Christmas sermon, entitled, “Christ in the Rubble.”[2] It is sobering to realise that for the first time in history, genocide is being recorded live on social media by the victims themselves. No one can now say they did not know.
The struggles Palestinian Christians face today
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I am sure like me you are here because you feel you have no choice. It is a moral imperative to show solidarity with people in Gaza and Palestine. It is sobering to realise that for the first time in history, genocide is being recorded live on social media by the victims themselves. No one can say they did not know.
I am deeply ashamed of our government’s refusal to impose sanctions on Israel, to ban arms exports and support the ICC and ICJ investigations into genocide and war crimes, or even simply demand that Gazans be given immediate and full access to food, water, fuel, shelter and medical supplies.
But I feel anger toward so called religious leaders who are failing to give moral leadership and pressure the government to comply with UN resolutions and uphold the rule of international humanitarian law. Where are the Archbishops and Bishops today? They still refuse to acknowledge let alone condemn Israel for imposing apartheid, and perpetrating ethnic cleansing and genocide in Gaza and Palestine.They are false prophets crying ‘peace, peace’ when there is no peace. They have not only lost their voices but lost their moral authority also.
It is hard to comprehend the enormity of the indiscriminate death and destruction Israel has wrought on Gaza. More women and children have been murdered or injured in Gaza than are here today in this demonstration.
What can we do? We can pray to the God of justice to bring an end to this evil, will punish war criminals and bring swift justice and lasting peace to Palestinians free in their own land. And we can act. If our political leaders won’t impose sanctions, we can boycott and divest from companies profiting from or facilitating the genocide in Gaza and the West Bank. And remember to use your vote wisely in the forthcoming May local elections.
I invite you to join me in a minutes silence to remember the bereaved, the injured and traumatised in Gaza and Palestine today.
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