Christian org The Israel Guys calls for a “biblical” massacre of innocent Palestinians

Christian Zionists believe that modern Israel is a continuation of Biblical Israel and therefore should enjoy special privileges. They declare that it is the responsibility of Christians to support the State of Israel and its policies.

Christian Zionism is a religious belief system based on a certain interpretation of Scripture (especially Genesis 12, 15, and 17) – but it is also a deeply political ideology that places support for modern Israel as a top priority.

Christian Zionists tend to idealize modern Israel, picturing it as a magical, blessed place where God’s blessing is palpable – and where Palestinians are backwards and full of hatred for Jews, with no goal in life but to terrorize and wipe Israel off the map.

This simplified, binary mindset – Jews: good, Palestinians: bad – enables Christian Zionists to feel at best complete indifference, and often great hostility toward Palestinians. The possibility that they have any legitimate grievances or claims is dismissed because Israel can essentially do no wrong.

The Israel Guys is a website by Americans based heavily on the teachings of Christian Zionism. The writers and speakers use Christian language in their conversations, and speak with authority and confidence.

But make no mistake: they peddle false doctrine and racist hate.

In their zeal to support Israel no matter what, the Israel Guys promote the most extreme views of Israeli politics – including those of popular (and deeply racist) politician Itamar Ben Gvir.

Like other Christian Zionists, the Israel Guys claim to look at all things Israel through “a biblical lens.” That is, they quote Scripture on the regular, and then interpret it according to their pro-Israel-no-matter-what agenda.

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Case in point: their most recent article, “Fight Like David: A Biblical Response to Terrorism.” Here, the Israel Guys agree with Israel’s most radical politicians, who have been complaining that Prime Minister Netanyahu is being “too moderate” (if you know anything about Netanyahu, you know he is anything but “moderate”).

The recommendation in the article is by definition genocidal, and paints Palestinians as ruthless antisemites with nothing better to do than plot the deaths of all Jews. In reality, Palestinians simply want equality and justice. (A few Palestinians have resorted to attacking innocent Israelis – as there are Israelis who attack innocent Palestinians. Read more about the background of the conflict here.)

Allow me to quote a few paragraphs (emphasis added; read the full article here), and see whether Jesus would appreciate the ideology:

For thousands of years, the people of Israel have yearned for peace, and we will not stop praying for peace until redemption comes. But love alone will not stop the terrorists. The path to peace will not be strewn with roses, but through faith in God and the fortitude to make our enemies pay for their sins. Like David, we must not forget – and we dare not forgive.

How can Israel stop Arab terror and protect its people? By learning from the example of King David, who avenged the murder of his family and brought peace to Israel.

When David became a fugitive from the jealous King Saul, he brought his parents and brothers to the king of Moab, to protect them from the wrath of Saul (I Samuel 22)…[But] “The king of Moab killed [David’s family], and nobody escaped except for one brother of David…” (Numbers Rabba 14:1).

How did David respond? Was he measured in his response? Did he carefully distinguish between the great majority of “innocent” Moabites and the few bad actors who had murdered his family?

Not exactly. “And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground; he measured out two lengths of cord for those who were to be put to death, and one length for those to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute” (II Samuel 8:2).

In one short verse, we matter of factly learn that David humiliated and slaughtered two thirds of the Moabite army, ensuring the Moabites would never again perpetrate terror against the people of Israel. David made the price of terror untenable – and so the terror ceased.

David did not fight the terrorists that plagued his people with half measures, nor was he afraid to punish the “innocent civilians” who supported the terrorists who murdered his family.

David was unconcerned with world opinion or with self righteous condemnations of other countries. He was not ashamed to seek revenge.

David’s actions were harsh – but they were both moral and effective. By responding forcefully to those who murdered his family, David ushered in an unprecedented era of peace, enabling his son, Solomon, to build God’s Temple in Jerusalem. Most important of all, David gave us the playbook for redemption – if only we are willing to use it.

This writer (Rabbi Elie Mischel) is literally recommending that Israel copy an Old Testament massacre – and he preemptively rejects any criticism over the deaths of innocent people. In fact, he wants Israel to abandon all moderation and restraint toward the people it oppresses, and keep killing them till they surrender to their oppression.

Amazingly, the rabbi seems to believe that if modern Israel regresses thousands of years and kills an entire people group – that will make peace.

Christian Zionism, boys and girls, invariably migrates toward the destruction of Israel’s enemies – enemies who happen to be the indigenous people of the land that Israel wants to claim as its own, enemies that Israel has forbidden to have its own army.

Enemies that have suffered for 100 years at the hands of colonial powers and yet have been for the most part nonviolent in their response.

Any discerning Christian must realize that Christian Zionism does not spring from love, but from hate and racism. It has nothing to do with Jesus and everything to do with ethnic superiority. Stay away from this evil ideology, and if you have loved ones who adhere to it, for God’s sake, teach them.

I have been writing about this topic for years. Here are a few short articles that may be educational; more are here (especially this). I also recommend this excellent website. Also check out this video from Jewish Voice for Peace.

Keep in mind above all that Palestinians are beloved children of God. They are not pawns in some dispensationalist video game. They may live far away from most of us, but they are our brothers and sisters. Learn about them and love them!

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