Recently (May 16), Amir Tsarfati posted this:

Yes, I am determined to fight antisemitism and teach people what Zionism is truly all about - and I will continue to do so from a biblical standpoint.

But let me remind you of something important: Zion is not a man-made idea. It is a word God Himself established, and the Jewish people are a nation He Himself chose. So while many today toy with hatred toward both, they should remember this: it is not merely Israel they are coming against - it is the God of Israel and His Messiah, the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

I am not afraid for myself or of what my haters may do to me. I am concerned for those who have convinced themselves that standing against God’s plans will cost them nothing.

Coming against the people and the land of Israel will be the reason for God’s judgment of the nations at the end of the Tribulation, as described by the prophet Joel in his third chapter:

“For behold, in those days and at that time,
When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem,
I will also gather all nations,
And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
And I will enter into judgment with them there
On account of My people, My heritage Israel,
Whom they have scattered among the nations;
They have also divided up My land.”

Fighting antisemitism and standing with Israel is a Biblical principle. If a Zionist is one who believes the Bible is correct when it comes to Israel, then count me in. The “Israel issue” is dividing America, the church and conservatives. Why? Because some refuse to accept God’s Word as the ultimate authority on this issue.

A common argument within the church is that Israel is not a “salvation issue,” thus we do not have to agree (and some prefer that it not even be a topic of conversation). While I agree the Israel issue is not what scholars define as “essential doctrine,” to forsake the very teaching of God’s Word renders essential doctrine unreliable. Let me explain.

First, “essential doctrines” are pillars of faith we MUST agree upon in order to call ourselves Christians (according to God’s definition). To deny any of them destroys the foundation of Christianity These are examples:

• Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Without those, there would be no salvation…and no Christianity. After all, that is what our belief system is built upon.
• There is only one God, manifested in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is God, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
• Salvation is by grace through faith alone. Our works will not get us to heaven.
• Salvation is through Jesus alone. There are no other roads to heaven. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father but through Him.

Upon those “essential doctrines” Christians must all agree or they cannot call themselves Christians! Christianity fails to exist if not for those things. But beyond that, there are other Biblical doctrines we may disagree upon. For example, some believe baptism is to be by immersion (dunking), while others believe sprinkling will do the trick. We may have strong opinions, but neither prevents salvation.

Yet, there are some doctrines, such as marriage, sexuality, creation, and Israel that have profound impact upon whether or not we commit to God’s Word, and they often result in catastrophe if we get it wrong. Consider marriage and sexuality. The Bible very specifically defines marriage and very specifically describes male and female as the only two sexes. Technically, those are not “essential doctrines,” as different beliefs about marriage and sexuality do not, in and of themselves, disqualify a person from heaven. However, without committing fully to God’s Word, Satan has a field day and will drag those with conflicting beliefs as far away from a Biblical worldview as possible. Satan’s objective is to keep heaven empty and we see the waywardness of those who refuse to follow the “non-essential” doctrines of marriage and sexuality.

Creation and Israel fall into that same category. Though there is great disagreement on both of those fronts, one’s position does not (in and of itself) disqualify a person from heaven. HOWEVER, get God’s creation of heaven and earth wrong, or God’s calling and purpose for Israel wrong, and you can rest assured many (if not most) other doctrinal positions will be compromised as well. Need an example?

Since God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham, promising land and descendants (Genesis 12, 15, 17, 22, etc), and since God told Abraham he and his descendants would bless the entire world (Genesis 12:3), how on God’s green earth are we, as Gentiles, to put our faith in John 3:16 if God is not faithful to His covenant with Abraham? God’s faithfulness to us is anchored by His faithfulness to the everlasting covenant! If God has given up on the Jewish people (Abraham’s descendants), then what hope do we have He will not give up on us!?! It’s ludicrous, and a belief in such nonsense will destroy my faith in everything else God says!

Above, I stated that the “Israel issue” is dividing America, the church, and conservatives. In the church, Replacement Theology (the idea that God has given up on the Jews and has transferred all God’s promises to the church) is the tool being used to divide believers!

Is the issue of Replacement Theology an “essential doctrine?” No, belief in Replacement Theology will not prohibit salvation. Yet, it may very well drag those seeking the answers to life in a different direction than God’s Word. Friends, you cannot love the God of Israel and hate the Israel of God. A true follower of Jesus cannot love what God hates and hate what God loves. He loves His uniquely called people (the Jews), He has not revoked His promises to them, and He has not rejected them. (Read Romans 11!)

Essential doctrines are most certainly hills to die on. We should fight with everything in us to defend the truth of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. I would argue, though, that there are other hills to die on as well. In my mind, Israel is one of them. Why? Because we are given very specific warnings by God to bless Israel or be cursed (Genesis 12:3), and that all nations will ultimately stand in God’s judgment regarding how we treated the land and the people of Israel (Joel 3:2).

Thus, I wholeheartedly share Amir’s concern:

I am concerned for those who have convinced themselves that standing against God’s plans will cost them nothing. Coming against the people and the land of Israel will be the reason for God’s judgment…

Friends, don’t stand on the wrong side of that equation! Read God’s Word, understand God’s Word, and stand on God’s Word!