These brief comments are written in response to the
August, 2025 article, ‘Mouthpieces of Satan: The attack
on Christian Zionism’ found on the website, 'Christians United For Israel.’
https://www.cufi.org.uk/news/mouthpieces-of-satan-the-attack-on-christian-zionism/
The tone and
content of the article provides evidence as to why the wise Chrisitan will give these sorts of supporters of Zionism a wide berth.
Bullying Tone
This is how the
article starts -
Just as Israel is under
attack from every conceivable angle, Christian Zionism is also coming under
increasing attack. There is a real attempt by Satan to try and bring division
between Christians and between Christians and Jews. Sadly, much of this new surge
of attacks is coming from confessing Christians. They are calling Christian
Zionism ‘heresy’ and a ‘false belief’ and are saying that we are acting against
God; in some cases they question our Christianity altogether. This is a demonic
attack that must be countered with the full force of God’s Word
This is problematic. The author refers to Satan in the
second line, and ‘demonic attack’ at the end. When people accuse people they
disagree with of being ‘Satanic’, it is a bullying tactic. They are demanding that
the reader agrees with whatever they are going to write, for if they don’t,
then they are slipping into Satan’s territory.
Ignoring The Context
The article says that it is correct to say Zionism’s
opponents are mouthpieces of Satan, because Jesus called Peter ‘Satan’ when he rebuked
Peter for complaining about the suffering there would be in Jerusalem (Mark 8:33).
To apply this to all those who do not sign up to Christian Zionism is not
impressive.
The reason why Jesus called Peter ‘Satan’ was because Peter
was asking Jesus to avoid the cross, just like Satan did in the wilderness.
Peter was also focusing on the importance of a present time political
salvation; not the future coming of the Kingdom of God. The argument between
Christians about Zionism is completely different. Careful thinking means
considering the context. This loose thinking does not strengthen the accusation
that opponents of Zionism are ‘Satanic’. It just adds noise.
The scent of arrogance
The tone of the writer when dealing with Mother
Stephanoppoulous has the scent of arrogance.
Heretical? Us? Please.
When respected Christian writers like John Stott or Tom
Wright or Tony Campolo or John Piper or Tim Keller say that Zionism is less
than Biblical, then most people with a humble heart would pause and consider
this possibility. They would not go immediately into ‘rebuke’ mood like this
writer.
In this article the writer attacks Mother Stephanoppoulous
and Tucker Carlson. Neither are known as theologians or preachers. If the
writer was serious about the argument that opponents of Christian Zionism are
mouthpieces of Satan he or she would have taken on the above named. The fact
that the writer picks on two virtual unknowns is less than impressive.
Disingenuous and dangerous
We then have the claim that the Zionists are the ones who
believe the Bible – literally. That is disingenuous, and dangerous. It is
dangerous because if Christians obeyed the Bible literally, most of us would be
in prison. We would be stoninig a lot of people: for breaking the Sabbath, (Exodus 31: 14 – 14), for blasphemy
(Leviticus 24:16), worshipping false gods (Deuteronomy 13, and 27), for
disobeying a parent (Deuteronomy 21), and for a bride who is not a virgin
(Deuteronomy 22).
And it is disingenuous because we all read the Bible via
interpretation, indeed we are taught to do that by the New Testament. This
writer pats himself on the back because he takes the promises about Israel in
the Old Testament literally. But does this writer eat pork? Probably. Why?
Because of what is said in the New Testament.
Christians are meant to read the Old Testament through the
paradigm of the New Testament. That is the tried and tested rule of the church.
And, if we follow this rule, then there is no room for Zionism. The New
Testament virtually crushes the teaching that Jews are God’s favourites for
salvation. Jesus is the shepherd with one flock, the church (John 10:16) Paul bluntly states that God has no
favourites (Romans 2:11). The only reference to the Jews being treated in a
special way is in Romans 11, and that is to do with the what will happen around
the time of Christ’s return. It is not happening now. So it cannot be applied.
As for the land – the New Testament says we are to look for a ‘better country’
(Hebrews 11:6). The same goes for the writers’ discussion about the Jews. Paul
defines for us what a true Jew is in Romans 2: 28 – 29. It is about the heart,
not physical circumcision.
Wisdom From Jesus’ Brother
The writer concludes by saying that Christian Zionism is
‘the default Biblical perspective’. Not true. The default Biblical perspective
centres on the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ which ushers in the
Kingdom of God. The view of this writer puts the focus on a physical people and
a physical land, and so plays into today’s politics. That is regrettable.
The brother of Jesus said that ‘the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere’. (James
3:17)
This article is
neither peaceable nor gentle. It is aggressive and abusive. It is not open to
reason, for if we do not believe the writer’s dogmas we are called ‘mouthpieces
of Satan’. There is no mercy expressed here for those who take a different
view, and what is the fruit of ‘Christian Zionism’? It is not good. A lot of
Christian money is wasted on a political state, not on preaching the Gospel and
serving the poor. And it supports war. It is not impartial. One hopes it is
sincere, but there is the sad possibility that a wealthy propaganda machine is
at work here determined to bully Christians into supporting a political view
about Israel.
If we follow
James we would give this sort of material a wide berth.
Tom Hawksley
24th
November 2025
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