“Faith, Politics, and Promise: A Reformed Christian Response to Israel and the Gaza Conflict”

Let’s take a moment to talk straight about a challenging and timely topic—the modern state of Israel, the Gaza conflict, and how we as conservative Christians should respond. It’s easy to get caught up in political pressures and emotional rhetoric, especially with heavy Old Testament references being used to demand unwavering support for Israel as a nation. But to be faithful to Scripture and clear-headed in our understanding, we need to embrace the fullness of God’s revealed truth about Israel—both then and now.

Modern Israel vs. Israel of God

First, it’s important to distinguish between the modern geopolitical state of Israel, established in 1948, and the Israel of God spoken about in the New Testament. The Israel of God is not about ethnicity or nationality but about spiritual identity—those united to Christ by faith, the true children of Abraham (Galatians 3:7, Romans 9:6-8). From a Reformed and Amillennial perspective, the covenant promises are fulfilled in Christ, and His church is the continuation and fulfillment of Israel. The physical nation in the Middle East today does not automatically represent God’s redemptive people.

The Fulfillment of Promise in Christ

The promises God made to Abraham and his offspring were ultimately fulfilled in Christ. All who are in Christ, Jew or Gentile, inherit these promises by faith—not by ethnic lineage, land ownership, or political status. The New Testament teaches us clearly that the true Israel is “faithful Israel” (Romans 9), composed of believers grafted into the covenant family. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. This means the modern state of Israel does not possess a unique redemptive role outside of that faith relationship.

Typology of Land and Kingdom

We must also understand the land promises of the Old Testament as typological—foreshadows pointing forward to something greater. The true Promised Land for believers is not a physical territory but the new heavens and new earth inaugurated through Christ’s kingdom reign. The Amillennial view helps us see this clearly: Christ is reigning now from heaven, and His kingdom is spiritual and eternal, not a political regime centered on national Israel.

Israel’s Rejection and the Church’s Inclusion

The rejection of Jesus as Messiah by many in national Israel does not grant them a privileged eschatological position apart from faith. Rather, they stand as all nations do—in need of the gospel. Romans 11 speaks about a future ingathering of ethnic Jews into the church, but this is a spiritual ingathering, not tied to the existence or actions of any modern political state. The church, not the nation-state, is the temple of God and the fulfillment of Old Testament types of nation, land, and temple.

How Should Christians Respond?

As followers of Christ, we are called to pray for the peace of all nations, including Israel (Psalm 122:6), and to pursue justice and mercy universally. However, political support for the modern state of Israel should be evaluated like any other nation—based on ethics and lawfulness—not conflated with theological covenantal identity. We cannot allow church or political pressure to blind us to biblical clarity.

Rejecting Earthly Nationalism in God’s Redemptive Plan

The Amillennial position reassures us that God’s kingdom promises are fulfilled in Christ’s present heavenly reign—not in a future earthly national kingdom. The Church is the one true people of God. There is no two-plan salvation, no separate destiny for ethnic Israel apart from Christ, but one unified body blessed by God. The modern state of Israel should be regarded as a political entity, subject to the same moral evaluations as any other nation.

Final Thoughts

It can be difficult to balance our convictions in today’s charged atmosphere, but clarity about biblical Israel versus national Israel guards us against conflating God’s eternal promises with temporal political realities. Our hope and allegiance must be anchored not in flags or geopolitics but in Christ, the true Israel, who unites all believers into one covenant people and calls us to love all our neighbors—even amid conflict.

May the Lord grant us wisdom, peace, and faithfulness as we navigate these realities with grace and truth.