On their site they have an information section titled "Learn about Christian Zionism" in which various questions are asked and answered about Christian Zionism. The very first question, as one would expect is, "What is Christian Zionism?" The answer is given to us by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem:
"Tens of thousands of churches, and literally tens of millions Christians in the USA have a committed belief in the importance of standing with Israel and blessing the Jewish people. The verse most often referred to as their biblical mandate is Genesis 12:3 in which God tells Abraham “I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
Since the birth of the State of Israel in 1948 the theological error known as Replacement Theology has begun to decline and increasing is a theology of Christian Zionism that understands the importance of God’s everlasting covenant with Abraham and the nation he would birth.
However, just as the term “Zionism” has been turned into a negative word by Israel’s enemies, so “Christian Zionism” is under attack and often misrepresented in the media and in some public discourse. For this reason, the ICEJ’s articles and monographs defining and clarifying the beliefs of Christian supporters of Israel and placing their “love for Israel” within its proper biblical context are proving invaluable."
Let start with the very first statement which is: "Tens of thousands of churches, and literally tens of millions Christians in the USA have a committed belief in the importance of standing with Israel and blessing the Jewish people." Undoubtedly, this is true. But if I recall properly the popularity of a teaching doesn't make it true. Just because something is believed doesn't mean that it is the truth. There are many examples of this of course and conversely, just because something isn't seen as the truth by the majority doesn't mean that what is believed is false.When it comes to things Biblical, there is only one standard of truth, and that is the Bible itself. God's Word is quite capable to speak for itself with much clarity and much illumination. This matters because by careful Biblical examination of the second part of this answer can be found to be quite suspect and quite deceptive: The verse most often referred to as their biblical mandate is Genesis 12:3 in which God tells Abraham “I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Now, I'm certainly not suggesting that Genesis 12:3 isn't true, in fact, it is crystal clear. My issue of course is how it is used by the CUFI and how it is interpreted. Their view can be discerned right away from the opening words of their home page. Among other things it says quite plainly that "The Bible commands us...to bless the Jewish people (Genesis 12:3).
There's just one problem with this whole position. Abraham wasn't a Jew! In fact, no where in scripture is Abraham ever referred to as a Jew. Abraham was a "Hebrew" and it is important to understand the connection that is inferred by this fact. The very first "Jew" was Jacob's (Israel's) son Judah. In fact, the term isn't even used in the Torah and it isn't used until the book of Ester in referring to the lineage of Mordecai. The term "Hebrew" actually refers to Abraham's lineage which comes from Eber. An Eberite is a Hebrew or descendant of Eber. This tells me one thing that I find quite remarkable. When this blessing in Genesis 12:3 was directed towards Abram before he became Abraham, he not yet been circumcised and therefore must have still been a "gentile!" This blessing was made, not by covenant or agreement, but by a promise that God had vowed.
Now I am not suggesting that we shouldn't bless the people that live in the secular nation/state currently called Israel. We should. But we are also instructed by both Jesus and the apostle Paul to "bless" those that would be our enemies and bless those that would persecute us (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:28, Romans 12:14). This is quite consistent with the teachings of Jesus as He continues in Matthew 5:45-48 where Jesus teaches to be "perfect" as Christians, as followers of Jesus, that we need to love as God loves. We need to love even those that would not love us, just as God does. That's a staggering thought when you begin to meditate on what Jesus is honestly teaching.
Now back to the gentile Abram. The promises made to Abram before he was circumcised are truly remarkable in the symbolism they offer. Before Abraham was circumcised, which I see as symbolic for the circumcision of our hearts ( Deuteronomy 10:6, Romans 2:29) he was still a "gentile" which shows me that the promises extended to Abraham are available to you and I and anyone else that wishes to name the name of Jesus Christ above all that is named. This point is made by the apostle Paul, confirmed in his letter to the Galatians.
After God makes His statement to Abram regarding the blessing, God goes on to tell Abram in Genesis 12:7 that "Unto thy seed will I give this land." Paul tells us clearly that this promise was outside of the covenant that God made with Abram. "For if the inheritance [be] of the law, [it is] no more of promise: but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise" (Galatians 3:18). But what is even more remarkable is that the promise God made to Abram was not a promise made to each and every "seed" that comes from Abram, but just one, Jesus Christ. "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ" (Galatians 3:16).
Now many might dare to call this "replacement theology" but the fact remains that all the blessings and promises that God made to Abram are accomplished through Jesus Christ. Whether one is from Kentucky, Kenya, Korea or Kyrgyzstan it matters not. Wherever one is in the world we are free to become "fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God" through the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:13-22).
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