A fair number of preachers and politicians have been saying something like: “I support Israel because that’s what the Bible commands.” Yes, God chose Israel to be his people in the OT, but what does the NT reveal?

“For not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people! Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too. This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children.”
(Romans 9:6-8)

“What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.”
(Gal. 6:15-16)

“So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.”
(Eph. 2:19)

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God’s mercy.
Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.”
(I Peter 2:9-12)

Summary:
Old Testament: God’s people, Israel, are to worship him and be a light to the nations.
New Testament: God’s peopled, the global church, are to worship him and be a light to the nations.

To believe the opposite is to place the teachings of men over the words of Scripture. Historically speaking the idea that Christians must politically align with the nation of Israel is very new. I reject that almost 2000 years of faithful believers all got this wrong.

On top of that, this view often embraces wild End Times speculation which produces anxiety, both of which break Biblical commands.

This post is not does not make a moral or political stance about Israel. Both discussions are important, but that’s not what this is. This is simply about a proper Biblical framework.

In the meantime, I’ll pray for the people of Israel and Iran who are caught in the violence, I’ll pray for believers in both countries to care for their neighbors with the love of Jesus, and I’ll pray for peace to come.