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Why I Am No Longer a Christian Zionist

Why I Am No Longer a Christian Zionist

Last updated on: September 22, 2026 at 12:05 am by Rob Dalrymple

Why I Am No Longer a Christian Zionist 2026-09-17T17:38:25-08:00 Rob Dalrymple

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I had no idea about the geopolitical issues in Israel-Palestine. In fact, when I took my first trip to the land in 2003, I had no idea what the West Bank was, nor what a Palestinian was. And I certainly did not know that there were Palestinian Christians. | Image courtesy of Bill White, Pexels.

My journey away from Christian Zionism definitely took place over time.

A Note From Determine Truth

NB: I define Christian Zionism simply as: the belief that the biblical promises to Abraham and his descendants continue to apply to this day to the “physical” descendants of Abraham (i.e., the Jewish people) and, consequently, we are “obligated” to bless them and the modern state of Israel.

NBB: I fully recognize that not all Christian Zionists will affirm every aspect of my simplistic definition above, but to parse it out any further goes beyond the scope of this post.

In the early years of my formal and even informal biblical studies (I eventually earned a PhD in biblical interpretation), I gradually began to see that the OT promises were fulfilled in Jesus and the NT people of God. Therefore, I am no longer a Christian Zionist because I do not believe that one can reckon the theological convictions of Christian Zionism with the NT. But that is not the primary reason why I moved away from Christian Zionism.

Where the Journey Began

In all honesty, at the beginning of my journey I didn’t even know what Christian Zionism was. I embraced Christian Zionism because that is what I was taught, and, quite frankly, it was all I knew. Of course, I had no idea about the geopolitical issues in Israel-Palestine. In fact, when I took my first trip to the land in 2003, I had no idea what the West Bank was, nor what a Palestinian was. And I certainly did not know that there were Palestinian Christians.

I guess I just revealed my real reason for no longer being a Christian Zionist: I went to the land. And I saw. And I wept.

A Crisis of Faith in Bethlehem

I have been deeply immersed in this crisis for the past 18 years, and everything I have learned, witnessed, and experienced has only reinforced my conviction. | Image courtesy of Jaber Jehad Badwan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

My second trip (2008), in fact, brought about a sort of crisis-of-faith moment for me. At one point on this trip, while on a bus en route from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, I began to learn about “settlements,” “bypass roads,” “checkpoints,” and the wall surrounding Bethlehem. Someone (I have no idea who this mystery person was) told me about the occupation and its oppression of the Palestinians. She explained to me the severe economic effects the occupation had on the Palestinians. And I saw orchards of olive trees that had become “de facto” part of the settlements, because the wall surrounding Bethlehem prohibited Palestinians from accessing them. Now, mind you, this all happened in less than 30 minutes while we sat on a bus driving from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.

Then, after a brief visit to the Church of the Nativity, we boarded the bus again to head back to Jerusalem. This time, however, we took a different route that first led us to Bethlehem Bible College (BBC). When the bus stopped in front of the college, the instructor commented on how BBC was an evangelical college working to train leaders in the Palestinian Christian community. My mind began to spin. “What?” I thought to myself. “There must be a lot of Christians here if they have a Bible college to train the leaders.”

Then, as the bus moved a short distance from the college, we came to the checkpoint exiting Bethlehem. I looked out the bus window and saw a young man whom I realized was unemployed. Then I began to weep. Why? Because I realized immediately that it was people like me, people who gave unquestioning allegiance to Israel—even though I didn’t theologically believe that they were the “chosen people” any longer—and in doing so gave the full backing of the US and the US military. And I realized that they were using that support to oppress the Palestinians.

It was then that I realized that I needed to speak up for the sake of peace and justice. Why? Because for many years I had embraced Christian Zionism and its Dispensational parent. I knew what they believed and why. In addition, I had recently completed a PhD in biblical interpretation with an emphasis on the book of Revelation. I was equipped to respond.

If I were to add a third reason for “Why I am (no longer) a Christian Zionist,” it would be because I have been deeply immersed in this crisis for the past 18 years, and everything I have learned, witnessed, and experienced has only reinforced my conviction that Christian Zionism is biblically and theologically unwarranted. And that the unquestioning support of Israel has led to gross injustices against the Palestinian people.

Eighteen Years of Engagement

In addition, I should note that over the past 18 years I have been to the land on five other occasions. I have spent weeks living in Palestinian homes in the West Bank (Muslim and Christian). I’ve eaten dinner with Rabbis in Jerusalem. I’ve done Bible studies in rabbis’ homes. My wife and I have hosted numerous Israeli and Palestinian guests in our home. In addition, I have attended Congressional dinners; I’ve spoken with Senators, Ambassadors, and State Department officials. I have organized, spoken at, and participated in dozens of conferences across the country: from Washington, D.C., to Seattle, to Los Angeles. I have participated in annual discussions with leading Jewish and Evangelical leaders in Washington, D.C. I have also researched for and written two books on the topic. I have published numerous articles in a variety of journals and websites. I have written dozens of blog posts for my Patheos page. I have hosted dozens of podcasts interviewing guests including Israelis, Palestinians, Messianic leaders and other Christian Zionist advocates, as well as leading scholars, legal advisors, and practitioners. I have been a guest on numerous podcasts and webinars. I have recorded as many as 100 videos for my own YouTube channel. I was a founding member of the Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East. I, along with a colleague, hosted monthly meetings with leading scholars and practitioners for several years, some of whom were Christian Zionists.

NB: In the coming weeks (fall of 2026), the Determinetruth Podcast will host a series of interviews/discussions with David Crump to discuss his new book, The Power of Myth: Israeli Propaganda and Christian Zionism.

I say all of this because I want you to understand that for the past 18 years I have been immersed in this issue. I have engaged the other side. I have read their works. I have watched their films and videos. I have visited their homes. And I am more convinced than ever that Christian Zionism is unbiblical, and that the concomitant Western support for Israel’s occupation — what I believe amounts to genocide in Gaza and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank — makes a mockery of the Gospel and seriously undermines the biblical command to love our neighbors as ourselves. Oh, and it is not good for the Jewish people either.

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About Rob Dalrymple

Rob Dalrymple and his wife Toni have four fabulous children, as well as 2 grandchildren! He has been teaching and pastoring for over 32 years at colleges, seminaries, and the local church. He has a PhD (Westminster Theological Seminary) in biblical interpretation. Rob is currently serving as the Executive Director of Determinetruth ministries, which is a 501c3 parachurch ministry whose vision is to provide a platform of training for pastors, leaders, and members of local churches, especially those who have been wounded by the evangelical church. Rob hosts the weekly determinetruth podcast and writes a weekly blog: all of which can be accessed at determinetruth.com He is the author of four books: Follow the Lamb: A Guide to Reading, Understanding, and Applying the Book of Revelation These Brothers of Mine: A Biblical Theology of Land and Family Understanding the New Testament and the End Times: Why it Matters Revelation and the Two Witnesses. And is presently writing a commentary for the book of Revelation (Cascade Books) titled Revelation: A Love Story You can read more about the author here.

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