The obstacles to regaining the support of young American Evangelicals

The roots of Christian Zionism initially took shape in 17th-century Puritan England at a time of theological upheaval that challenged the traditional Protestant Reformed beliefs that the Church had replaced Israel as God’s Chosen People. These views were later transplanted to the British colonies in North America and took a profound hold on the direction of evangelical thinking in what became the United States. A deep sense of solidarity with the campaigns of the Israelites to conquer the Promised Land settled in the American pioneers’ spirit as they expanded westward under the banner of manifest destiny. When Israel was established in 1948, the original Puritan hope of Israel’s restoration, which had richly informed subsequent American Evangelical Christianity, was celebrated as a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.

This is roughly the backdrop that has influenced the post WW2 American Evangelical support for Israel. There were always detractors from this position, but the mainstay of ideological support remained prevalent and was indeed bolstered by what Evangelicals viewed as the miraculous achievements of the Six-Day War in 1967.

The current regression amongst younger evangelicals in their affinity towards Israel is primarily politically motivated. It follows a general trend to question America’s own history and to project this skepticism towards Israel. Conversations around settler colonialism are relatively new in this demographic. Spawned by populist conservative podcasters like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, these old tropes are being rebranded for the younger generation. On this point, it appears that it would be futile to stymie the tide of change.

But on theological grounds, the erstwhile arguments for Israel’s place in God’s providence remain sound. The problem lies with the tendency of young American Evangelicals to seek experiential spirituality with less focus on the Biblical prophecy which featured so prominently in the mindset of their forebears.