Mike Huckabee’s Zionism

Not since the rollicking rifts at the Council of Jerusalem in the year 50 of the common era has the Holy Land witnessed such a theological dispute as has broken out between Ambassador Mike Huckabee and senior Church leaders at Israel’s capital. The debate is over the soundness of “Christian Zionism.” Far be it from us to weigh in on the mysteries of religious doctrine. We’re glad, however, to carry a brief for those Christians who have championed Zion.Ambassador Huckabee among them. The doctrinal dogfight erupted with a statement posted on Jerusalem Patriarchate’s website. It denounces “activities undertaken by local individuals” that advance “damaging ideologies, such as Christian Zionism,” which serve to “mislead the public, sow confusion, and harm the unity of our flock.” The Patriarchate and Heads of Churches contend that “they alone represent the Churches and their ﬂock.”The groups behind the statement include the Catholics, the Greek Orthodox, the Armenians, the Copts, the Syriacs, and others besides. The criticism of Christian Zionism, though, is hardly limited to those denominations. The podcaster Tucker Carlson, who likened the murderer of Charlie Kirk to “guys sitting around eating hummus” at Jerusalem, has called Christian Zionism a “heresy” and a “brain virus.” Mr. Huckabee, in a post on X, professes his respect for the ancient churches of the East but asserts that no “sect of the Christian faith should claim exclusivity in speaking for Christians worldwide.” He writes that “Labels such as ‘Christian Zionism’ are too often used in a pejorative manner to disparage free-church believers, of which there are millions across the planet.” He insists that “My Christian faith is built on the foundation of Judaism.” Mr. Huckabee adds that “Christians are followers of Christ and a Zionist simply accepts that the Jewish people have a right to live in their ancient, indigenous, and Biblical homeland.” He reckons that “It’s hard for me to understand why every one who takes on the moniker ‘Christian’ would not also be a Zionist. It’s not a commitment to a particular government or government policy but to the Biblical revelation as given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”Some of the figures we most admire would, in some form or another, say “Amen” to that creed. In the 17th century, the poet John Milton wrote “Yet He at length, time to himself best know remembering Abraham, by some wondrous call may bring them back.” In the 19th century Lord Shaftesbury penned the prescient “The State and the rebirth of the Jews.” George Eliot wrote, in “Daniel Deronda,” a Zionist epic avant la lettre.Who could forget Lord Arthur James Balfour, of the famous declaration, who told Justice Louis Brandeis that “I am a Zionist”? Or Lieutenant Colonel John Henry Patterson, who wrote that “Christians, too, have always believed in the fulfillment of prophecy and the restoration of the Jewish people…Nothing like this has been known since the days of King Cyrus.” Patterson led the famed Zion Mule Corps in the First World War. So taken with Patterson was one Benzion Netanyahu that he named his eldest son — future hero of Entebbe and brother of the current prime minister — Jonathan after the Irish Protestant. At a 2024 ceremony Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Patterson “the commander of the first Jewish fighting force in nearly two millennia. He can be called the godfather of the Israeli army.” He was, the premier recalled, “versed in the land of old.”Mr. Netanyahu shared on that occasion that his family retains a silver cup, given on the occasion of Yonatan’s circumcision. Engraved on it is this dedication: “To my dear godson Johnathan, from your godfather, John Henry Patterson.” All of this is to say that the link between Zionists and Christians is long, distinguished, and abiding. At a time of global persecution of both Jews and Christians, the Christian Zionists are something to celebrate.

Mike Huckabee’s Zionism

Mike Huckabee’s Zionism

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