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What is a Zionist?
Like all good theological questions there is no simple answer!
Zion is the city of God! Yes but
it is also the Holy Hill, it is also a concept. Zion is both a place and theological premise. It is at one and the same time a unique geographical location and a future eschatological hope.
To simply say "I am a Zionist" is to leave too many unanswered questions.
There are four definitions of Zion, and at least four definitions of a Zionist none of which is mutually exclusive!
ZION
Is the singular place of which God has said, "this is my eternal dwelling place" it is the city of Jerusalem, past present and future.
Is the geographical phenomenon known as Mount Zion, a rocky hilltop in the Judean wilderness where lived the Jebusite people until the time of King David, since which time it has been the undivided and eternal capital of the Jewish people. (That in itself is a Zionist statement!)
It is a theological premise, which will come to fulfillment in the millennial reign of the Messiah, and will be the base for the Kingdom of God here on earth.
It is the heartbeat of the Jewish people religious, secular alike, all Jews see Zion as the focal point of their nationhood.
ZIONISTS the following definitions are marginally parodied, and done so in love; without any one of these groups the world would be impoverished, and Israel would be more vulnerable.
Political Zionists these are the Ben Gurions, the Herzls, the Golda Meirs of the galut: the pioneers of the Statehood of Israel, the survivors of the antisemitism all around the world who demanded that for the Jewish people to have any freedom to be Jewish, they must have a homeland, where they could be Jews and Jewish in safety. These people are not usually believers in God. This group espouses definition of Zion 2.
Religious Zionists these are mainly the "settlers" the modern day "pioneers" in Judea and Samaria (what unenlightened people still call the West Bank or even worse, the Occupied Territories!}. Many of these people are highly politically motivated, and will often justify their politics by quoting Biblical promises. This group would espouse definitions of Zion 2 and 3, and possibly 1 as well.
Christian Zionists these are the enthusiastic Israel-lovers in the church. Some extreme members of this group will often, even as gentiles wear Kippot and even Tsitsit, blow Shofars, keep Shabbat and the rules of Kashrut; and some will not always see any wrong in the State of Israel. This group will support such wonderful organisations as ICEJ, Exobus, and CFI. This group would also adopt definitions of Zion 3,2 and 1 in that order.
Biblical Zionists these are the Bible believing Christians who see the promises of God for Israel as being still valid, and pray for the salvation of Jewish people. This group is made up from believers from a wide range of denominational and churchmanship backgrounds. Biblical Zionists are the smallest group at present. This group would almost certainly use all four definitions of Zion, and a few more!
This is not an exhaustive study, but it is important to note that there are gray areas within the definitions I have given, as it is important to know what 'we' are.
(This article was written by a Messianic Jewish Minister, who kindly allowed me to publish this slightly edited version on my web page. - menorot.)
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