Zionists United in Pushing for Palestine Genocide - "God Told Me So...."

How Christian Zionism distorts scripture to serve empire

29 Jun, 2025 16:44 Mathew Maavak

How Christian Zionism distorts scripture to serve empire

During a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, US Senator Ted Cruz displayed not only alarming geopolitical ignorance but also a brazen willingness to distort Scripture in defense of his unwavering support for Israel. The verse he quoted – Genesis 12:3 – was shamelessly truncated, a common tactic used to lend divine legitimacy to Zionist exceptionalism in End Times prophecy. This verse has become the theological bedrock of a militant worldview known as Christian Zionism.

Even Jewish critics of Israeli state policy express dismay at the historical illiteracy and theological crudeness fueling this metastasizing ideology within American evangelical circles. I recall debating this phenomenon over a decade ago on LinkedIn with Jewish and Israeli interlocutors. I had dubbed it a “trailer-trash cult” – a fusion of biblical illiteracy, apocalyptic fervor and geopolitical delusion. Some of my Israeli counterparts, in a strange display of casual prejudice, alternately referred to Cruz and present Secretary of State Marco Rubio simply as “the Mexican.”

Christian Zionism thrives on biblical illiteracy and selective scriptural appropriation. Though often presented as ancient and immutable, it is in fact a relatively modern phenomenon, emerging alongside the rise of political Zionism in the late 19th century. Rather than treating Scripture as sacrosanct, it distorts the biblical canon into a pliable tool – one that must conform to the ideological imperatives of the moment. In a nation such as the United States, which has been at war for nearly 95% of its existence, this distortion often serves as theological cover for an “endless war” doctrine, with cherry-picked verses used to sanctify geopolitical aggression and the confection of new enemies.

After World War II, when the Soviet Union became the first nation to grant de jure recognition to the modern state of Israel, this same movement began feverishly mining scripture to cast the USSR, and Russia in particular, as the apocalyptic villains Gog and Magog. Even Ronald Reagan, the pseudo-religious saint of American conservatism, repeatedly invoked this interpretive heresy to frame the Cold War as a cosmic battle against the “evil empire.” To this day, millions of American Evangelicals and fundamentalist Protestants worldwide continue to see Russia as the eternal enemy of God Himself. The reach and influence of this pseudo-theological subculture should not be underestimated. But before unpacking the wider ramifications of this ideological perversion, let us first examine the verse Senator Cruz so conveniently misquoted.

Blessings and curses of Genesis

Senator Cruz invoked Genesis 12:3 to justify unwavering US support for Israel, but his citation was conspicuously selective. The full verse reads: “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” – (KJV)

This is a prophetic promise given to the patriarch Abraham, pointing ultimately to his seed, Jesus Christ. It is through Christ, according to Galatians 3:16, that “all families of the earth” are offered reconciliation with the Divine. If that blessing is universal and messianic in scope, where then is the ethnic or national exclusivity so often ascribed to modern-day Israel? (I’ve explored this topic in greater depth here, here, here and here)

Cruz’s theological framework, in practice, aligns more closely with Talmudic ethnocentrism than Christian soteriology. Consider this remarkable claim from Rabbi Chaim Richman, directed at Christians:

“You guys are worshiping one Jew. That’s a mistake. You should be worshiping every single one of us because we all die for your sins every single day... The Jewish people in the land of Israel are the bulwark against the Orcs, okay? The Orcs are coming not to a theater near you but to your home.”

Aside from the Tolkien reference – which, to my knowledge, appears nowhere in the Talmud – Richman’s quote reveals the ideological terrain Cruz is orbiting: one where collective Jewish identity is quasi-divinized, and adversaries are dehumanized as fantasy monsters. One suspects that the “Orcs” are a sweeping euphemism for Arabs in the region, many of whom are surreptitious allies of Israel. The only recalcitrant “Orcs,” apparently, are the Palestinians, whose refusal to accept their divinely appointed overlords remains an intractable problem.

Ironically, Persians (Iranians) have traditionally enjoyed a far more favorable depiction in Jewish scripture – from Cyrus the Great to Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther. Modern geopolitical enmity is therefore a historical aberration, not a theological necessity.

But if one follows Richman’s grotesque logic, does this “unqualified worship of every single Jew” extend even to those recently implicated in satanic child abuse scandals in Israel? At what point does solidarity become sacrilege, and does support for Israel require a total theological surrender?

Signs, omens and pareidolic delusion

There is a reason I describe Christian Zionism as a theologically bankrupt subculture masquerading as prophecy. It is an ideology that sanctifies any war crime, any act of brutality by Israeli forces because according to its adherents, personal “blessing” from God is contingent on political allegiance to a modern nation-state.

When not actively mangling scripture, history, and basic morality, this movement manufactures signs and wonders out of thin air. Natural phenomena, especially pareidolic patterns, are routinely interpreted as divine communications. This is not harmless enthusiasm; it reflects a credulous mindset conditioned by groupthink, emotion-driven worship, and manipulative rhetoric. Hypnotic music, staged testimony, and carefully orchestrated atmospheres often whip congregants into a frenzy of expectation, where gullibility becomes spiritual virtue.

I once watched a video of Christian pilgrims in a van in Jerusalem who erupted in awe as beams of dappled sunlight flickered through roadside trees. To them, these fleeting light patterns were not a trick of motion and shadow, but “angelic manifestations.” (They are, in fact, a common optical effect caused by light passing through foliage while in motion.)

Today, a large swath of Evangelicals are willing to interpret any mundane occurrence as divine endorsement of Israel’s central role in End Times prophecy. But if they are seeking signs, they might consider one that cuts in the opposite direction. Right after Israel launched an unprovoked strike on Iran, a raven appeared to pull down an Israeli flag amid the rubble in an Israeli neighborhood.

"Even the birds have had enough" pic.twitter.com/0OpIevHLu1

— Peacemaker (@peacemaket71) June 19, 2025

In Jewish Midrash, the raven is considered an omen. In the biblical narrative, it is the creature God used to sustain the prophet Elijah when he was near despair (1 Kings 17). The raven is a creature associated with both judgment and provision. What message, then, was it delivering?

Now imagine if the bird had instead torn down a Palestinian or Iranian flag. The Christian Zionist ecosystem would have erupted into mass ecstasy. Social media feeds would overflow with headlines declaring it a sign from heaven. Prophecy blogs would rush to decode its “symbolism.” Tele-evangelists would loop the footage between pleas for donations. But since it challenged their narrative, the event went studiously ignored.

Such is the schizoid reflex of Christian Zionist theology: divine signs are valid only when they reinforce the script. Anything else, however biblical, however stark, is dismissed as coincidence or satanic interference.

Blessings and curses: The reality check

There’s an oft-cited quote – attributed to Joseph Goebbels, though likely first used by Adolf Hitler – that says: “A lie repeated a thousand times becomes truth.”

Christian Zionists have chanted Genesis 12:3 so frequently and with such zeal that few within their ranks ever pause to test the verse against either scripture or empirical reality.

Let’s do that now. Genesis 12:3 says: “I will bless those who bless you, and curse him who curses you…”

If we are to interpret this as a blanket mandate for state-level foreign policy, the evidence should be obvious. So ask yourself: Are Israel’s most loyal allies today, particularly in the West, truly “blessed”?

Take the United States. It is arguably more internally divided than at any point since the Civil War. Its cities are decaying, homelessness and drug addiction are rampant, race relations are at its lowest ebb, and nearly 40% of Americans cannot afford a $400 emergency expense without borrowing, selling their family heirloom, or falling into debt. And yet, billions in unconditional aid continue to flow to Israel, year after year.

Western Europe fares no better. The continent faces deepening political polarization, a crisis of institutional legitimacy, and escalating cultural clashes fueled by migration and economic inequality. What once passed for democratic consensus is now fractured by populism, apathy, and unrest. Social cohesion is unraveling across the transatlantic alliance.

Now compare that to East Asia and Southeast Asia, where most countries maintain measured, neutral stances on the Israel-Palestine conflict. With a combined population nearing 2.4 billion, this region encompasses countless ethnicities and religions, yet remains strikingly more stable. Aside from Myanmar, whose military junta has been supplied with Israeli weaponry, there are no continent-wide wars, nor the sort of existential societal fractures plaguing the West. Immigration is limited, social harmony remains comparatively intact, and all major Asian nations support a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders. No nation sucks up to Israel in this part of the world.

So the question practically asks itself: If Genesis 12:3 is being used to evaluate foreign policy toward Israel, then who exactly is being blessed, and who is being cursed?

The consequences of blind allegiance don’t stop with economic decline. Consider the proxy wars fed by Israeli strategic calculations. In Syria, Israeli support for jihadist factions has contributed to the decimation of ethnic and religious minorities. Just this past Sunday (June 22), a suicide bomber detonated inside St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, killing at least fifteen Christian worshippers. These are not isolated tragedies. These are the fruits of Christian Zionism: a theology conflating realpolitik with divine mandate.

Endangering Christians worldwide

Why is it essential to confront and correct this narrative? Because the religious ideology peddled by Senator Cruz and his ilk bears no resemblance to authentic Christianity. It is a dangerous theological counterfeit – a den of wolves in sheep’s clothing, precisely as Matthew 7:15 warned.

Far from defending the faith, Christian Zionism actively endangers Christians across the globe. In its zeal to uphold Pax Americana, idolize the modern State of Israel, and force-fit current events into a contrived apocalyptic script, it sacrifices actual Christian communities on the altars of geopolitics and eschatological fantasy.

As someone descended from one of the world’s oldest Christian traditions – whose roots reach back even to the Old Testament – I say this plainly: Have no fellowship with these murderous idolaters (1 Corinthians 5:11).

They invoke Christ but serve the ambitions of empire, the delusions of man, and the devices of Satan. If that is what it means to be “blessed,” then your church should beware of what it is really worshiping.

---

Related News

The Occupation of the American Mind

A Teachable Moment in Wellfleet

To see all photos in carousel, hover over the photo and then click on arrown to see next or previous photo.

A Teachable Moment in Wellfleet

On January 14, Wellfleet for Palestine (W4P) showed the film The Occupation of the American Mind at Wellfleet Public Library as part of our ongoing Palestine Film Series. We always get some hateful comments when we post announcements for these public events. This time, it was a whole different level with a coordinated campaign of intimidation from outside groups in an attempt to silence our group and prevent the showing of this film. The Library staff got thousands of formulaic emails. Some patrons threatened to cut their Library cards and those of their children. The Town Manager and Town Hall staff got a flood of phone calls. Some homeowners threatened to sell their homes and leave town. There were veiled threats of violence in some messages. Members of Wellfleet for Palestine received hate messages as well. The massive coordinated effort to silence us makes the very point of the film.

W4P felt that showing this film was important to help people understand how support for the war in Gaza is being shaped by the media narrative we consume, and so is crucial in our effort to increase public awareness of the horrific genocide in Gaza, especially since our tax dollars are paying for the weapons being used against a densely caged civilian population with nowhere to go.

Wellfleet came together as a community to turn this crisis into a historical teachable moment. The Library Staff and Town Hall Staff handled the harassment with great fortitude. The Town Manager, Wellfleet Police Chief, and Select Board took proactive action to ensure that the event was safe for attendees and that the First Amendment rights to Free Speech for organizers as well as protesters were protected. The Town Manager and the Library Director both put out a thoughtful public statement before the event.

At the event, there were about 20 or so protesters. Many were from the Am HaYam synagogue in Orleans. They claimed that the film was antisemitic. Candace Perry, a beloved Wellfleet resident, and Peace activist, de-escalated the situation by talking to the protesters. She told them that she was Jewish, a founding member of Am HaYam, and wanted to see the film before forming an opinion. She invited them to come inside, watch the film, and then share their thoughts.

The event started with a meditative moment led by Lor Holmes and Mary Ellen Dwyer of W4P, to calm the audience and promote empathy for each other. A set of 3 Community Agreements was shared with the audience as rules for the event, starting with the Golden Rule. We then showed the abbreviated 45-minute version of the film to allow more time for discussion afterward.

During the discussion period, each speaker was allowed two minutes. No one was allowed to speak twice until everyone who wanted to speak, had done so.

What transpired was a civil and thoughtful discourse. All protestors got a chance to share their opinions. The most common critique was that the film was one-sided. The following are a few other critiques from protesters.

What about all the other terrible things going on in the world?

What about the bombing of Dresden, Hiroshima, or Nagasaki by the US?

What about America committing genocide against native Americans?

Interestingly, we do not recall a single protester citing an example of antisemitism in the film.

Several Wellfleet residents, including Elaine Baskin, Judith Cumbler, and Candace Perry, expressed their angst, saying they were Jewish, supportive of showing the film, and appalled by the genocide being conducted in Gaza with their tax dollars.

W4P believes that the film informed and educated attendees and protesters alike. The de-escalation work by Wellfleet peace activists and W4P calmed a volatile situation and made us see our common humanity regardless of our tribal inclinations.

Similar events in other towns have led to violence and violations of free speech rights. Our event was a stellar example of Wellfleet keeping up its tradition of holding open and civil conversations about difficult topics despite differing opinions.

W4P is grateful for and proud of the proactive way our town's leadership and staff handled this difficult situation and balancing the rights of all its citizens and outside protesters.

At the risk of forgetting someone we would like to thank the following people and organizations:

Library Director, and Library staff

John Wolf, Ryan Curley, and the Select Board

Town Manager, Tom Guerino, and Town Hall Staff

Wellfleet Police Chief, Kevin LaRocco, Wellfleet Police Department, and the Officers present at the event

Wellfleet ArtPeacemakers group and Candace Perry, and Catherine Hoffman for their de-escalation efforts

Wellfleet Israel Palestine Study Group led by Elaine Baskin for their solidarity and support

Wellfleet for Palestine for standing up for our rights

We love our beautiful little town of Wellfleet Massachusetts.

The film can be seen here for free:

The Occupation of the American Mind (original 84-minute version)

Press Coverage

Israel, Palestine on Cape Cod: Wellfleet film screening balances free speech with protests - Cape Cod Times, January 15, 2025

After Tense Prologue, Film and Discussion Go Forward Without Incident - Provincetown Independent, January 15, 2025

Meet the Israeli fanatic running Ted Cruz’s office

Wyatt Reed·June 23, 2025

After Ted Cruz’s humiliation by Tucker Carlson, attention has focused on a top staffer of the self-proclaimed “leading defender of Israel in the United States Senate.”

On June 18, former Fox host Tucker Carlson published a video which, though marketed as an interview, was more of a snuff film. Over the course of two hours, Carlson can be seen rhetorically disemboweling his debate opponent, US Senator Ted Cruz, on the politician’s determination to see the US attack Iran on Israel’s behalf.

While Cruz presents himself as a Christian Zionist moved by his own zealotry to support Israel, the politician’s Tel Aviv-driven policy line can also be traced back to his Senior Advisor for Policy and Communications, an Israeli-born Zionist lobbyist named Omri Ceren.

Before overseeing Cruz’s public relations, Ceren managed his foreign policy docket as his national security advisor. Prior to joining the Senator’s staff, Ceren served as the press director for The Israel Project, a Zionist pressure group which was forced to close down after being exposed as a de facto Israeli government front by Al Jazeera’s groundbreaking undercover investigation, The Lobby. Before that, Ceren cut his teeth lobbying for Ivory Coast dictator Laurent Gbagbo, who relied on Ceren as a registered foreign agent lending his marketing expertise to the embattled regime.

In discussing Tucker Carlson’s demolition of Ted Cruz, I pointed out that Cruz’s foreign policy handler is Omri Ceren, a longtime Israel lobbyist and Israeli citizen aligned with Netanyahu

Ceren’s sister, Merav, is an ex-Israeli Defense Min staffer who served in Mike Waltz’s NSC pic.twitter.com/BqAnYxXlw0

— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) June 20, 2025

Ceren has consistently opposed a nuclear deal with Iran since at least 2015, when he declared that any agreement would simply ensure Tehran was “able to cheat with impunity.” At a talk hosted by the neocon Hudson Institute think tank in 2018, he suggested Washington should continue preaching about “freedom” and encouraging Iranian protesters to pursue regime change while simultaneously maintaining Trump’s ban on Iranians entering the US.

Omri Ceren, right wing Israel lobbyist from The Israel Project, says the US should preach “freedom” to Iranians while maintaining Trump’s ban on Iranians seeking entry to the US. So much solidarity here. pic.twitter.com/8wYl29dJIn

— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) January 16, 2018

Omri’s sister, Merav Ceren, previously worked under the supervision of the Israeli Defense Ministry, as well as another Israeli government cutout in Washington, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. The pair were born in Haifa, Israel, with Merav embarking on her career of Israel lobbying as a college student.

Upon Merav Ceren’s appointment to head the Israel and Iran desks of Trump’s National Security Council in April 2025, one Israeli publication declared her “One of Our Own.” The authors went on to boast that Ceren’s “presence… in the discussion rooms gives significant space to voice Israeli interests.” Just a month later, however, she was fired as tensions between the Republican Party’s America First and Israel First wings came to a head.

While his sister looked for a new gig, Omri Ceren continued to represent his home country as the national security advisor to a senator who has pantomimed “America First” conservatism while zealously advancing Israel’s objectives. Cruz’s messaging since the US bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities on June 21 clearly bears his Israeli advisor’s imprimatur.

Since the attack, Cruz has posted 14 comments on Twitter/X. 12 of them consisted of breathless statements cheering the bombing or attacks on opponents of the war, whom he branded as “the death to America crowd.” The remaining two posts expressed affection for the senator’s hometown NBA team, the Houston Rockets.