Letter from the Director

The issues surrounding the situation with Israel and the Palestinians, whether they be historical or political bring up very passionate displays of support and activism on all sides. However, it has been my experience that when theology, whether it be Islamic, Judaic or Christian are mixed in with these issues, these passions go to a level that lead to dangerous consequences, starting with a dehumanization of the other "side".

As a Christian, I wanted to look deeper at Christian approaches into some of these issues and at a theology called Christian Zionism. Although many Evangelical Christians in the United States may not know what Christian Zionism is, most would adhere to some of the basic beliefs Christian Zionists have toward Israel, the Jewish people and the end times. Christian Zionists believe supporting Israel is a mandate for all Christians and that support also means political support for the State.

However, I also saw that once people understood the political and historical consequences Christian Zionism has on people in the Middle East, they began to question some of the things they have always just taken for granted.

There are a couple purposes for making this film.

• • To bring a different perspective to some of the historical, political and theological viewpoints we just take for granted involving Israel and the Jewish people.
• • To look at the consequences Christian Zionism has on the local people in the Middle East, especially the Palestinians, who are most directly influenced by Christian political support for the State of Israel and it’s policies, which are then defended using the Bible.
• • To raise awareness that there are Palestinian Christians, and these consequences affect them as well Muslim Palestinians.
• • We believe there is an alternative approach to Christian Zionism. An approach that sees both Jews and Palestinians as equal in God’s sight and one that promotes reconciliation, justice and peace.

We recognize that most people who adhere to a Christian Zionist theology have the best intentions in mind. They love and support Israel and the Jewish people out of sincere hearts and that what they feel is the Biblical approach to this situation. We also recognize that being “Pro-Israel” in the minds of most Christian Zionists is not synonyms with being “Anti-Arab”. However, this is why it is important to look at what we believe alongside with how it affects people. Good intentions can still have devastating effects. Some of the most tragic events in history have occurred from a bad interpretation of biblical texts and understanding of who God is. Any approach to the Middle East must be one that sees the needs of all people, not just one, because at the heart of who God is, is a God of love who commands us to love one another, whether that be our neighbor or someone we consider our enemy.

These are not easy issues to look at and we are all continuing to learn. However we feel it is important to ask questions and we believe no topics are off limits, when the goal is truth.

The “Key Issues” section of this site has some general information on Christian Zionism, History, and Current Events. These are just small snippets of information on subjects addressed in our film. For those who want to learn further, we strongly recommend looking at our resource page for further studies. We also strongly recommend that books from people offering differing perspectives be read. We will continue to update the site with resources in the coming months.

Porter Speakman, Jr.
Director / Executive Producer “With God on Our Side”