The Power of Myth

Every nation crafts a national mythology depicting its noble origins and the sanctity of its birth. The Zionist state of Israel is no different. For instance, every Israeli school child is indoctrinated in the founding myth of Israel’s miraculous birth in 1948 (one tiny, ill-prepared Jewish state surprisingly victorious over five Arab behemoths armed to the teeth). The problem is that such state-sponsored mythology plays fast and loose with actual history. Israel’s victory in 1948 was no miracle. Yet, state-sponsored propaganda drowns this historical fact in the murky depths of Zionist myth-making. Unfortunately, no audience has been more receptive to Israeli mythology and state propaganda than evangelical Christian Zionists. Yet, the Christian commitment to standing firmly on the side of honesty and truth-telling requires every Christian Zionist, whether firmly entrenched or uncertain and merely curious, to dig into the foundations of their Zionism and to fearlessly (re)examine the facts. Faithfulness to Jesus must take priority over devotion to Israel. This book may help to set you free.

David M. Crump is a former pastor and retired professor of New Testament at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the author of a number of books, including Knocking on Heaven's Door: A New Testament Theology of Petitionary Prayer (2006), Encountering Jesus, Encountering Scripture (2013), and I Pledge Allegiance: A Believer's Guide to Kingdom Citizenship in 21st Century America (2018). He blogs regularly at HumanityRenewed.com.