Christian Zionism - New Life Tabernacle of Chattanooga

proportion to its influence.’ 81 From a British perspective, Margaret Brearley
likewise acknowledges: ‘A detailed exposition of the biblical and theological
basis for Christian Zionism is clearly needed.’ 82
An exhaustive survey of published works confirms the relatively
undeveloped nature of research into contemporary Christian Zionism. For
example, while Regina Sharif traces the influence of the Reformation,
Puritanism and Millennialism on the rise of Zionism, she nevertheless
concentrates on the political dimension and developments prior to 1945, as
do Paul Merkley and Barbara Tuchman. 83 Sharif argues:
‘The traditional terms “Gentile” or “Christian” Zionism are misleading
since they now suggest a Christian enthusiasm for Zionism motivated
essentially by Biblical or theological reasoning. But it is the political
motivations of non-Jewish protagonists of Zionism which have above
all today come to make up an integral part of the non-Jewish Zionist
matrix ... It is precisely this unique phenomenon on non-Jewish
Zionism that we propose to analyse here.’ 84
As a secular historian, Sharif not surprisingly perhaps, minimizes the
significance of ‘Biblical or theological reasoning’ upon the Christian Zionist
movement. This thesis will address this deficiency and demonstrate that
biblical reasoning has indeed been a major factor in the development of
Christian Zionism.
6. Research Aims and Methodology
The thesis will assess the main historical, theological and political factors
which have contributed to the development of Christian Zionism since 1800 in
Britain and America. It will examine the way in which Christian Zionists justify
their partisan support for the State of Israel, their antipathy for Palestinians
and their adverse influence on the Middle East peace process. It will also
seek to distinguish discrete types of Christian Zionism based on their
81
Marsden, Understanding, op.cit., p77.
82
Margaret Brearley, ‘Jerusalem for Christian Zionists’ in Jerusalem, Past and Present in the
Purposes of God, edited by P.W.L. Walker, (Croydon, Deo Gloria, 1992), p120.
83
84
Regina Sharif, Non-Jewish Zionism, its Roots in Western History, (London, Zed, 1983).
Similarly, Paul Merkley, The Politics of Christian Zionism 1891-1948, (London, Frank
Cass, 1998); and Barbara Tuchman, Bible and Sword, How the British came to Palestine,
(New York, New York University, 1956).
Ibid., p2.
22