Zionists are people who think Israel has a right to their land without God having anything to do with it. There are religious Zionists who bring God into the picture, but Zionism itself is not religious.
The reason preachers say we ought to support Israel due to Zionist reasons is wrong. They argue that God considers Israel the apple of His eye, when in fact that refers solely to Israel serving God. The New Testament was for Israel and Judah (
Jer 31:31), and God led Israel out of the old into the new with only a remnant. But as far as God is concerned, the remnant is the deal. Gentiles were brought into the covenant for the first time (
Eph 2) and engrafted onto the Israelite olive tree. So Israel is now New Covenant people in God's eyes.
When Abraham and his seed were given the promises, Paul clearly stated God said SEED singular, and not plural. He said JESUS is that seed. And anyone in Christ is therefore part of the seed and recipients of the promises. So, the promise to be blessed if we bless Abraham's seed, or to be cursed if we curse Abraham's seed, applies to CHRIST. These preachers who claim we ought to bless natural Israel because they are Abraham's seed must be absolutely unaware of Paul's teachings about the promises and the seed.
Galatians 4 teaches natural Jews are like ISHMAEL and Christians are like ISAAC, if the natural Jew does not believe in Christ. In other words, the church of Jews and Gentiles are more Israelite than natural Jews that are not saved. Paul even stated that anyone under law is under a curse, meaning Israelites serving God in Judaic Law are not blessed whatsoever (
Gal 3:10).
Now, this issue regards the natural nation Israel. Should we support them? I say yes, but not because of spiritual reasons. Not because the Bible says blessing the seed gives us a blessing, -- we're already blessed and WE are the seed if we are in Christ.
But we should support Israel because they're democratic and there are no other democracies in that crazy part of the world.