writersoul:
D”L/R”Z have no mesorah for their theology.
As any MO adherent can tell you, R”Z was created by Rabbi A.Y. Kook and further developed by his son and others.
(Incidentally, Chovevai Tzion is not relevant here, though there were plenty of Torah luminaries such as Rav Hirsch who – presciently – considered even that to be “no small aveirah”.)
As even a left-wing MO Rabbi admits, Rabbi Kook melded the secular philosophy of nationalism with, lihavdil, his Torah knowledge to create the travesty that is R”Z.
Torah giants like the Brisker Rav R’ Velvel called their theology “a drop of Torah mixed in to a sea of heresy”. The Chazon Ish and others held similarly.
Formidable Torah knowledge does not permit one to grossly distort the Torah, as the gedolim recognized is, unfortunately, the case here with D”L/R”Z.
So, to directly address your posts, the Rabbanim to whom the R”Z “look to guidance” are following a non-existent mesorah that, as the gedolim have stated clearly, is against the Torah.