In the long arc of history, few hatreds have endured with such persistence as antisemitism. From medieval blood libels to modern political rhetoric, the Jewish people God’s covenant people have faced relentless opposition. Yet for Bible-based Christians, the call to stand with them is not rooted in sentiment alone, but in the unchanging promises of God.
1. God’s Covenant with Abraham and His Descendants
In Genesis 12:2–3, God told Abram, “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse.” This covenant was reaffirmed in Genesis 17:7 as “an everlasting covenant” with Abraham’s offspring. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 11:1–2a, makes it plain: “God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.” The biblical witness is clear God’s promises to Israel remain intact. As the Covenant Brotherhood theology emphasizes, the Jews are the intermediaries through whom God’s blessings are transmitted to all humanity.
2. The Danger of Replacement Theology
Replacement theology, or supersessionism, claims the Church has supplanted Israel in God’s plan. Its roots trace back to early figures like Justin Martyr and Marcion, whose teachings fostered an anti-Hebrew Bible sentiment. This distortion fueled centuries of persecution, from medieval expulsions to Martin Luther’s later antisemitic writings. Modern scholarship and the re-establishment of Israel in 1948 have prompted many churches to reject this view, recognizing that God’s covenant with Israel is ongoing. As Romans 11:18 warns Gentile believers, “the root supports you.”
3. Refuting the ‘Jews Killed Jesus’ Libel
One of the most destructive lies in history has been the accusation that Jews killed Christ. Historically, Jesus was executed by Roman authorities under Pontius Pilate, using crucifixion a Roman method of capital punishment. Theologically, Christ’s death was part of God’s redemptive plan, with the sins of all humanity Jew and Gentile alike necessitating the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Scapegoating the Jewish people for the crucifixion is itself a sin, one that has fueled pogroms, massacres, and the Holocaust.
4. Antisemitism’s Broader Impact
Antisemitism is not a stand-alone prejudice it often undergirds other forms of hatred. As SPLC Senior Fellow Eric Ward observed, it fuels racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and other oppressions. It is also a tool of political division, fracturing coalitions that could otherwise work for justice. Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt has warned that antisemitism “can emanate from anyone and anywhere: those on the right, those on the left, those in the middle.” Recognizing this helps Christians to resist its infiltration into their own communities.
5. The Judeo-Christian Foundation of American Support for Israel
America’s founders drew heavily from Old Testament principles, shaping a republic based on covenant theology, equality before the law, and the consent of the governed. Leaders from President Eisenhower to President Carter have cited “our common Judeo-Christian civilization” as the tie binding the U.S. and Israel. This bond is not merely political it reflects shared values rooted in Scripture. As Secretary of State John Foster Dulles noted, the Jewish contribution to “the fundamental concepts of American culture and morality” is a cornerstone of this relationship.
6. Historic Christian Support for Jewish Communities
From Washington’s 1790 letter to the Hebrew Congregations of Newport promising “to bigotry no sanction,” to churches sheltering Jews during the Holocaust, there have been moments when Christians stood as allies. These acts were often motivated by biblical conviction, recognizing Israel as “the apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8). Such advocacy is part of a long tradition that Bible-based Christians today can continue, countering centuries of theological misuse.
7. Spiritual Strategies to Counter Hate
Combating antisemitism requires more than condemnation it calls for relationship-building, education, and hope. Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner speaks of “relationship before task,” urging deep interfaith and multiracial partnerships to change culture and policy. The Interfaith Alliance encourages believers to “join together across lines of difference to dismantle the machinery that generates fear.” Hope, as Psalm 30:6 reminds us, can turn “weeping at nightfall” into “shouts of joy” at dawn.
8. Evaluating Modern Israel with Biblical Wisdom
Supporting Israel does not mean endorsing every policy. As some Christian voices caution, support must be rooted in justice and righteousness, not in misapplied prophecy. The modern state of Israel is a vital democracy and ally, but Christians are also called to care for all in the land including Palestinian Christians. The dividing wall between Jew and Gentile has been broken in Christ (Ephesians 2), and our advocacy should reflect His heart for reconciliation.
Standing with the Jewish people is not a political fad it is a biblical mandate. Rejecting theological distortions, confronting antisemitism in all its forms, and nurturing the Judeo-Christian values that shaped both faith and nation, Bible-based Christians can remain faithful to God’s unchanging Word while working for peace and justice in our time.
