Some brief considerations on this contentious and controversial issue:
My main beef is this: The number of people claiming to be Christians and conservatives who incessantly spew their hatred of Jews and Israel is utterly shocking to behold. Their ugly antisemitism is on full display, whether or not they try to cloak it under theological jargon and the like. So I offer five short points about how we might navigate all this:
One. Consider the common traits of the ‘true believers’. What do we find in common with the following groups?
-Angry atheists
-Gung-ho climate alarmists
-Those with ugly Trump Derangement Syndrome
-Those with ugly Israel Derangement Syndrome
-Woke wonders and radical progressives
They all have their minds made up (and/or closed) and will not consider any evidence and facts to the contrary. You cannot easily reason with them, as they tend to run on hate and bitterness, so you can only pray for them in most cases. I have had so many of these folks just unfriend me or block me on the social media – including those who claim to be Christians. One recently even got mad at me when I said I would keep her in prayer. She said she did not want my prayer and she blocked me!
Two. How often do you hear these folks exclaim, ‘We are not Jew-haters; We are not antisemites’?
Um, when they:
-refuse to condemn the satanic assault by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023;
-refuse to recognise that Israel has a right to exist like every other nation;
-refuse to recognise that Israel has a right to defend itself like every other nation;
-refuse to condemn jihadists and Islamist terrorists;
-refuse to ever condemn the actions of all the hostile Arab/Muslim nations surrounding Israel;
-refuse to ever acknowledge that Israel is the only pluralistic, democratic nation in the Middle East;
-refuse to acknowledge ANYTHING good that Israel has ever done;
-blame Israel and Jews for all the evils in the world;
-rehash all the lies and propaganda that have been refuted time and time again;
Then guess what? They ARE Jew-haters, Israelophobes and antisemites.
Three. To see how unhinged all this is, and why it cannot be countenanced, just imagine if people treated you in just the same way they treat Israel and the Jews:
-They forever criticise and find fault with you.
-They refuse to admit that you might have some good points.
-Their continuous demonisation of you simply intensifies hatred of you by others.
-So strong is their animus against you that they are happy to lie about you and bear false witness against you.
-Would you still consider them to be your friends if that is how they always treated you?
When I find so-called Christians and conservatives treating Jews and Israel in this way, I do not consider them to be reasonable, sensible and moral sparring partners, but just haters who have serious issues.
Four. As to theology, eschatology and Scripture:
-One can have differing views on these matters. There are legitimate areas of disagreement when it comes to how we might understand Israel, the Church, and their relationship.
-One can even believe that there is no longer a place for ethnic Israel in the purposes of God and still not hate on Jews and Israel.
-But too often one’s pet theology CAN cover a multitude of sins when it comes to this irrational dislike of Jews and Israel.
-Although the two are related, one can make a completely secular case as to why Israel has a right to exist and defend itself without exploring all the biblical and theological issues.
-That is, one can leave to one side the various eschatological and theological debates, and still come out with a rational and moral case for supporting Israel over against those who are seeking to wipe it out.
Five. A good part of the secular case for standing up for Israel would involve these various factors:
-Israel is a tiny country (the size of New Jersey) consisting of just 22,000 square kilometres, or 8,600 square miles.
-It has a population of just 9.8 million people, of which 7.2 million are Jewish.
-All up there are some 15.7 million Jews living in the world, with most in America and Israel.
-Jews comprise just 0.2 per cent of the global population of 8 billion people.
-Israel is surrounded by 22 Arab League nations, with some 473 million people, and so many of these nations have made it clear that they want to see it wiped off the earth.
-All up there are some 50 Muslim-majority nations in the world, totalling almost 2 billion people.
-There is just one Jewish state.
-The Islamists not only want to destroy Israel, but they want every Jew in the world killed as well. And then they want to go after Christians: “After Saturday comes Sunday”.
-It is completely monstrous and idiotic to claim that Israel cannot exist and defend itself in such a situation.
Needless to say, these brief remarks all need to be buttressed by much more in-depth and detailed explanations. And as I have so often said, tiny little comment boxes in the social media are NOT ideal for dealing with complex and difficult issues that need to be carefully discussed and debated.
That in part is why I have 139 articles in the “Israel and the Middle East” section of my website, and 654 pieces in my “Islam” section. It is there that fuller documentation and argumentation for my views can be found. I don’t expect folks to read them all of course, but if they are even somewhat serious about getting another point of view, they might want to check out some of those articles.
In sum, there have always been serious divides among those in both the conservative camp and the Christian camp. How one views Israel and the Jews is certainly one of those major issues. As noted, one can have differing views about how to think about the Jewish people and the modern state of Israel.
But far too many folks simply make clear their ugly and senseless hatred of both. I for one cannot really claim them as friends. And whether they like it or not, I WILL keep praying for them. One thing we ALL need here – and in other areas – is humility and a teachable spirit.
May we all seek the full measure of those spiritual goods as we think about and discuss these weighty matters and debate these contentious issues.
14 Replies to “Five Home Truths on Israel and the Jews”
Thank you Bill for again defending the rights of Israel to “be”. If someone only thought carefully through your list in Point 5, it would/should open their eyes. What most are not getting is just what you have noted – many Islamic countries DO NOT want Israel or the Jews to even exist, such is their hatred toward them. It has been well said, if the surrounding enemy countries put down their weapons Israel could co-exist in peace, if Israel put down her weapons, it would be open slather to annihilate them. This is not sensationalism but a sad truth …… and, ultimately, a spiritual battle.
Many thanks Ann. And your final words could have been a sixth main point in my article: all this irrational and diabolical hatred of Israel and the Jews cannot just be explained in terms of theological, ideological or other considerations. At the end of the day, we must recognise so much of this for what it really is: a spiritual battle, promoted by dark Satanic forces. Sure, not all who have legitimate concerns and complaints about Israel are in this camp, but sadly too many are.
Thank you Bill, for summarising common sense in this situation which is getting completely out of hand in some Christian circles.
Thanks Anita. Yes that is one of my main concerns: I fully expect most secular lefties and others to hate on Israel and the Jews. I do NOT expect those who claim to be conservatives and Christians to have the same amount of virulent hatred and contempt for them. It really does my head in, and as said in the above comments, one can only assume there IS real antisemitism out there, and this is in many cases a real spiritual battle that is taking place.
Brilliant! Thanks Bill!
I recently attended a unity rally in Brizzy with Iranians, Israelis and Indians…all United against the jihadists. It was beautiful! Nothing like a common enemy to bring people together. All praising Israel for recent victories. The world is waking up!
Thanks Pearl.
Thanks Bill, it is dangerous and therefore brave to take this topic on, sadly even in the church or the “freedom movement”.
The amount and viciousness of the venom is unbelievable; unbelievably sad.
There are those on the other side of the argument; no, “slanging match”, who are just as blindly supporting all that Israel does, mostly due to their beliefs about Israel’s place in God’s prophetic plans.
Many of us have been forced to think deeply about this and to give an answer for what we believe.
A couple of observations, if I may make them, about how I handle this “discussion”, perhaps for my own sanity and wanting to keep communication open including with those who loudly proclaim extreme views.
Firstly; there are a lot of semi-technical, historical and theological terms bandied around and I find regularly that my definition of the term in discussion is different, sometimes significantly, from others in the conversation, or should I say the ranter.
Terms such as “Jew”, “Israel”, “Zionism”, “Palestine”, probably all need to be defined before we can even know what the topic is that is being raised.
In regards to this I welcome the comment made recently that “Zionism” should be at least divided into “Zionism” and “Hyper-Zionism”. It seems clear that there is a Biblical Zionism that should be recognised as legitimate, while through all the shades of views, there is also a Hyper-Zionism that is touted to be wanting to conquer the world.
Secondly: Going to the scriptures and prayer for help, I believe that we can be carefully definitive in dividing between an assessment of the actions of political and religious Israel and the purposes of God as declared in Romans 9-11. I believe “and all Israel will be saved” is literally to be fulfilled. Now that looks like a miracle too far, right now, but we can see the inscrutable power of the hand of God in the last eighty years of that nations history.
The resolution, so far for me, is to recognise
1. that the “branch has been cut off” and so it can be said, as has been said many times in the OT, “You are not my people”, even “You are not loved”. The people of God are the people of faith, but the Jews have rejected the Messiah, who was to be object of their faith and obedience.
2. However the eternal promise still remains, and they are the chosen people, the beneficiaries of “the promise”. They will one day be grafted back into the vine of true faith, and accept Jesus as their Messiah. The promise and invitation to faith implied in Lk 13:35 was not really fulfilled in Lk 19:38 for it did not reverse the “you refused” of Lk 13:34. We wait for that miracle day, the day of “until” Rom 11:25.
So then at the one and same time,Israel, the Jews, are not God’s people, but remain the chosen of God.
Blessings
Thanks for that Bruce.
Here’s a good hint for the latest generation that something has gone awry with your theology; if you spend more time preaching anti-Israeli sentiment than you do living out the Gospel you might just be a LOT out of whack. Some of these Christians aren’t just anti-Israel – they are anti-Israeli shills and trolls. Some of these prosletysing anti-semites seem to make it their mission to try to make other Christians see that the error of their ways regarding their support of Israel.
Quite so Nerissa.
Understanding the source of current rise in antisemitism in many Christian circles is important as well. Soviet Russian and Muslim Brotherhood propaganda weaved throughout social media – mostly the platforms of Gab, Telegram and X, which those already inclined towards being anti-Israel pick up and run with, sharing with others with no discernment.
Also have a read of “The Dangerous Secret Your Young Men Are Keeping: Neo-Nazi Thought Has Entered the Church” By Will Spencer https://christoverall.com/article/longform/the-dangerous-secret-your-young-men-are-keeping-neo-nazi-thought-has-entered-the-church/
Thanks Bill.
I’ll try to be brief, as I could say a lot about this issue. There are theological issues involved here, and I will try to outline them concisely.
1. Replacement theology. Though not necessarily related logically, that said, replacement theology all too often goes hand-in-hand with anti-Jewish hatred. I have witnessed this over the years with many people. I believe firmly that replacement theology must be repudiated.
2. Dispensationalism. On the opposite side is this theological scheme which sees the modern State of Israel as fulfilling prophecy in all sorts of ways, that every event (almost) in Israel and the Middle East in general is somehow fulfilling prophecy, and that Israel can do no wrong. This too is a rabbit hole down which I refuse to go. Disp’ism, I believe, is a modern heresy: inter alia it re-erects the middle wall of partition which Paul emphatically says has been abolished (Eph 2:14).
3. A moderate a-millennialism. This holds that he mass of Israel will embrace Jesus as their Messiah before Christ returns (Rom 11:25-6; Matt 23:39), and that the Jewish people, while enemies as regards the Gospel, are beloved for the sake of the ancient covenant (Rom 11:28). As regards the land and a revived Jewish state, a difference of opinion exists, but a-mill people are moving to a view that the modern state of Israel does fulfil prophecy to some extent. Whatever, the moderate-mill position rejects replacement theology as un-Biblical, and anti-Semitism as utterly abhorrent. This is my own position.
You are right to be utterly opposed to the trolls who manifest their anti-Jewish bile, and I stand with you.
Thanks for that Murray. And yes, the theological issues are another whole area that one can explore.
I wholeheartedly agree Bill. Thank you so much for opposing this evil deception so clearly.
It all makes me consider whether Al Jazeera comes under the banner of the false prophet deceiving those marked as of the Beast, using signs. (Rev 19:19-20)
Thank you Bill for again defending the rights of Israel to “be”. If someone only thought carefully through your list in Point 5, it would/should open their eyes. What most are not getting is just what you have noted – many Islamic countries DO NOT want Israel or the Jews to even exist, such is their hatred toward them. It has been well said, if the surrounding enemy countries put down their weapons Israel could co-exist in peace, if Israel put down her weapons, it would be open slather to annihilate them. This is not sensationalism but a sad truth …… and, ultimately, a spiritual battle.
Many thanks Ann. And your final words could have been a sixth main point in my article: all this irrational and diabolical hatred of Israel and the Jews cannot just be explained in terms of theological, ideological or other considerations. At the end of the day, we must recognise so much of this for what it really is: a spiritual battle, promoted by dark Satanic forces. Sure, not all who have legitimate concerns and complaints about Israel are in this camp, but sadly too many are.
Thank you Bill, for summarising common sense in this situation which is getting completely out of hand in some Christian circles.
Thanks Anita. Yes that is one of my main concerns: I fully expect most secular lefties and others to hate on Israel and the Jews. I do NOT expect those who claim to be conservatives and Christians to have the same amount of virulent hatred and contempt for them. It really does my head in, and as said in the above comments, one can only assume there IS real antisemitism out there, and this is in many cases a real spiritual battle that is taking place.
Brilliant! Thanks Bill!
I recently attended a unity rally in Brizzy with Iranians, Israelis and Indians…all United against the jihadists. It was beautiful! Nothing like a common enemy to bring people together. All praising Israel for recent victories. The world is waking up!
Thanks Pearl.
Thanks Bill, it is dangerous and therefore brave to take this topic on, sadly even in the church or the “freedom movement”.
The amount and viciousness of the venom is unbelievable; unbelievably sad.
There are those on the other side of the argument; no, “slanging match”, who are just as blindly supporting all that Israel does, mostly due to their beliefs about Israel’s place in God’s prophetic plans.
Many of us have been forced to think deeply about this and to give an answer for what we believe.
A couple of observations, if I may make them, about how I handle this “discussion”, perhaps for my own sanity and wanting to keep communication open including with those who loudly proclaim extreme views.
Firstly; there are a lot of semi-technical, historical and theological terms bandied around and I find regularly that my definition of the term in discussion is different, sometimes significantly, from others in the conversation, or should I say the ranter.
Terms such as “Jew”, “Israel”, “Zionism”, “Palestine”, probably all need to be defined before we can even know what the topic is that is being raised.
In regards to this I welcome the comment made recently that “Zionism” should be at least divided into “Zionism” and “Hyper-Zionism”. It seems clear that there is a Biblical Zionism that should be recognised as legitimate, while through all the shades of views, there is also a Hyper-Zionism that is touted to be wanting to conquer the world.
Secondly: Going to the scriptures and prayer for help, I believe that we can be carefully definitive in dividing between an assessment of the actions of political and religious Israel and the purposes of God as declared in Romans 9-11. I believe “and all Israel will be saved” is literally to be fulfilled. Now that looks like a miracle too far, right now, but we can see the inscrutable power of the hand of God in the last eighty years of that nations history.
The resolution, so far for me, is to recognise
1. that the “branch has been cut off” and so it can be said, as has been said many times in the OT, “You are not my people”, even “You are not loved”. The people of God are the people of faith, but the Jews have rejected the Messiah, who was to be object of their faith and obedience.
2. However the eternal promise still remains, and they are the chosen people, the beneficiaries of “the promise”. They will one day be grafted back into the vine of true faith, and accept Jesus as their Messiah. The promise and invitation to faith implied in Lk 13:35 was not really fulfilled in Lk 19:38 for it did not reverse the “you refused” of Lk 13:34. We wait for that miracle day, the day of “until” Rom 11:25.
So then at the one and same time,Israel, the Jews, are not God’s people, but remain the chosen of God.
Blessings
Thanks for that Bruce.
Here’s a good hint for the latest generation that something has gone awry with your theology; if you spend more time preaching anti-Israeli sentiment than you do living out the Gospel you might just be a LOT out of whack. Some of these Christians aren’t just anti-Israel – they are anti-Israeli shills and trolls. Some of these prosletysing anti-semites seem to make it their mission to try to make other Christians see that the error of their ways regarding their support of Israel.
Quite so Nerissa.
Understanding the source of current rise in antisemitism in many Christian circles is important as well. Soviet Russian and Muslim Brotherhood propaganda weaved throughout social media – mostly the platforms of Gab, Telegram and X, which those already inclined towards being anti-Israel pick up and run with, sharing with others with no discernment.
Also have a read of “The Dangerous Secret Your Young Men Are Keeping: Neo-Nazi Thought Has Entered the Church” By Will Spencer
https://christoverall.com/article/longform/the-dangerous-secret-your-young-men-are-keeping-neo-nazi-thought-has-entered-the-church/
Thanks Bill.
I’ll try to be brief, as I could say a lot about this issue. There are theological issues involved here, and I will try to outline them concisely.
1. Replacement theology. Though not necessarily related logically, that said, replacement theology all too often goes hand-in-hand with anti-Jewish hatred. I have witnessed this over the years with many people. I believe firmly that replacement theology must be repudiated.
2. Dispensationalism. On the opposite side is this theological scheme which sees the modern State of Israel as fulfilling prophecy in all sorts of ways, that every event (almost) in Israel and the Middle East in general is somehow fulfilling prophecy, and that Israel can do no wrong. This too is a rabbit hole down which I refuse to go. Disp’ism, I believe, is a modern heresy: inter alia it re-erects the middle wall of partition which Paul emphatically says has been abolished (Eph 2:14).
3. A moderate a-millennialism. This holds that he mass of Israel will embrace Jesus as their Messiah before Christ returns (Rom 11:25-6; Matt 23:39), and that the Jewish people, while enemies as regards the Gospel, are beloved for the sake of the ancient covenant (Rom 11:28). As regards the land and a revived Jewish state, a difference of opinion exists, but a-mill people are moving to a view that the modern state of Israel does fulfil prophecy to some extent. Whatever, the moderate-mill position rejects replacement theology as un-Biblical, and anti-Semitism as utterly abhorrent. This is my own position.
You are right to be utterly opposed to the trolls who manifest their anti-Jewish bile, and I stand with you.
Thanks for that Murray. And yes, the theological issues are another whole area that one can explore.
I wholeheartedly agree Bill. Thank you so much for opposing this evil deception so clearly.
It all makes me consider whether Al Jazeera comes under the banner of the false prophet deceiving those marked as of the Beast, using signs. (Rev 19:19-20)