A Letter to Evangelicals
My thoughts and concerns on contemporary Evangelicalism and how we got here. [Nov 5, 2023]
Most of you that know me know that I am Christian. If you know me well, then you know that I am a Protestant, and if you know me even better then you know that I am Baptist. Baptists, as you probably know, are considered “Evangelical” Protestants. In fact, most Evangelicals you hear about in America are either Baptists or Methodists. Evangelicalism is almost synonymous with the Bible Belt, and more recently it has become synonymous with philosemitism. In fact, I began writing this immediately after hearing my pastor announce that he planned on doing a series of sermons on why Christians should support Israel and the Jews.
But why is it that Evangelicals are so philosemitic? What exactly led us here? Anyone familiar with American history will know that Evangelicals used to be militantly opposed to Jews through the Ku Klux Klan, who were violently anti-Semitic in the early 20th century. I think a combination of American propaganda supporting the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, anti-NSDAP propaganda, and the misreading of scripture, particularly verses like Deuteronomy 7:6 are responsible for this fact. More on all of this shortly.
For you are a holy people for Yahweh your God; Yahweh your God has chosen you to be for him a people, a treasured possession from among all the peoples that are on the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 7:6 (LEB)
Hilariously, Jews absolutely hate Evangelicals. In fact there is not a single religious group in the United States that Jews hate more than Evangelicals including Muslims!
Historical Context
As I already mentioned, the Ku Klux Klan (specifically the 2nd KKK) was anti-Semitic1 and largely composed of Evangelical Christians.2 This is in large part due to the prevalent isolationist stance in America (anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic rhetoric was commonplace as well), which I can imagine was bolstered by the response to World War I, which came to be blamed on Jews by many.
However, with the conclusion of World War II, this was basically turned on its head.
As you may have noticed in the above graph, there were small spikes in usage of the word “Judeo-Christian” prior to 1940, but they are absolutely incomparable with the post-1940 surge in usage. These minor spikes were usually a result of fringe political/religious thinkers and, from 1920 to 1940, early Zionists. If you want to read more about the history of Zionism, I recommend Sectionalism’s post on the subject. I won’t cover Zionism much here, since it is mostly beyond the scope of this essay, but historical context could be useful for you.
As a way of distancing themselves from the NSDAP, Western powers became increasingly philosemitic. This was exacerbated by the desire to form a close bond with the newly formed state of Israel, especially since the Cold War was beginning. Up until the Six Day’s War, it was unclear whether Israel would ally itself with the USSR or the Western world, and so many Western countries did anything they could to win Israel over, including trying to establish the idea of “Judeo-Christian values” in academic (and eventually mainstream) literature.
Since the conclusion of WWII and the establishment of the state of Israel, the idea of “Judeo-Christian values” has promulgated throughout basically every level of American society. Every president since FDR has alluded, directly or indirectly, to “Judeo-Christian values” as part of their political platform. In recent years, this has skyrocketed and trickled down to even state and local government officials, such as Ron DeSantis (even before his bid for the presidency). The Civil Rights Movement also picked up on this rhetoric, including Martin Luther King Jr. himself who wrote:
One day the South will know that when these disinherited children of God sat down at lunch counters, they were in reality standing up for what is best in the American dream and for the most sacred values in our Judaeo Christian heritage, thereby bringing our nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the founding fathers in their formulation of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
Recent legislation like the Combating BDS Act of 2019 allow state legislature to ban the boycott of Israel, a privilege unique to Israel. To date, 37 states have adopted laws/executive orders/resolutions to discourage boycotts against Israel.3 Rand Paul remains the only modern politician to consistently oppose legislation on Israel (though it should be noted that this is more a product of his Libertarian political ties than anything else).4 In his book The Israel lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy, John Mearsheimer goes into more detail about the relationship between Congress and Israel, for anyone interested.
The Jewish Response
As shown in the previous chart from the Pew Research Center, Jews really hate Evangelicals. Evidence for this is ample, both here in the United States and abroad.
Anecdotally, Jewish journalists like Emily Burack5 in Jewish journals like heyalma write extensive articles lamenting the idea of “Judeo-Christian values” as “inaccurate, antisemitic and Islamophobic”.6 In fact, Burack herself goes as far as to say that the act of converting Jews to Christianity is anti-Semitic, and even compares it to genocide.7
Recently, a video of Jews spitting on Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem has gone viral.
Some may argue that this is merely an anecdotal, fringe, occurrence. They would be wrong. Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir said the following when he represented some young girls for doing the same thing in 2017:
"There is an ancient Jewish custom that when you pass by a monastery you spit to the side. Why criminalize it?"
”Even if they spit at the monastery – which at least according to some religious rulings is not wrong – it is not an offense of insulting religion as the police attribute to young women.”8
This is only a recent manifestation of the anti-Christian sentiment that is so popular in Israel. Threats of violence against Christians in Israel are on the rise, and the Israeli government is very lax in prosecuting such cases.9 Extremist organizations like Lehava have denounced Christians as “blood-sucking vampires” and enemies of Judaism, while condoning the destruction of churches and attacking Christians in Israel.10
Again, you may be inclined to believe that these groups are fringe radicals who do not have widespread support in Israel, however I must point to the underwhelming police response to these activities.
Messianic Jews (sometimes called Jews for Jesus) in Israel are also heavily persecuted, being attacked openly by groups like Lehava.11 Messianic Jews are also exempt from the Law of Return (which allows Jews to become automatic citizens of Israel) after a court ruling in 1989.12 Messianic Jews who do immigrate to Israel are often deported13 or denied citizenship after being “accused of missionary work” in Israel.14
Israel itself also has a number of Christophobic, Jewish Supremacist, laws in place outside of Messianic Jews. Recently, the Knesset attempted to pass a law outlawing Christian ministry in Israel (far from the first time such laws have been brought before the Knesset), but thankfully failed to pass. Israel brought GOD TV off the air for “appealing to Jews with Christian content” in 2020.15 Inter-faith marriage is also quite difficult in Israel.
What Does Scripture Say?
As I mentioned earlier, Evangelicals tend to defend their support of Israel through Scripture, specifically referencing the Old Testament covenant between God and the Hebrews. But is this really an accurate reading of the Bible? I would argue that it is entirely inaccurate for Christians to read Scripture in this way.
Most importantly, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of the Old Testament and did away with the covenant:
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28 (NIV)
I believe that the Book of Hosea is immensely important in understanding the true nature of the covenant between God in the Hebrews. The Old Testament is full of examples of the Hebrews falling into impiety, worshiping other gods, and breaking their covenant, particularly so with the Book of Judges. Hosea, in the Book of Hosea, is commanded to marry a prostitute by God:
At the beginning when Yahweh spoke through Hosea, Yahweh said to Hosea, “Go, take for yourself a wife and children of whoredom, because the land commits great whoredom forsaking Yahweh.”
Hosea 1:2 (LEB)
I think this is even more symbolic than is directly stated. I believe that God specifically chose the Hebrews (using His middle knowledge) as “His people” because He knew they would consistently turn their back from Him, and eventually deny Jesus Christ as their savior.
It’s also important for Christians to remember the book of Revelations, which has the following to say:
Behold, I am causing those of the synagogue of Satan, the ones who call themselves Jews and are not, but are lying—behold, I will make them come and kneel down before your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
Revelation 3:9 (LEB)
Note the end of this verse, which seems to indicate God will demand that Jews acknowledge his love for the gentiles. It seems that God is himself indicating that Jews (who reject Christ) are in fact not, and could potentially be alluding to the fact that Messianic Jews are the true inheritors. It could also be interpreted such that “Jews” here would really mean what we think of as Christians (since the word “Christian” did not yet exist).
And leave out the courtyard outside of the temple, and do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles, and they will trample the holy city for forty two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days, dressed in sackcloth.”
Revelation 11:2–3 (LEB)
Note here that the Third Temple is crucial to the prophecy of Revelations, and that Israel has expressed a desire to rebuild it on a number of occasions, and efforts are currently ongoing to see it through.16 Some Christians may think this is a good thing, since it means we are closer to Christ’s return. They would be short-sighted and narrow-minded. The prophecy of Revelations dictates an absolutely brutal time here on Earth, and for that fact alone Christians should be interested in delaying it as long as possible out of compassion. But more importantly, delaying the end times means that more people will be born before them, and thus more souls can be saved. Such “Biblical accelerationists” as I call them are essentially saying: “To Hell (literally) with non-Christians, I’m getting out of here!” This is an inherently selfish notion that is fundamentally opposed to Christian evangelism. For these reasons, Christians should do everything they can to delay the building of the Third Temple, not support Israel in building it.
In fact, comparing Christian and Jewish prophecy on the end times, it seems quite possible that the “Jewish Messiah” will in fact be the Anti-Christ. For example: Jewish prophecy says that the Messiah will only return once the Third Temple is built, while Christian prophecy says that the building of the Third Temple will be a major sign of the end times.
It is also important to remember that the Pharisees, who rejected Jesus’ divinity and were jealous of his influence, who paid Judas to betray Jesus:
Then one of the twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I in turn deliver him to you?” So they set out for him thirty silver coins. And from that time on, he began seeking a favorable opportunity in order that he could betray him.
Matthew 26:14–16 (LEB)
Despite Pontius Pilate’s reluctance to sentence Jesus to death, the Pharisees and the Jewish crowds demanded he be crucified:
So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” But they insisted, saying, “He incites the people, teaching throughout the whole of Judea and beginning from Galilee as far as here.”
Luke 23:4–5 (LEB)
Finally, I would like to leave you with what the Talmud itself says of Jesus:
Onkelos then went and raised Jesus the Nazarene from the grave through necromancy. Onkelos said to him: Who is most important in that world where you are now? Jesus said to him: The Jewish people. Onkelos asked him: Should I then attach myself to them in this world? Jesus said to him: Their welfare you shall seek, their misfortune you shall not seek, for anyone who touches them is regarded as if he were touching the apple of his eye (see Zechariah 2:12). Onkelos said to him: What is the punishment of that man, a euphemism for Jesus himself, in the next world? Jesus said to him: He is punished with boiling excrement. As the Master said: Anyone who mocks the words of the Sages will be sentenced to boiling excrement. And this was his sin, as he mocked the words of the Sages. The Gemara comments: Come and see the difference between the sinners of Israel and the prophets of the nations of the world. As Balaam, who was a prophet, wished Israel harm, whereas Jesus the Nazarene, who was a Jewish sinner, sought their well-being.
For more on this topic, read my other article:
Conclusion
It is my opinion that Christians, especially Evangelical Protestants, need to re-evaluate their relationship with Jews.
From a secular perspective, Jews continue to bite the (Evangelical) hand that feeds them. Despite overwhelming support for Jews among Evangelicals, Jews in America and abroad continue to remain hostile. Israel continues to turn a blind eye towards the oppression of Christians within their territory. This does not mean that Christians must ally themselves with Muslims (who are not much better) or to support Palestine.
From a religious perspective, the Jewish people and the state of Israel should be observed with caution. They clearly play a critical role in the end times, and so Christians should seek to distance themselves accordingly. It must be remembered that Jews ultimately reject Jesus, and so they are not friends of Christ or His followers.
This is not a call to return towards the violence of the Ku Klux Klan or the NSDAP, nor is it in support of Palestine or the Muslim world. I am indifferent to those, and only wish to see Christians wake up to the toxic reality of their relationship with Jews. This Stockholm syndrome hold that Jews have over Christians simply must end.