Staff Reports
Something ugly has crept into parts of our politics and even our churches: anti‑Semitism. The Oct. 7 attack on Israel did not just stir grief and concern. It also stirred open hatred in some quarters. That hatred is not a political quirk. It is a moral and theological problem for Christians who claim to follow the Bible.
Anti‑Semitism Is Anti‑Christian
At its core, anti‑Semitism denies the value of God’s chosen people and twists history and Scripture to score political points. Christians who embrace or excuse anti‑Jewish ideas are contradicting Christ. The Bible is clear about God’s promises to Israel and about loving our neighbors. Turning those promises into a political talking point and blaming all Jews for the actions of a few is wrong. It is also dangerous for the church’s witness.
Why the Church Must Speak Up
Too many pastors and church leaders have been quiet. Silence looks like consent. Christians should be the first to condemn bigotry, not the last. Teaching that dehumanizes Jews under the banner of “justice” is not justice at all. It is prejudice dressed in piety. If the church does not call it out, who will? Standing with our Jewish neighbors is faithful. Or we can stay silent and explain away hatred as mere “debate” — but that will leave our witness in tatters.
The Conservative Movement’s Test
This problem is not just on the left. Younger conservatives have absorbed some of the same toxic views, and that is a failing of leadership. Conservatism should be a home for moral clarity, not moral confusion. Leaders must teach the difference between criticizing a foreign government’s policies and attacking an entire people. Conflating the two has consequences for law, safety, and social trust. We should be able to debate policy without slipping into ethnic or religious hatred.
Call to Action and a Final Word
Rejecting anti‑Semitism is simple: defend truth, protect the vulnerable, and refuse to let politics erase moral lines. The church and the conservative movement face a choice — confront anti‑Jewish hatred and repair the moral fabric, or ignore it and watch our principles unravel. That’s not hyperbole. It’s a plain choice between standing for justice and becoming comfortable with cruelty. Christians who care about faith and freedom should choose rightly and loudly.
