Christians must stand with the Jewish people against rising antisemitism

Just recently, I posted my All Israel News opinion piece on a Christian Facebook page, and I received antisemitic abuse.

I don't know the person who hurled the abuse at me, but my guess is that he is a Christian.

First, he called me a “Jew Lover.”

That was supposed to be an insult, but for me, it is a badge of honor.

I do love the Jews, and I told him so in my response. We should all love the Jews; they have contributed so much to society.

If you take away Jewish contributions, the world would be a more backward place to live.

He then went on with his antisemitic tirade. He said I “should only love Christ not some satan worshiping heathens who turned their back from our Lord and Savior.”

I wonder if he knows that Jesus was a Jew?

I wonder if he knows that nearly all the Bible was written by Jews?

I wonder if he knows Jesus’ teaching to “Love your neighbour as yourself”?

Not love your neighbour unless they are Jewish!!!!

This was abuse from someone who obviously claimed to be a Christian.

It reminds me of the way Christians have sadly treated the Jews.

Martin Luther, the great reformer, was someone who became antisemitic and wrote some nasty things about the Jews:

• Burn down synagogues and Jewish schools.

• Destroy and confiscate Jewish homes.

• Confiscate prayer books and Holy Scripture.

• Forbid rabbis from preaching.

This believer in Christ, who is a brother at the end of the day, seems to have picked up some of the same spirit as Martin Luther.

But in times like this, we need to take a stand because the mood is changing and antisemitism is getting worse and worse. Now is the time to stand with the Jewish people.

We can be a Dietrich Bonhoeffer or a Martin Luther.

I spoke to my Jewish friend on WhatsApp, sending him the abuse and asking him if he thought it was antisemitic. He thought it was, so now it was time to act.

I took some time out of my day and reported the antisemitic abuse I received to the Community Security Trust:

I entered all the details, and they came back to me saying they had received my information. Very quickly, they followed up with me, asking for more details and also giving me a link to my local police station, where I could report the incident.

It was so easy, and it was well worth it.

I was being a Dietrich Bonhoeffer and standing up for the Jewish people in a time of hostility. It cost me my time, but it was worth it.

It would have been easier to look away and ignore it, but we are living in a time when antisemitism is rising and anti-Zionism is becoming the norm, so we must stand, whatever the cost.

If we, as believers in Christ, don't stand up for the Jewish people, then who will?

We are the ones who understand that antisemitism is a spiritual battle. If the devil destroys the Jews, then he also destroys God, because God cannot be trusted.

If God cannot keep his promises to the Jews, then he cannot keep his promise to me either. My salvation would be worthless.

But we know God does keep his promises. We are seeing it happen. We are seeing the Bible come alive at this time in history.

Last week, we saw the nations turn away from Israel and impose sanctions.

Zechariah 12:3:

“And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.”

It isn't exactly a fulfillment of this prophecy, but what it is is a hardening of the heart toward Israel, which will ultimately lead to the nations gathering against Israel.

I am sad for my nation but happy that the Bible is alive and that we are seeing these things in our generation.

Now is the time to stand up for the Jewish people, even as Christians turn away and the nations turn away.

Maybe you were born for such a time as this.

Be a hero. Be a Bonhoeffer.