The lie that never dies: The ongoing war against antisemitism

The fight against antisemitism is not new, nor is it some isolated battle or an occasional one-time skirmish. This never-ending war has been raging for centuries. Like other wars, it has its moments of brief reprieve, but what makes this war different is that it never truly goes away. It simply changes form, language, and disguise. It is fueled by lies about the Jewish people and the Jewish State that never die. Presently, it is raging in the Western world with an intensity not seen since the Nazi Holocaust.

Let us begin with a clear definition. Antisemitism is a biased prejudice, a hatred, and often an outright hostility directed specifically at Jews for the simple reason that they are Jews. It can be expressed against individual Jews, Jewish communities, or the Jewish people collectively. In its simplest form, antisemitism can be defined in two words: Jewish hatred.

Antisemitism is driven and motivated by several powerful forces. Among the most persistent are conspiracy theories. Throughout history, whenever a society faces turmoil, instability, or crisis, Jews often become the built-in scapegoat for antisemites. From early Christians blaming Jews for the death of Christ, to medieval European blood libels, to accusations that Jews caused the Black Plague, to modern conspiracy theories blaming Jews for global financial crises, political instability, and social collapse—the lies never die.

Stereotypes and conspiracy theories have always been activated when societies look for someone to blame. These myths provide emotionally satisfying explanations for hardship, allowing individuals and even nations to avoid confronting their own failures. Jews, as a visible and distinct minority, have repeatedly filled this tragic role.

Additionally, the Jewish religious worldview itself has long offended dominant cultures. The radical biblical concepts of one God, moral law, justice, accountability, and human dignity challenged ancient pagan systems built on power, hierarchy, and domination. These biblical ideas also threaten modern political structures that resist moral absolutes. When Jews refused to convert—first to Christianity and later to Islam—they became direct targets of religious hostility.

There is also the powerful force of jealousy. Jewish success across nearly every field—business, science, medicine, law, literature, finance, and education—has bred resentment for centuries. Instead of inspiring admiration, Jewish achievement often fuels envy. That envy metastasizes into myths of hidden Jewish power, secret control, and shadow governments manipulating society behind the scenes. Such fabrications feed the emotional hunger of those who resent success.

None of this should surprise us. Long centuries ago, the Torah and the Prophets foretold that the Jewish people would be hated, persecuted, scattered, and yet preserved. Deuteronomy chapters 28-30, Jeremiah 30:11, and Zechariah chapters 12-14 clearly outline both Israel’s suffering and her ultimate restoration. The hatred of the Jews is not an accident of history. It is part of a larger spiritual conflict that unfolds across centuries.

For these reasons and many more, antisemites plant seeds of hatred to offer emotionally satisfying lies that veil their own fears, failures, and insecurities. Thus, Jews have remained the convenient and enduring fictional villain throughout all of human history.

Antisemitism can be distilled into a single sentence: it is the enduring lie that Jews are a uniquely poisonous and powerful people who secretly wield corrupting influence wherever they live. Therefore, the argument goes, they deserve to be blamed and banned, confronted and canceled, denounced and destroyed.

But antisemitism runs even deeper. At its core, it is the ancient lie that God’s chosen people are actually God’s cursed people, and that resisting them constitutes moral virtue. This warped theology transforms hatred into perceived righteousness. In reality, antisemitism is nothing less than open rebellion against God and His Word.

Since its modern rebirth, Israel has fought wars on multiple fronts. This tiny nation—roughly the size of New Jersey—is surrounded by hostile forces, many openly committed not merely to Israel’s defeat, but to her annihilation. Over the decades, Israel has had to defend herself against Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran. More recently, Yemen, Gaza, and the West Bank have joined the conflict.

Yet today, Israel faces an eighth front—one far more subtle and perhaps more dangerous than conventional warfare. This is the battlefield of public opinion. It is here that evangelicals, though we do not wear the uniform of the Israeli Defense Forces, can don our own uniforms and arm ourselves with truth.

This eighth front is where lies about Israel and the Jewish people are spread with breathtaking speed through media, academia, entertainment, and social platforms. It is here that propaganda, disinformation, and ideological indoctrination shape entire generations. It is here that antisemitism now thrives most aggressively.

Recent years have seen an extraordinary rise in antisemitism. Radical Islamist supporters and their ideological allies have launched a multi-billion-dollar media and social media campaign specifically designed to shape Western opinion—especially the opinions of young Americans. University campuses have become breeding grounds for this propaganda. Demonstrations, protests, and disruptions have turned institutions of higher learning into theaters of ideological warfare. Past pogroms against the Jewish people have now given way to popular podcasts which aim to delegitimize and marginalize them.

The aftermath of October 7 revealed this well funded media machine in horrifying clarity. As Jewish civilians were brutally massacred, raped, tortured, and murdered, many voices across the West responded not with outrage, but with justification. Antisemitic rhetoric flooded social platforms, news outlets, and podcasts. Entire segments of younger generations expressed shocking sympathy for terrorists while condemning Israel for defending herself.

This is now the eighth front of the battle for Jerusalem, and Bible-believing evangelicals must stand on these front lines, shoulder to shoulder with our Jewish friends.

This is our war. It is fought across a battlefield filled with trenches of falsehood, misinformation, and moral inversion. Antisemitism follows a consistent strategy: blame Israel for nearly every global problem. Recently, it has accused Israel of ethnic cleansing in Gaza. Ironically, ethnic cleansing is a foundational objective of the original Palestinian National Charter of 1968, which explicitly rejects Israel’s right to exist and calls for its elimination through armed struggle. At the same time, antisemites chant, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Must Be Free.” This slogan is not a plea for coexistence. It is a call for the eradication of Israel. From the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, there would be no room left for a Jewish state.

Hypocrisy reaches new heights when public figures defend regimes openly committed to Jewish destruction. When commentators blame Israel for radical Islamic terrorism, they perpetuate the lie that Jewish existence itself causes global instability.

Since October 7, antisemitic incidents have surged worldwide. Synagogues have been attacked. Jewish individuals assaulted. Holocaust memorials defaced. Jewish families intimidated. Few could have imagined how quickly civilized societies would tolerate, excuse, or even celebrate atrocities committed against Jews.

It is past time for millions of evangelicals to rise. We must step out of our bunkers of comfort and onto the battlefield of truth. Antisemitism and its lies that never die originate from the very pit of hell itself and must be confronted.

Evangelicals love what God loves. Moses’ words remain unmistakable: “You are a people holy to the Lord… the Lord your God has chosen you for His treasured possession…the Lord set His love on you and chose you” (Deuteronomy 7:6–8). One cannot read the Bible daily without loving the people at the center of its story.

As we stand beside our Jewish friends against this demonic onslaught we have a three pronged plan of engagement.  We must be smart…be strategic…be strong. “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,” declared Isaiah. That cry must become our own.

BE SMART

It is impossible to win a war if you do not know where the battle is being fought.  Arming ourselves with the knowledge of the root causes and reasons for antisemitism is vital. We must understand its historical roots, ideological frameworks, and strategic objectives.  

David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, is reported to have said, “To know the enemy’s strategy is to already defeat him.” He emphasized that intelligence and understanding the enemy were decisive weapons in war.  And so it is in the battle against antisemitism.

Not all potential holocausts look alike.  But today’s rapid and rabid rise of antisemitism in the West is shockingly similar to what was transpiring in Germany in the decade leading up to the activation of Adolph Hitler’s Nazi death camps. The 1930’s saw escalating propaganda, boycotts, street violence, and a form of cultural cancellation.“The Final Solution” commenced in 1941. It culminated four years later with the cumulative murder of six million Jewish men, women, and children in the Nazi quest to ethnically cleanse the world of the Jewish people.  These perpetrators were not a conglomeration of maniacal faceless monsters who were completely detached from any sense of a cultured society. They were regular, highly educated people in virtually every strata of German society. They were the men and women next door. If they were alive today they most likely be writing opinion pieces and hosting podcasts claiming Israel was engaged in genocide in Gaza and were about the business of ethnically cleansing the Palestinians. Their cry would most likely be “From the River to the Sea.”

Holocaust survivors themselves are warning us that events they are witnessing today eerily mirror the climate that preceded the Nazi death camps. Jewish businesses and entertainers face boycotts. Synagogues burn. Jews are openly attacked in broad daylight. Universities led by popular professors normalize antisemitic rhetoric. These are unmistakable and ominous waring signs. 

We could fill a book with recent antisemitic attacks that have transpired just in the time of this writing…a massacre of Jews on Bondi Beach in Australia celebrating the first day of Chanukah…an arson attack destroying the only synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi…vandalism of a Jewish Temple in Pasadena, California…random daylight beatings of Jewish people on the streets of Brooklyn…targeted antisemitic attacks on too many college campuses to name…a Jewish couple, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, employees of the Israeli Embassy, about to be engaged, gunned down by a killer while leaving a reception in our nation’s capitol. And on…and on.  It is past time for good people to wake up, look around, and see that similar recurring occurrences fill our evening newscasts each night. There is a clarion call sounding for us to “be smart” about the rise of antisemitism before it is too late…once again.

Those who falsely assume that antisemitism is not our problem and Jew hatred is simply confined to a tiny nation state several thousand miles away have not been listening to the calls at anti Israel rallies and protests around the world.  The consistent thread woven through the fabric of Muslim extremists is the call for a “Global Intifada.”  Global simply means those of us in the United States are next.  Israel is presently in their bullseye because they are the “Little Satan.”  But, make no mistake about the prize they seek.  It is the “Big Satan,” the United States.  

We must never forget what transpired in Arab capitols on the day after 9/11 with the violent attack of the World Trade Center which took over 3,000 innocent American lives.  From Ramallah to Riyadh, from Beirut to Baghdad, and everywhere in between scores of thousands gathered in the streets singing and dancing with chants of “Death to America.” When you hear talk of a “Global Intifada” that means you…and me. Be smart…this is our war.

Sadly, It is painful to admit there are members in our own evangelical family who believe that God has rejected the Jewish people due to their unbelief in Yeshua as Messiah. They also contend that God has replaced the Jews with the church in His plan of the ages and that He has actually revoked His own covenant promises once given to them. Historically, this idea that God has rejected Israel, revoked her promises, and replaced her with the church has fueled contempt for the Jewish people and justified vicious and vile persecutions and pogroms. 

This ideology, called replacement theology, seems to find its deepest roots among those who are more reformed in their theology. They find their justification for such belief in the antisemitic writings of Martin Luther, the father of the Reformation. These men find further justification by cherry picking a few of the early church fathers whose antisemitic leanings appeal to their own. Paul, the great Apostle who gave us almost half our New Testament, saw this coming and confronted it head on in Romans, chapter eleven. His opening line says it all—“Has God rejected His people? By no means!”

Evangelical opposition to antisemitism is not driven by political persuasions or policy preferences. It is moved and motivated by theological convictions rooted deep in the holy scriptures. Antisemitism is not a societal ill. It is a direct affront to God and a complete distortion of Biblical truth. Those who view life through the lens of antisemitism see the Jews as but a footnote in history, a people who are cursed and expendable. However, those who view life through the lens of scripture see them as the central people in God’s story, the apple of His own eye.

Be smart enough to realize that these agents of evil come first for the “Saturday People” and then they will come for the “Sunday People.” This is the battlefield of our war, not just the war of the Jews. It has already arrived in many of our own cities and the campuses of some of our most prestigious universities. It is past time to—Be Smart. Evangelicals must be smart enough to recognize that antisemitism is not just a threat to Jews alone, but the very moral and spiritual foundations of a civilized society. 

BE STRATEGIC

It is difficult to be tactical in our approach without first being strategic. Strategy calls for an overall road map to combat the lies and deception that antisemites continue to perpetrate on the public. This is a war that will never end.  We need to know the ‘why” and “what” of the issue before we can implement the “how” and “when” of our approach. It is not enough to be smart. We must also be strategic. This requires vision, planning and endurance.

There is a road map which will guide us in our stand against antisemitism. In four words its path is education, encouragement, exposure, and engagement. 

Evangelicals must educate our tribe out of their illiteracy when it comes to the lies of antisemitism. We must remind our people that the Bible we read is a Jewish book. When we read it every day of our lives we tend to care deeply for the very people who are at the center of its story. We can not love the Bible which was given to us by Jewish authors without loving the Jewish people. Our Lord and Messiah was Jewish.  How can we love Him without loving the Jewish people? We must educate our evangelical brothers and sisters that God is still in covenant relationship with the Jews and they play a major part in the unfolding drama of eschatological truth. 

Education begins in our homes and in our churches. Many young people are being filled with fake news from Tik-Tok and other social media avenues. Confront antisemitic lies with facts, not emotion. The danger of antisemites is that they don’t ask what someone did. They ask who someone is! Be smart and strategic. Begin by being educated.

Evangelicals must encourage one another to join in the battle for truth. It is not enough to be educated if we do not spur one another on to action by advocating for Jewish safety and dignity in the public square. There are many examples of this type of encouragement today.  Linda Selig has founded The White Rose Society to honor the sacrifice of the Munich martyrs of the White Rose Resistance in 1942-43 by recognizing gentiles who stand with the Jewish state in myriad of ways.  Perhaps one of the most encouraging examples of standing against antisemitism is found in the legal work of Sharat HaDin founded by Nitsana Darshan-Leiter. Her battlefield is in the courtrooms of the world and she brings hope and encouragement in the fight against antisemitism in every legal battle Sharat HaDin wins. This brilliant litigator leads the charge in fighting antisemitism where it hides. She fights it with facts, the law, and aggressive action. As is said in the Torah, “If one can chase a thousand, two can chase ten thousand” (Deuteronomy 32:30). We need one another in this constant conflict. There is a dynamic synergy that comes when we encourage one another to stand together in this forever fight and in so doing keep hope alive.

Evangelicals must also expose antisemitism boldly by calling it out ourselves clearly and confrontationally. We must be wise to discern between legitimate policy criticisms and radical rhetoric that is aimed at denying Jews their dignity and self determination. Antisemitism must be called out clearly, its conspiracy theories exposed as the complete and utter lunacy they are. Silence is not golden when it comes to remaining quiet when lies are swirling all around us. Silence only empowers deception. It did not work in Germany in the 1930’s and it will not work today. Nothing exposes the lies of antisemitism like the truth of God’s word.

Finally, we must engage. It is not enough to educate, encourage and even expose the lies that never die if we do not stay personally engaged in this battle for truth. Opposing antisemitism must move beyond mere sentimentality to visible and vocal strategic action. We must show up in the public square, bombard our news outlets and papers with letters to the editor and opinion pieces, speak up when we hear this poison being spewed. We must challenge our churches to teach our youth Biblical history which means Jewish history.

We have a ministry of presence. Our presence matters, especially when our Jewish friends are openly targeted and feel the loneliness of isolation. Show up at pro Israel rallies. Build relationships with Jewish neighbors. Listen to their stories. Using our influence in their behalf can make a difference and will not soon be forgotten.  

The fight against antisemitism is not going away…not now…not ever. It is built on lies that never seem to die but continue to crop up in new generations often arrayed in new attire but the root is always the same. This root is found in two words—Jew hatred.

No other nation is held to the standard that antisemites demand for the State of Israel. In 2025 during the 12 Day war with Iran the Iranian Islamic regime slaughtered an estimated 50,000 of their own citizens who dared to protest peacefully in the streets of Tehran. And while thousands continued to march on the streets of American and on the campuses in American cities waving their flags of antisemitic hatred against Israel not one word was heard in defense of the 50,000 dead in Iran…not one march was held in their behalf protesting the evil Islamic regime of Iran…not one banner was flown denouncing this murderous regime. 

Antisemites are the epitome of hypocrisy. Their strategy is to keep blaming the Jews for anything and everything. No other nation is denied its sovereign right to exist. No other people group is told their national identity is illegitimate. In the eyes of the antisemite the world’s problems can be virtually eliminated by delegitimizing the Jewish state…and the Jewish people.

As evangelicals we must be strategic in this fight. We must condemn antisemitism at every hand, confront it head on…and not give up until it is ultimately and forever canceled.

BE STRONG

This war is not temporary. Antisemitism has survived empires, revolutions, and endless centuries. Being strong in the face of it is not optional. This is not a single little skirmish or battle, it is an ongoing war that never seems to end. We evangelicals affirm a simple, yet enduring truth—hatred for the Jews simply because they are Jews is antithetical and incompatible to the plain teachings of the Bible and is a growing danger to the health of a civilized society. Our goal is not to simply win an argument but to boldly show that antisemitism is both socially and morally indefensible. 

Antisemitism is constantly seeking to dehumanize Israel, delegitimize and even demonize the Jews. Books and articles abound on having to state and restate the case for Israel’s existence. This is not true of any other nation. Go to your public library and try and find a book on the case for Canada or the case for Iran or the case for France. You will come away empty because antisemitism has a different set of rules for Israel.

Hatred of Jews is incompatible with Biblical Christianity. There should be no such thing as a Christian antisemite. Our Bible teaches plainly that our salvation is made possible through a Jewish Messiah and that we are in debt to our Jewish friends. In Romans, chapter eleven, Paul warns us in no uncertain terms about guarding against a spirit of arrogance toward the Jews insisting that God has not rejected His people and that their covenant calling is irrevocable. A Christian that tolerates any form of antisemitism is a traitor to the very foundation of their own faith.

Antisemites lead with slogans today.  Their banners and bywords carry such slogans as, “From the River to the Sea,” “Jews Killed Jesus,” “Zionism is Racism,” “Globalize the Intifada.” As a reminder, we do not lead with slogans, we lead with scripture. The Bible has a direct response to antisemitism. God intentionally chose Israel. “The Lord your God has chosen you…not because you were more in number…but because the Lord loves you” (Deuteronomy 7:6-8). 

The antisemites real problem is not with the Jews at all. It is much deeper. It is a God problem. It is a direct assault on God’s own character and trustworthiness. We can be strong in our stand against antisemitism because when we stand for Israel we are standing side by side with the God of the Bible…not simply the people who are central to His story throughout all of scripture.

We live today in a world where Israel is constantly being demonized, denied its right to exist, and is continually being held to arbitrary standards not being applied to other nations. In such an environment we must be on guard to recognize and reject any and all attempts to delegitimization the Jewish State.  When our Jewish friends are being isolated we will be strong and draw nearer to them.  When they are being lied about, we will be strong and speak the truth with boldness. When they are increasingly feeling alone in the world, we will be strong and surround them even closer.

Ambassador Mike Huckabee came directly to the point while addressing antisemitism by saying, “Let's get real clear that what we're dealing with is Jew hatred…Why do people hate Jews? The real answer is a spiritual one.” Huckabee continued, “That may be offensive to some people. But when people hate God, they're naturally going to hate people who throughout history, from the time on Mount Moriah right here in this city, have represented the ones that God first spoke to in a very personal and real way and said, you're going to take this message, you're going to create this magnificent land, and through you, the world is going to be blessed.” 

When we dig down deep enough to the root of Jew hatred we find it is not political. Neither is it economic. The root of antisemitism is spiritual. It is for this reason that evangelicals realize we are the next targets. Consequently, we are together in this ever enduring struggle against the lies of antisemitism.

It is not enough to simply be smart or even to be strategic. We must be strong. This is a lifetime engagement. The words of the Apostle Paul to those in the region of Galatia, and to us, are pointed and poignant in this battle against antisemitism-“Be not weary in well doing for in due time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). Be strong!

Standing visibly and vocally against antisemitism is not a distraction from the gospel to which we are primarily called. Our Bible teaches us that God resists the proud and that He hates injustice. It would do us all well to hear and heed the words of the ancient Jewish prophet Micah. In the fight against antisemitism he leaves us some sage advice. There are not many things that are “required” of us.  But, Micah brings God’s requirements to the surface with his probing question, “What does the Lord require of you?” This should make us perk up our ears.  And his response? “Do justice…love mercy…walk humbly with your God” (Micah 5:8).  As we engage this battle exposing these lies that never seem to die, let us keep our hands busy (Do Justice)…let us keep our hearts broken (Love Mercy)…and in the process, let us keep our heads bowed (Walk Humbly).

God’s promise to the Jewish people in Genesis 12:3 still rings true-“I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” Take a long walk back through history and ask the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Romans, and more recently the Germans. They can all personally testify to this truth. For much of the past two thousand years the Jewish people scattered over the world in exile were virtually powerless as antisemitism sought their destruction. Today, now that they are securely fixed in a sovereign state of their own, antisemites reinforce their troops seeking not just Israel’s destruction but their complete annihilation. 

Our battle against antisemitism is never ending because it is based on a lie that never dies. Evangelicals know the battlefield of the believer’s life is in the place of prayer…But Jesus also said “watch…and pray” (Matthew 26:41). Stay alert. We fight not with hatred, but with truth. Not with violence, but with conviction. Not with fear, but with faith. 

It is truth that never dies. Be Smart. Be Strategic. Be Strong. We win in the end…and “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26).