How the History of Christian Antisemitism Impacts Jewish Ministry
“Why don’t more Jewish people believe Jesus is the Messiah?” Maybe you’ve asked this question yourself, or you’ve heard other believers voice it.
When we read the Bible, Jesus’ identity seems so clear to us. We might be bewildered and saddened by the fact that the vast majority of Jewish people haven’t put their faith in Him.
The truth is, Jewish attitudes towards Jesus and His followers are influenced by centuries of antisemitism that Jewish people have experienced from Gentiles who professed to be Christians.
Unfortunately, as Edward Flannery writes in The Anguish of the Jews, “The vast majority of Christians, even well educated, are all but totally ignorant of what happened to Jews in history and of the culpable involvement of the Church.”[1]
Jewish people have an acute awareness of historic Christian antisemitism. While most of them don’t have a sense of hostility towards Christians, this history does significantly impact how they respond to the gospel.
Impact of Christian Antisemitism on the Jewish People
The Jewish people are a people of remembrance. The destruction of the Temple, the Christ-killer charge, the Crusades, the Inquisition, and, most significantly, the Holocaust, aren’t simply events that happened in the past, with no bearing on the present. Rather, they are integral to Jewish history and identity, and the memory of them can be deeply personal and emotional (click here to read more about this history).
Most believers understand that not all professing Christians are true followers of Jesus, but it’s important to know that Jewish people usually don’t understand this distinction. When they look back on centuries of Christian persecution of Jewish people, there’s a natural assumption that Christianity is antisemitic.
For most of Christian history, Jewish people were considered both social and religious outcasts. The only way they could hope to improve their situation was by converting to Christianity, yet even then they were still subjected to injustice and discrimination. Jewish converts were often forced to sever ties with anything Jewish, including their community. These practices have contributed to the common misconception that a Jewish person who believes in Jesus ceases to be Jewish.
How Can We Respond?
It’s been said that you can’t love another person well unless you know what causes them pain. This is especially true as we seek to reach Jewish people with the gospel. Having an awareness of Christian antisemitism in Jewish history will not only help us understand our Jewish friends better, but can also equip us to communicate God’s love and care for them in practical ways.
Tragically, instead of recognizing God’s love for the Jewish people and treating them in kind, Gentiles professing Christianity have repeatedly persecuted the Jewish people in the name of Jesus. As a result, you might find as you engage with Jewish people that there are barriers you need to overcome as you share the gospel with them.
Don’t Defend the Past
If the topic of Christian antisemitism comes up as you’re talking with a Jewish friend, acknowledge the grievous evils that have been committed and express sorrow that these things were done by professing Christians. We don’t want to defend those who persecuted Jewish people in the past, but we do want to emphasize that antisemitic Christians were not accurately representing Jesus. We should point our Jewish friend to the truth of who Jesus is, what He really taught, and how deeply He loved His chosen people.
To do this, we may need to clarify that not all who say they are Christians are really followers of Jesus, and even sincere believers can embrace warped theology that leads to evil deeds. Jesus is clear in John 14:15 that those who love Him will keep His commandments. Anyone who flaunts God’s commandments and intentionally commits evil, even if they publicly identify with Christianity, is not truly following Jesus.
Emphasize Jesus’ True Teachings
If our Jewish friend is willing, we can use this opportunity to share what Jesus actually taught, said, and did. A good place to start is the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus preached a lifestyle characterized by radical humility and sacrificial love (Matthew 5-7). His embodiment of these values in His interactions with the Jewish people around Him culminated in His death on the cross for their sins – and the sins of the world.
Nowhere in Scripture did Jesus ever teach His followers to hate or violently persecute the Jewish people. In fact, the earliest disciples of Jesus were Jewish, and so was Jesus Himself! As you read passages in the Bible about Jesus with your Jewish friends, pray that God will break down any barriers to faith and reveal to them that Jesus is the Messiah.
Stand Against Antisemitism
According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents in the United States were at an all-time high in 2022, with 3,697 recorded incidents – a 36% increase from the previous year.[2] Christians can demonstrate God’s love for the Jewish people by taking an unequivocal stand against antisemitism, whether it appears in the form of Holocaust denial or statements and attacks against the State of Israel.[3]
There is no better time than now to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the Jewish people (Psalm 122:6). By standing against antisemitism and being committed to sharing the truth of who Jesus really is – not a Gentile God who has rejected the Jewish people, but rather the One who was sent “to gather Israel to himself” (Isaiah 49:5) – we can strive to demonstrate God’s love and care for the Jewish people through our words and actions.
Further Reading:
Life in Messiah antisemitism page
[1] Edward H. Flannery, The Anguish of the Jews, page 1.
[2] Read the report of antisemitic incidents in 2022 here.
[3] As the American Jewish Committee writes, “Political protests are an essential part of our democracy, and criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country is perfectly acceptable. But when Jews are targeted and attacked and Jewish institutions are vandalized for Israeli policies and actions, it is unacceptable. It is antisemitism” (read the source here).
