Shalom, to you my Friend and Co-Minister in the Great Commission...
I was doing a book signing at a megachurch in the Midwest when a young man came up to me and began spewing antisemitic, anti-Israel conspiracy theories. He had gotten them from the web. The fact that a young man at a Christian congregation would be believing and propagating classic antisemitic accusations was striking.
We know the political and woke left has become overwhelmingly anti-Israel, if not antisemitic. Just recently, the Democratic Party went from being moderately supportive of the nation of Israel, to an anti-Israel political party. But now, we're seeing a new phenomenon-the infecting of the American right, American conservatives, even some evangelical Christians by antisemitic and anti-Israel propaganda and conspiracy theories.
The most prominent advocate of this is the political commentator, Tucker Carlson. Carlson has of late called on America to stop supporting Israel. He has also gotten into theology, telling Christians that the Jewish people are not the chosen people and that Israel is an insignificant nation that has nothing to do with the Christian faith. He has even blamed Israel or the Jewish people for secretly being behind antisemitic attacks on Israel and the Jews!
He is not alone. Another influencer seeking to fan the flames of antisemitism is Candace Owens. Owens has, of late, descended into the rabbit-hole of antisemitic conspiracy theories. She has accused Judaism of being a pedophile religion, Israel of being responsible for the assassination of President Kennedy, of being behind 9/11, and of rabbis drinking the blood of Christians, to name but a few of her bizarre accusations.
The problem is that both influencers along with others of the antisemitic or anti-Israel rightwing have millions of followers. It makes perfect sense. The Bible tells us that Satan wars against the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. If he can confuse or weaken the support of Christians and conservatives, the pillar of American support for Israel, he can end America's support for the Jewish nation. That scenario will not be calamitous for Israel, as God has promised to keep it, but it may be calamitous for America. Though American conservatism is far-more aligned with biblical values than the American left, a godless right-wing is, in the end, no better than a godless left-wing.
The Bible promises that God will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse it. Let us pray this month for Israel, for the peace of Jerusalem, and for America, that it will not turn from God and His blessings. And may God greatly bless you this month as you do!
Your brother and co-laborer
in His love and service,
Jonathan