Christian Responses to Antisemitism and Unity

James Brown

Antisemitism is one of those issues that, honestly, just hits you in the gut when you hear the statistics. In 2024, there were over nine thousand reported antisemitic incidents. And, well, that’s not just a number—it’s lives affected, fear amplified, and communities shaken.

James Brown

Now, we can trace a spike in these awful acts back to several major events, but one that stands out the most is the Hamas massacre in Israel last October 2023. Since then, there’s been this, I don’t know, almost wildfire of hatred spreading across not just the U.S. but around the world. And the worst part? It’s set records for four straight years. Four years. Can you imagine that continuing?

James Brown

Let me give you some perspective. New York alone had nearly fourteen hundred cases. California? Over thirteen hundred. These aren’t abstract statistics either—these are real people facing harassment, vandalism, sometimes even violence. It makes you stop and think, right? How much fear must people live with just... just going about their daily lives?

James Brown

And let’s talk about schools too, especially colleges. Jewish students are dealing with an eighty-four percent increase in incidents on campuses. Eighty-four percent. Like, how does anyone focus on classes or, I don’t know, just feel safe walking to their dorms? These are our future leaders, yet here they are, struggling to get to class without being harassed. A recent incident at Barnard College comes to mind—it’s heartbreaking.

James Brown

But here's where we ask ourselves, you know, how do we respond to this as Christians? The Bible calls us to love our neighbors, to stand against hate, and to be a light in dark places. It’s not about ignoring the hatred but choosing to counter it with a love so radical it leaves no room for division. Institutions and individuals—we all have a role here. It’s not optional—it’s our calling.

James Brown

Let’s take a moment to step back and look at what the Bible says about the relationship between Jews and Gentiles. Romans chapter eleven—it’s such a powerful chapter. In verses seventeen and eighteen, we’re given this image of an olive tree. You’ve got this cultivated olive tree, representing God’s people, and some branches, the natural ones, are broken off. And then, these wild olive branches—Gentiles—are grafted in. That’s us, grafted by God’s grace, sharing in the richness of the root.

James Brown

But here’s the important bit—Paul warns us not to be arrogant toward those broken branches. He’s telling us, hey, remember, it’s the root that supports you, not the other way around. And honestly, doesn’t that flip our perspective? It’s not about superiority or replacing anyone—it’s about humility. It’s about recognizing that our very place in the story of faith is a gift from God’s mercy.

James Brown

Now, let’s bring that into today’s world. When we see the rise of these pro-Hamas sentiments, or just this growing hostility toward Jewish communities—it’s... it’s startling, really, how far we’ve strayed from what Scripture calls us to. Paul’s teaching commands us to reject arrogance, to reject any sense of entitlement or, you know, superiority—and yet, here we are, with division and hatred making the loudest noise. It’s the antithesis of what we’re supposed to embody.

James Brown

And you might think, well, what can we do? What can humility and respect actually achieve in a climate this intense? Let me give you an example. There’s this community up in New York where Christians and Jews started meeting, like, regularly—kind of just small groups—over shared meals, discussing their faiths, their histories, and their challenges. And you know what happened? Over time, that openness, that mutual respect, kinda broke down those barriers. They started collaborating on bigger things—local outreach, food drives—it was like they discovered their shared humanity in the process. It’s not big headlines or flashy, but isn’t that the kind of quiet transformation we’re called to be part of?

James Brown

I mean, Scripture gives us the blueprint. Humility, respect, that deep recognition of our dependence on God—that’s the starting line. It’s not about winning arguments or proving points. It’s about being part of the root, not severing ourselves from it, and knowing that, ultimately, we’re all sustained by that same richness.

James Brown

Romans eleven, verses thirty to thirty-two, paints this beautiful picture of mercy that really levels the playing field. It says, just as Gentiles were once disobedient to God but received mercy, so now Israel, in their disobedience, can receive mercy too. And why? So that God might show mercy to everyone. There’s something so powerful about that, isn’t there?

James Brown

I mean, we’re all in the same boat here—Jews, Gentiles, every single one of us. We’ve all fallen short, and yet God’s mercy, it’s just, you know, boundless. No one’s immune to His ability to reach down and pull us up. And that shared need for grace? It’s not a weakness—it’s the one thing that should unite us.

James Brown

The thing is, this unity isn’t just an idea; it’s a call to action. When we see antisemitism in the headlines or even in our communities, what’s our response? Do we stay silent, or do we, I don’t know, lean into what Scripture tells us—to stand against hate, to reflect that mercy in how we treat others?

James Brown

And you know, there are people living this out, making it real. There’s a town—I think it’s somewhere in the Midwest—where churches and synagogues came together, not just for an event, but to commit to something ongoing. They started programs to mentor at-risk youth, they held open dialogues where no question was off-limits, and, honestly, they started to break down walls. It wasn’t perfect, but it mattered. And it’s proof that even small steps can lead to, well, real change.

James Brown

So, as we wrap up today, I just want to leave you with this: mercy isn’t passive. It’s active, it’s intentional, and sometimes, it’s uncomfortable. But it’s also transformative. Let it shape how you see others, how you respond to hatred, and how you build bridges instead of, you know, walls. Because in the end, we’re all leaning on the same source of grace, and there’s no room for anything less than love. And that’s all for today. Thanks for listening, and, well, I’ll see you next time.