For the first time in centuries, Jewish–Christian relations have experienced remarkable healing—fueled by access to Scripture, the impact of the Holocaust, and the miracle of Israel’s rebirth. Yet this progress is now under pressure. Antisemitism, long described as a mutating virus, has reemerged in new forms across politics, media, and even the church. These new expressions are rooted in old patterns that repeatedly endanger the Jewish people and are now threatening not only the Jewish community but also the spiritual health and integrity of Christianity itself.
Understanding these dangers is essential if Christians are to defend truth, stand with Israel, and guard the future of this vital relationship. Here are five concerning trends to watch for—and fight against.
1. The Rise of Political Antisemitism (Anti-Zionism)
A new form of antisemitism is targeting the Jewish collective—the State of Israel—through delegitimization, double standards, and demonization. After October 7, 2023, when Hamas infiltrated southern Israel and massacred over 1,200 people and took more than 250 people as hostages into Gaza, political anti-Zionism exploded globally, fueling attacks on Jews and influencing young Christians who are immersed in social-media propaganda. This increase in political antisemitism should alarm Christians because it risks aligning Christian voices with movements that delegitimize Israel and tempts believers to disconnect modern Israel from the biblical narrative—which, ultimately, weakens confidence in Scripture itself.
2. The Resurgence of Replacement Theology
Though the church has made tremendous progress in its relationship with the Jewish people and nation of Israel, Replacement Theology—the belief that God is finished with the Jewish people and is now working primarily through the church—is resurfacing under new names such as “Fulfillment Theology.”
This false theology erases God’s covenant with Israel and is what historically laid the groundwork for Christian antisemitism. Its return threatens to unravel the biblical foundations of Christian–Jewish solidarity by reopening wounds left by centuries of Christian theological hostility, fueling old patterns of antisemitism. Replacement ideas often appear in academic, nuanced language, making it sound biblical or sophisticated to Christians who have not been well taught, ultimately undermining trust between Jews and Christians.
3. Growing Biblical Illiteracy in the Church
This generation is skeptical of Scripture as the fulcrum of truth, and, as a result, it is vulnerable to distorted teachings about Israel. Understanding God’s covenant with the Jewish people—which undergirds the entire Bible—is paramount for understanding its narrative. Without a clear grasp of God’s work through covenant, Christians lose the “answer key” for what helps the entire Bible make sense. Such a vacuum leaves room for misinformation, confusion, and antisemitic ideas to spread unchecked.
Growing biblical illiteracy in the church has a significant impact on Jewish–Christian relations. As Christians lose awareness of the Jewish roots of their faith, it opens the door to misinterpretation, weakens empathy for Jewish history and experience, reduces Christian support for Israel, and suppresses constructive dialogue with the Jewish community. Ultimately, biblical illiteracy disconnects Christians from their spiritual heritage, the biblical story of Israel, and the theological basis for opposing antisemitism and standing with the Jewish people.
4. Radical Postmillennial and Dominionist Movements
Radical postmillennial and dominionist movements also impact Jewish-Christian relations, especially at a time when trust between the communities is still relatively new and fragile. While not all postmillennialists or dominionists are hostile toward Jews, the radical expressions of these movements introduce theological and political tensions that affect how Jews perceive Christian intentions.
A new Christian nationalist right is promoting ideologies that deny the Jewish people’s ongoing covenant, reinterpret the Torah as a blueprint for Christian rule, and embrace conspiracy theories about Jewish influence. While not all postmillennials hold these views, this fast-growing movement introduces a dangerous theological hostility toward Judaism and Israel.
Dominionists tend to reinforce versions of Replacement Theology, and their activism blurs the line between Christian eschatology and political power. Jewish communities that historically suffered under religiously enforced laws may interpret it as a threat to pluralism and religious freedom. And when fringe dominionist groups tie their support for Israel to end-time strategies, including the conversion of Jews, it makes Jewish people question motives as to why Christians are really supporting Israel: Are they motivated by genuine love for the Jewish people, or by a Christian prophetic agenda?
5. The Propaganda War and Collapse of Reliable Media
Antisemitism today spreads through disinformation, activist journalism, doctored images, AI-generated content, and tightly controlled Gaza reporting. Lies about Israel can go viral within seconds, while factual rebuttals often take months to reach the same audience. This information war is spiritual as well as political and has become the “eighth front” of Israel’s struggle—and it has the potential to impact Jewish–Christian relations negatively.
Christians who are exposed to this propaganda may embrace these lies as truth, which not only weakens their biblical understanding of God’s purpose and role for Israel but also fuels skepticism and suspicion toward Jews—or worse, hostility. When these lies dominate the media, it shifts public perception, making genuine dialogue and collaboration between Jews and Christians increasingly difficult.
Conclusion
These five trends—political antisemitism, theological distortions, biblical illiteracy, radical ideologies, and the propaganda war—pose a serious threat to the fragile relationship between Jews and Christians. Yet the church is not powerless. Christians must return to Scripture, cultivate discernment, seek trustworthy sources, and stand against antisemitism in all its forms.
The battle for truth is ours to fight—spiritually, intellectually, and relationally.
