Last week, an Israeli soldier was filmed desecrating a statue of Jesus Christ in a southern Lebanese village. The image quickly went viral and stoked much debate.
Tucker Carlson led the charge with a vitriolic diatribe cloaked in the question: Why would an Israeli soldier use a sledgehammer to smash the face of Jesus?
It goes without saying that these actions were deplorable and hurtful to billions of Christians worldwide, including myself.
It is equally important to note that the individuals in question were quickly dismissed by the Israel Defense Forces and the statue was replaced by Israel.
Yet, Carlson and others did not attempt to answer the actual question, which is rooted in thousands of years of persecution, murder, and the hatred perpetrated against Jews, in the name of Jesus Christ.
For Christians, a statue of Jesus represents love, sacrifice, and redemption.
But for many Jews, particularly those shaped by generational memory, that same symbol may be associated with forced conversions, the massacres of Jews during the Crusades, the spread of blood libel and deicide accusations, the brutality of the Inquisition, the expulsions of Jews from Christian nations, the pogroms of Eastern Europe, and, arguably, even the Holocaust.
Learning from the Bible how to react
While the Jewish state acted swiftly to rectify the crime and rebuild bridges with Christendom, there is another still unasked question for the followers of Christ: What would Jesus do?
The answer must be found in the Bible, not online, from commentators who speak in His name.
We must use this as a teaching moment for our flocks on how Jew haters throughout the ages warped the teachings of the Bible to sever ties with our Jewish brethren – how they cut the Hebraic roots of our faith and led to the mass murder of Jews in the name of a Jew.
As Paul reminds gentile believers: “You do not support the root, but the root supports you” (Romans 11:18). And again: “The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).
To disconnect Christianity from its Jewish foundation is not only historically inaccurate, but it is also theologically dangerous. When the Church forgets its Hebrew roots, it risks arrogance. As Paul warns: “Do not become proud, but fear” (Romans 11:20). Christian leaders are called to lead with truth and humility, not sow new hatred.
This is a time for repentance – “If we confess our sins…” (1 John 1:9); humility – “Clothe yourselves with humility…” (1 Peter 5:5); truth – “Speak the truth to one another” (Zechariah 8:16); self-examination – “First take the log out of your own eye…” (Matthew 7:5); and peacemaking – “Blessed are the peacemakers…” (Matthew 5:9).
Christian-Jewish relations
It might be time for Christians to close social media and open up their Bibles. Standing with the Jewish people is not merely a political position; it is a theological responsibility grounded in Scripture.
Genesis 12:3 – “I will bless those who bless you…”
Psalm 122:6 – “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
Romans 11 – Affirms God’s enduring covenant with Israel.
For Evangelicals, particularly those influenced by dispensational theology, this includes recognizing Israel’s ongoing role in God’s redemptive plan.
For Catholics, this includes embracing the post-Vatican II commitment to honoring the Jewish people as part of God’s continuing covenantal relationship.
Standing with Israel does not mean uncritical agreement with every policy of a modern state, but it does mean rejecting efforts to delegitimize or demonize the Jewish people.
The desecration of the statue was wrong and a breach of Jewish morality. But if our response begins and ends with condemnation, we miss the deeper calling.
Christian leaders must do more than defend symbols. We must confront history, reclaim biblical truth, and stand firmly against antisemitism in all its forms. The credibility of the Church depends on it.
To honor Christ is to walk in truth. To walk in truth is to reject hatred. And to reject hatred is to stand with the Jewish people – not only in words but in action.
The writer is the founder of Proclaiming Justice to the Nations.