When Words Become Weapons

This week, the world witnessed another act of antisemitism when two young Jewish adults, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were gunned down in Washington, DC, in what can only be described as a premeditated antisemitic terror attack. These two precious lives, both staff members at the Israeli Embassy, were to be engaged in just a few days in Jerusalem. They were also followers of Messiah Yeshua. Their deaths should grieve every believer.

The shooter, Elias Rodriguez, shouted, “Free, Free Palestine! I did it for Gaza!” as he was arrested. But unlike previous high-profile incidents, this was not the work of a radical Islamist. Rodriguez is a young, radicalized leftist aligned with communist and anti-Israel revolutionary groups. He waited for police to arrive so he could spew his hate-filled propaganda to the cameras. This wasn’t just violence—it was a message.

This is what happens when slogans like “Globalize the Intifada” and “From the river to the sea” are tolerated or, even worse, promoted. Words have become weapons, and they are drawing blood.

As my friend, Olivier Melnick, who is an antisemitism expert and founder of Shalom in Messiah Ministries, wrote this week: “This is pure antisemitic evil… but this time it’s different. This is not another radical Islam crime. This is the result of the normalization of antisemitism over the last few years.”

The fact that Yaron and Sarah were Messianic Jews didn't exempt them from this targeted act of hate. In the eyes of their killer, a Jew is a Jew. 

October 7, 2023, was a defining moment in modern Jewish history, just like the Holocaust before it. Since that day, the world has shifted. Antisemitism is increasing, and too many pulpits are silent. This is not political but spiritual warfare; the church must fight this trend. When I say ‘fight’, I’m not talking about weapons or physical violence. Our fight is to stand boldly, publicly, and unapologetically with our words and our actions to show support for Israel and love to her people. Because if we, as followers of the Jewish Messiah, won’t stand with His people, who will? As John wrote, “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

So What Can We Do?

• Pray for the Jewish people, especially Messianic Jews, who are often targeted from all sides.

• Speak out against antisemitism, no matter what form it takes—right wing, left wing, religious, or political.

• Show up. As Olivier suggests, pastors should contact local rabbis, offer support, and even offer church security teams to protect local synagogues on Shabbat. It’s time to move from sentiment to action.

• Teach your children. Educate your family on Israel's roots in Scripture and God’s eternal covenant with His people.

• Talk to your Jewish neighbor, get to know them, let them know they have a friend in you, and they are not alone.

  
  

Yaron and Sarah were not just victims. They were witnesses to the truth of Yeshua, the reality of hatred, and the need for courage in this hour from the Jewish community, but just as important, we need courage from the Church.

I pray their memory be a blessing and may the Church be awakened. We’ll talk more this Sunday about how we can stand boldly in truth, love, and action in these last days.

-Pastor Brad