Joel Rosenberg isn’t sugarcoating the spiritual crisis brewing within evangelical circles.
In a recent episode of The Rosenberg Report, he expressed deep concern over a growing trend: young evangelicals turning against Israel.
“We all agree that it is absolutely sickening that secular young people, unchurched young people, are turning against Israel and against the Jewish people,” Rosenberg said. “But why are kids raised in Christian homes and in Christian churches—why are they being swayed by these lies?”
Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!
Rosenberg laid out what he calls seven reasons for this shift, warning, “These are not reasons that are going to be easy for some of us to hear.” Below are the first two, with the remaining five to be addressed in future episodes.
1. Parents and Grandparents Aren’t Teaching the Truth
Rosenberg points first to the breakdown of biblical education at home.
“The first and most important reason that evangelical young people are turning against Israel is because their parents and grandparents are not carefully, consistently, and intentionally passing on what they know and what they believe from the Bible about God’s love for Israel and the Jewish people.”
He quoted Romans 10:14-15, applying it beyond the gospel message: “How can anyone believe in solid biblical theological truths if they haven’t been taught those truths?”
Referencing Jeremiah 31, Rosenberg reminded listeners, “The Lord appeared to him to Israel from afar, saying ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore, I have drawn you with loving kindness.’” He stressed that many children simply aren’t hearing these passages at home.
2. Churches Aren’t Teaching It Either
The second reason hits even closer to the pulpit.
“The second most important reason that young evangelicals are turning against Israel: well, it’s because they’re not getting solid biblical teaching about Israel and the Jewish people at church,” Rosenberg said.
He noted that while some pastors teach through Scripture faithfully, “many pastors prefer to teach a series of hot topics rather than teaching through a book of the Bible.” This, he warned, makes it easy to skip foundational truths such as the Abrahamic covenant and the prophetic history of Israel.
Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!
Even when solid teaching happens in the main service, Rosenberg said the youth often miss it entirely: “Most kids aren’t sitting in the main service… they’re getting a very different, a totally different diet of teaching.”
Rosenberg concluded the segment with a challenge: “Don’t completely outsource what your kids and grandkids are learning about the Bible to your church. The church is a very important place… but your home is the most important place for them to learn.”
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
