The Battle Over Israel Is Not Just Military Or Political; It Is Spiritual

For 3,500 years, a cultural war has raged between those who uphold Judeo-Christian values and those who seek to undermine them. Today, that war is more evident than ever. On one side stand the values given to humanity at Mount Sinai--freedom, individual rights, the sanctity of private property and a God-centered morality that rejects tyranny. 

On the other side are the forces of oppression--communism, marxism, Islamism, socialism, wokeism and other "isms" that seek to eradicate faith and submission to a higher power in favor of centralized control.

The reason these disparate ideologies--some of which are seemingly in direct opposition to each other--can work together is because they recognize a common enemy: Judeo-Christian values. That is why you see radical Islamists aligning with woke activists, why Communist China funds radical leftist movements in the West and why Iran collaborates with Marxist revolutionaries. 

They are all fighting against the worldview that Israel represents--God-given morality, freedom and national identity. There is a reason why Israel is called "the Little Satan" and America "the Great Satan."

This battle is not just military or political; it is spiritual. It is cultural. And in such a war, only faith-based diplomacy can win.

When Moses received the Torah on Mount Sinai, it was a revolution. For the first time in history, society was built on the principle that all human beings are equal before God. The Torah rejected the idea that rulers were inherently superior to their subjects. It enshrined laws that protected private property, personal freedoms and the right to justice.

Unlike the surrounding pagan nations where kings and emperors ruled by divine right and the masses had no voice, the Torah introduced a legal system based on debate and discourse. The Jewish people thrived under this system, living in relative freedom while other nations languished under dictatorship.

It was only natural that the surrounding powers sought to destroy this "disruptive" worldview. The enemies of Israel throughout history--from Pharaoh to the Romans to modern-day globalists--have always seen the Jewish people as a threat because they embody a system that undermines their ability to control.

Judeo-Christian values were so revolutionary that they laid the foundation for Western civilization. The U.S. Constitution, the British legal system and European Enlightenment were all built upon the moral and legal principles found in the Bible. These societies flourished, creating the freest, most prosperous nations in history.

But those very principles are under attack.

Today, we are witnessing an aggressive coalition of forces that seek to dismantle Judeo-Christian civilization. At first glance, these groups appear to have nothing in common:

- Radical Islamists want to impose religious totalitarianism.

- Communists and Marxists want to eliminate religion entirely.

- Woke activists claim to stand for social justice while undermining traditional values.

- Globalists work to dissolve national identities.

Yet they all unite in their hatred of Israel and America, and the values they represent.

This is why radical feminists march alongside Islamists who demand the subjugation of women and why Western progressives side with regimes that criminalize homosexuality. Their unity is not based on shared principles but on a shared opposition to the Judeo-Christian worldview.

Israel, as the Jewish state, is at the frontlines of this war. And if the Jewish people fail to engage in faith-based diplomacy, they will cede the battlefield.

A prime example of how faith-based diplomacy can create real change occurred last year in South Africa.

For years, the South African government--led by the African Nation Congress--had been shifting its allegiance toward radical forces aligned with Iran and China. South Africa became a political proxy for Tehran, leading the charge at the International Court of Justice against Israel and accusing it of genocide. The ANC government issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials, and diplomatic ties were completely severed.

Two weeks before South Africa's national elections, South African Friends of Israel brought a delegation of church leaders from the Shembe Baptist Church to Israel. They came, representing more than 8 million members. At an event produced by the Heartland Initiative, their leader stood up at the Friends of Zion Museum and speaking directly to his followers in South Africa, said: "The ANC government has weaponized the international courts against Israel on behalf of the Iranian regime. But in doing so, they are not just opposing Israel--they are opposing the Bible, they are opposing God. If you vote for the ANC, you are voting against God."

That statement was broadcast across South Africa, and for the first time in more than 30 years, the ANC lost its parliamentary majority.

Faith-based diplomacy had struck at the very heart of an anti-Israel political movement--not with weapons or economic deals, but with faith and truth. The shift forced the ANC to seek coalition partners, ultimately aligning with the more pro-Israel Democratic Alliance rather than the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters. While South Africa remains hostile toward Israel, cracks are forming. Faith-based diplomacy proved that if the right voices are empowered and if the truth is given a platform, the balance of power can shift.

Many have tried traditional diplomatic approaches to shift the tide of anti-Israel sentiment in the world--economic agreements, political lobbying and military deterrence. While these are essential tools, they do not address the root cause of the conflict as this war is not about land or borders. It is about faith and ideology.

Israel's enemies understand this. That is why they pour billions into propaganda and into infiltrating media, academia and even religious institutions. Their goal is to sever people from their Judeo-Christian roots, weaken their moral compass and make them susceptible to ideological subjugation.

Faith-based diplomacy directly counters this strategy, as it:

Speaks to people's deepest convictions. Economic arguments can be debated. Political alliances can shift. But faith is unshakable. When people see Israel not as a foreign entity but as the embodiment of biblical values, their support becomes unwavering.

Builds alliances across nations. The battle for Israel is not just fought in Israel. It is fought in churches in Africa, in communities in South America, and by conservative movements in Europe and the United States. Mobilizing these faith communities creates an international network of support.

Disrupts the enemy's strategy. The forces of communism, Islamism and wokeism thrive by sowing division, by making people feel isolated. Faith-based diplomacy unites people under a shared spiritual and moral vision, making it harder for the enemy to divide and conquer.

The South Africa case is just one example. Similar approaches must be applied elsewhere, such as in the United States, where the radical left is trying to sever the nation from its Judeo-Christian roots, or in Latin America, where socialist regimes are increasing their hostility toward Israel. It must be applied in Europe as secularist movements there have eroded traditional values, leaving populations vulnerable to radical ideologies, and in Africa where faith-based communities represent the strongest pro-Israel voices.

The enemies of Judeo-Christian civilization--whether Communists, Islamists, Marxists or globalists--will never stop their attack. That is why we must never stop fighting back. This battle is about winning the soul of civilization. Without it, the forces of darkness will continue to gain ground.

Israel must remain a light unto the nations, not just in technology and military strength, but in faith and moral leadership. Because if Israel and its allies fail in this mission, the world will not just lose a country--it will lose its very foundation of truth and freedom.

Originally published at JNS.org