By Mark Dreistadt, Founder & CEO of Infinity Concepts, LLC
Reprinted with permission from Captivate Magazine, a publication of Infinity Concepts
It was just another Sunday morning. The worship team closed their final chorus, the announcements scrolled across the screen, and the pastor opened his Bible to deliver a thoughtful, heartfelt message.
Yet something—though not obviously absent—was missing. Not just from this worship service but from countless services like it around the country. What was missing?
Israel. Not a prayer for Jerusalem. Not a reference to the Jewish people. Not a word about the land that frames so much of the biblical story.
This silence is not simply anecdotal. According to a recent study conducted by Infinity Concepts and Grey Matter Research, evangelical churches across the United States now speak less about Israel and the Jewish people than in the past. As a result, we have a generation of believers that is less informed, less engaged, and increasingly uncertain about Israel’s place in God’s redemptive plan.
The study surveyed over 1000 evangelical Protestants and uncovered an emerging fault line between older and younger believers. While 49 percent of evangelicals overall still believe the Jewish people are God’s chosen people, only 29 percent under age 35 share that conviction. Twenty-six percent of younger evangelicals even subscribe to “replacement theology” (the belief that Christians have replaced Jews as God’s chosen), and a growing number say they simply do not know what to believe.
These numbers should concern us, not just theologically but also culturally.
When younger evangelicals disconnect from the biblical narrative of Israel, it reflects a broader erosion of scriptural authority and historical context within Christian thought. This is not merely an issue of doctrinal precision; it signals a cultural drift that could reshape the way future generations understand covenant, prophecy, and the unfolding plan of redemption.
For decades, evangelical support for Israel has been a visible expression of biblical conviction. That support was not built on political alliances or news headlines. It was built on Scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, the story of Israel is not a sidenote; it is a thread woven through the whole narrative of redemption. And when that thread is lost, so, too, is a key piece of our understanding of God’s covenantal faithfulness.
The data also confirms something many of us have sensed: what leaders say—or do not say—from the pulpit and in public communication has a direct influence on what people believe.
Seventy-one percent of evangelicals who frequently hear their church leaders describe the Jewish people as God’s chosen will agree with that belief. Among those who never hear it, that number drops to just 12 percent. Similarly, when Christian leaders regularly pray for the peace of Jerusalem, believers are far more likely to see that act as vital to their faith.
This is a sobering reminder: silence is not neutral. It shapes theology as surely as a sermon does.
Spiritual support for the people of Israel
The study also revealed hopeful clarity about evangelical priorities. While political support for Israel is seen as important by roughly 60 percent of respondents, even more prioritize spiritual dimensions: 85 percent say praying for the peace of Jerusalem is important to their faith; 74 percent spiritually support the Jewish people; and 73 percent feel a responsibility to oppose antisemitism.
In our survey, the top three concerns among evangelicals are deeply biblical: what Scripture teaches about Israel (65 percent), Israel’s role in prophecy (55 percent), and the Jewish roots of Christianity (44 percent).
By contrast, political concerns rank lower: U.S.–Israel relations (41 percent), antisemitism (32 percent), media portrayals of Israel (31 percent), and how Israelis view American Christians (30 percent). The contrast is stark.
For evangelicals, the question of Israel is not about politics—it’s about God’s promises, prophetic fulfillment, and theological continuity.
This is good news. Evangelical support for Israel has not faded; it simply seeks deeper roots. The moment demands that Christian leaders rise to meet that hunger with clear, consistent teaching. As Paul wrote in Romans 11:1 , “Has God rejected His people? By no means!” (NIV).
If our churches do not echo that assurance, we risk that the next generation might answer the question differently.
Emphasize the divine covenant
It is time for a renewed commitment to biblical teaching that includes Israel. Not as a political talking point but as a theological necessity. Not alignment with earthly nations but acknowledgment of a divine covenant that has never been revoked.
Deuteronomy 7:6 reminds us, “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.” (Berean Standard Bible).
Churches and ministries do not need to become geopolitical think tanks. But we must not neglect what Scripture makes clear. If Israel’s place in redemptive history matters to God, it must matter to us. We must not only rightly divide the Word of truth but also help our people make sense of current events through the lens of Scripture.
We need to recognize the cultural shifts happening around us. Just as evangelical views on sexuality, marriage, and morality have shifted over time, so, too, could the Church’s understanding of Israel—unless we intentionally guard and guide it. The data from this study shows that younger evangelicals are far less likely to engage with any of the major issues relating to Israel and the Jewish people. If we fail to teach it now, we will lose them later.
Wake up and speak up
This research commissioned by Infinity Concepts is not just a report. It is a wake-up call.
To pastors, communicators, broadcasters, educators, and nonprofit leaders: we have a responsibility not only to preserve biblical truth but also to proclaim it clearly in every context God has given us. Whether from a pulpit, a podcast, a magazine, a broadcast, or a social feed, we must reengage the conversation around Israel with boldness and humility.
Share the full story. Incorporate Israel into your sermons, small groups, and communications. Pray regularly and publicly for the peace of Jerusalem. Equip your teams and your congregations with sound theology and historical context. Partner with organizations that minister to the land and people of Israel.
And most of all, reclaim this subject not as a controversy but as a calling. Israel still matters. And what we say about it matters too.
The silence must be broken. Because the next generation is listening—and the story they hear depends on us.
The research reports referenced in this article can be found at infinityconcepts.com/research .