In the wake of the evil and indefensible atrocities now committed against the people of Israel by Hamas, we, the undersigned, unequivocally condemn the violence against the vulnerable, fully support Israel’s right and duty to defend itself against further attack, and urgently call all Christians to pray for the salvation and peace of the people of Israel and Palestine.
While our theological perspectives on Israel and the Church may vary, we are unified in calling attacks against Jewish people especially troubling as they have been often targeted by their neighbors since God called them as His people in the days of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3).
Since the inception of the modern state of Israel in 1948, Israel has faced numerous attacks, incursions, and violations of its national sovereignty. The Jewish people have long endured genocidal attempts to eradicate them and to destroy the Jewish state. These antisemitic, deadly ideologies and terrorist actions must be opposed.
Israel stands as a rare example of democracy in a region dominated by authoritarian regimes. The tragic events of October 7th further underscore the importance of democracy in our world and stand as a sober reminder that supporting Israel’s right to exist is both urgent and needed.
In keeping with Christian Just War tradition, we also affirm the legitimacy of Israel’s right to respond against those who have initiated these attacks as Romans 13 grants governments the power to bear the sword against those who commit such evil acts against innocent life.
Furthermore, we recognize the dignity and personhood of all persons living in the Middle East and affirm God’s love for them as well as His offer of salvation through Jesus Christ to all people.
We also recognize the difficult ministry of Jewish and Palestinian believers who labor for the gospel. We pray for their protection and for God’s blessing on their gospel ministry.
Finally, we call on American policymakers to use their power to take all forms of terrorism seriously and call governments and civil authorities to confront evil work to prevent future attacks so that the innocent and vulnerable will be protected.
May God bring peace to the Middle East.
The signatures listed reflect a small portion of the over 2000 signatories who have added their names to the statement.
*Please note that the title and institution listed for each signatory is used for identification purposes only and does not necessarily constitute an official endorsement by the institution.
Brent Leatherwood
President
Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Daniel Darling
Director of Land Center for Cultural Engagement
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Bart Barber
President, Southern Baptist Convention
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Farmersville, TX
Albert Mohler
President
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Richard Land
Executive Editor, The Christian Post
President Emeritus, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Russell Moore
Editor in Chief, Christianity Today
Former President, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Danny Akin
President
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Jason Allen
President
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Jamie Dew
President
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
David Dockery
President
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
O.S. Hawkins
Chancellor
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Jonathan Howe
Interim President
SBC Executive Committee
Ronnie Floyd
Former President
Southern Baptist Convention
Steve Gaines
Pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church; Memphis, TN
Former President, Southern Baptist Convention
Jack Graham
Senior Pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church; Plano, TX
Former President, Southern Baptist Convention
J.D. Greear
Pastor, The Summit Church; Raleigh-Durham, NC
Former President, Southern Baptist Convention
Ed Litton
Pastor, Redemption Church; Mobile, AL
Former President, Southern Baptist Convention
Fred Luter
Pastor, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church; New Orleans, LA
Former President, Southern Baptist Convention
James Merritt
Senior Pastor, Cross Pointe Church; Duluth, GA
Former President, Southern Baptist Convention
Bryant Wright
President, Send Relief
Former President, Southern Baptist Convention
Esther (Fleece) Allen
Senior Director of Communications
Alliance for The Peace of Jerusalem
Brian Autry
Executive Director
Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia
Marshall Blalock
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church of Charleston; Charleston, SC
Hunter Baker
Dean of Arts and Sciences, Professor of Political Science
Union University
Darrell Bock
Executive Director of Cultural Engagement and Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies Dallas Theological Seminary
Victor Chayasirisobhon
Lead Pastor, First Southern Baptist Church of Anaheim
President, California Southern Baptist Convention
Randy Covington
Executive Director
Alaska Baptist Resource Network
Barry Creamer
President
Criswell College
Randy C. Davis
President and Executive Director
Tennessee Baptist Mission Board
Terry Dorsett
Executive Director
Baptist Churches of New England
Barrett Duke
Executive Director
Montana Southern Baptist Convention
Leo Endel
Executive Director
Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention
Erick Erickson
Host
The Erick Erickson Show
Tony Evans
Pastor
Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship; Dallas, TX
Gene Fant
President
North Greenville University
Nathan A. Finn
Executive Director, Institute for Transformational Leadership
North Greenville University
Charles Fowler
President, Carson Newman University
Katie Fruge
Director, The Christian Life Commission and Center for Cultural Engagement
Baptist General Convention of Texas
Mitch Glaser
President
Chosen People Ministries
Todd Gray
Executive Director
Kentucky Baptist Convention
Julio Guarneri
Executive Director-Elect
Baptist General Convention of Texas
Griffin Gulledge
Pastor
Madison Baptist Church; Madison, GA
Dean Inserra
Pastor
City Church; Tallahassee, FL
Randall Jackson
President, Montana Southern Baptist Convention
Pastor, Choteau Baptist Church; Choteau, Montana
Kenneth Keathley
Director of L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Greg Laurie
Senior Pastor
Harvest Christian Fellowship; Riverside, CA
Rob Lee
Executive Director
Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention
Nathan Lorick
Executive Director
Southern Baptists of Texas Convention
Tim Lubinus
Executive Director
Baptist Convention of Iowa
Matt Markins
President and CEO
Awana
Gary Marx
President
The Concord Fund
Katie McCoy
Director of Women’s Ministries
Baptist General Convention of Texas
Fred MacDonald
Executive Director
Dakota Baptist Convention
David Manner
Executive Director
Kansas Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists
Philip Miller
Senior Pastor
The Moody Church
Miles Mullin
Vice President & Chief of Staff
Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
Herbie Newell
President & Executive Director
Lifeline Children’s Services
Robert Nicholson
President and Founder
The Philos Project
Samuel “Dub” Oliver
President
Union University
Ray Ortlund
President
Renewal Ministries
Shawn Parker
Executive Director
Mississippi Baptist Convention Board
Tim Patterson
Executive Director
Baptist State Convention of Michigan
Gregory Perkins
National President, National African American Fellowship, SBC
Lead Pastor, The View Church; Menifee, CA
J. Matthew Pinson
President
Welch College and Divinity School
David Prince
Senior Pastor
Ashland Avenue Baptist Church; Lexington, KY
Mike Proud
Executive Director
Colorado Baptist General Convention
Joel Rainey
Lead Pastor
Covenant Church; Shepherdstown, WV
Eric Ramsey
Executive Director
West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists
Philip Robertson
Senior Pastor, Philadelphia Baptist Church; Pineville, LA
Chairman, SBC Executive Committee
Michael Rydelnik
VP and Academic Dean, Undergraduate School Professor of Jewish Studies and Bible
Moody Bible Institute
Robert Sloan
President
Houston Christian University
Clay Smith
Senior Pastor
Johnson Ferry Baptist Church; Marietta, GA
Kevin Smith
Pastor, Family Church Village
Board Chair, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Robert Smith, Jr.
Charles T. Carter Baptist Chair of Divinity
Beeson Divinity School, Samford University
David Sons
Pastor
Lake Murray Baptist Church; Lexington, SC
John Stonestreet
President
The Colson Center
Ryan Strother
Executive Director
State Convention of Baptists in Indiana
Don Sweeting
Chancellor, Colorado Christian University
Mark Tooley
President
The Institute for Religion and Democracy
David Trimble
Theologian and Policy Advisor
Washington, D.C.
A.B. Vines
Bishop, New Seasons Church; Spring Valley, CA
Former First Vice President, Southern Baptist Convention
Todd Unzicker
Executive Director
Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
Ray Van Neste
Dean, School of Theology & Missions, Professor of Biblical Studies
Union University
Kristen Waggoner
CEO and President
Alliance Defending Freedom
Andrew T. Walker
Director, Carl F.H. Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Jared Wellman
Pastor
Tate Springs Baptist Church; Arlington, TX
Barry Whitworth
Executive Director
Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania-South Jersey
Tony Wolfe
Executive Director
South Carolina Baptist Convention
Malcolm B. Yarnell III
Research Professor of Theology
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
John Mark Yeats
President, Corban University
John Yeats
Executive Director
Missouri Baptist Convention
Eric Zeller
President
Gulf Theological Seminary
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