What happened
Pastor Jim Scudder, Jr. of Quentin Road Baptist Church in Lake Zurich, Illinois, has explained why his church is publicly supporting Israel and the Jewish people. According to Scudder, the reason for this support is because Jesus and the Bible have Jewish origins. The church has decided to participate in the Flags of Fellowship initiative, a project of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, to honor the innocent lives lost in the 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.
The Flags of Fellowship initiative involves displaying thousands of flags on church lawns to show solidarity with Israel and the Jewish people. This movement has spread to over 3,000 churches across America and the world. Scudder believes that supporting Israel is a way to follow God's promise to bless those who bless the Jewish people, as stated in Genesis 12:3.
Scudder's church has been working to develop friendships with the local Jewish community, which has led to emotionally enriching experiences. Recently, Scudder and his wife attended the dedication ceremony of a food pantry called Hersh's Fridge, named in honor of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli American who was killed in captivity. The ceremony reminded Scudder of the evil of antisemitism and the importance of showing compassion to the Jewish people.
Scudder encourages Christians to be bold and public in their support for Israel and the Jewish people, citing God's promise to bless those who do so. He suggests having special church services to honor the heritage rooted in Israel and displaying flags to show affinity with God's chosen people.
