Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel, Christian support for Israel has declined, particularly among younger Americans. A July Pew poll showed that only 32% of Americans under 30 view Israeli people favorably, while white evangelicals - traditionally Israel's strongest Christian backers - experienced a 10-point drop in support to 74%.
Some prominent anti-Israel voices on the right have begun framing their positions in Christian terms, prompting pro-Israel advocates to consider how to engage younger Christians on the issue.
While this generational shift warrants concern, it can be addressed through faith-based approaches. Theology should shape worldview rather than the reverse, according to leaders working to build support among young Christians.
Passages Israel, an organization bringing young Christian leaders to experience Israel firsthand, has conducted surveys over six months tracking how visits affect participants' perspectives. The trips showed measurable shifts: participants were 14% more motivated to speak against antisemitism, 15% more supportive of the U.S.-Israel partnership, and 17% more likely to view Israelis positively.
Significantly, the visits transformed participants' support from pragmatic to theological grounds, making the abstract land concrete and faith-rooted.
Analysis of the trip's impact identified three factors. Personal relationships with Israelis proved particularly influential - those who built friendships with Jewish people and developed local familiarity with Jerusalem were most likely to oppose antisemitism after returning home. Second, support strengthened when grounded in faith rather than strategic interest alone; participants shifted from viewing Israel primarily as a strong ally to seeing it as representative of Christian values. Third, opposition to antisemitism and political support for Israel proved closely linked, with appreciation for U.S.-Israel strategic interests correlating with commitment to combating domestic antisemitism.
Direct experience allows young Christians to move beyond abstract arguments and develop enduring convictions based on personal discovery rather than being told what to believe.