Christians have "a responsibility, a debt to the Jewish people," Pastor Allen Jackson of World Outreach Church told Newsmax as his Tennessee congregation marks the second anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
"Without the Jewish people, without the Hebrew Bible, we have no story. We have no prophets. We have no Scripture. We would have no Messiah," Jackson said in an interview airing Sunday on Newsmax's "Wake Up America Weekend." "We have an assignment to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the people of the land."
World Outreach Church is hosting a display of 1,200 flags representing each life lost during the Hamas raid of two years ago, in partnership with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
Jackson noted the event has grown dramatically.
"Last year there were about 100 churches, and this year there's over 1,000," he said. "I think it's necessary because there seems to be rising voices of antisemitism in the culture as well. So I'm grateful we can do this."
Jackson said the church must help people navigate what he described as ongoing spiritual warfare.
"There's spiritual conflict in the Earth and evil exists, and we seem to be continually surprised by that," he said. "What I encourage the people to do is find the good things that they can see happening and acknowledge those and celebrate those.
"But don't ignore the evil. We cannot choose hate. We can't allow that to flourish amongst us. We have to tolerate a discussion about what's happening, and if we can do that, I think we can get to a better place."
Turning to international events, Jackson praised President Donald Trump for trying to broker a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza.
"I think a temporary peace is a reality. I think hatred is deep-seated in the Middle East," Jackson said. "I think President Trump and his determination to see that and putting a deadline in place gives some hope for those 50 hostages that are still being held in tunnels in Gaza and their families.
"I'm grateful for a president who will draw that line, and perhaps today, with the prayers of God's people, we'll see hostages."
Jackson also reflected on the suffering symbolized by the memorial.
"We still have the privilege in America of living pretty isolated," he said. "We can go online and shop our way through our depressions and various ways to avoid what's happening in the world. But for much of the world, they live in a far more fragile place than we do.
"I think our lives would be strengthened if we could just begin with gratitude — thanking God for a day and the freedom to begin the day and the many protections we have."
Jackson said Sunday's services are streamed online at AllenJackson.com for those unable to attend in person.
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