Last month, the Israeli Knesset, their equivalent of Congress, considered a bill that would make religious evangelism punishable by up to two years in prison. The bill didn’t mention Christianity directly, but the Orthodox Jews who put forward the bill admit the goal is to stifle Christian ministry in the Holy Land.  

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will block the bill, and other world leaders pointed out it would violate the Universal Charter of Human Rights, which guarantees religious freedom. In Israel, Christian evangelism is often seen as a threat to strong national identity and political stability. 

That can sound strange to the evangelical Christians in America who are among the most enthusiastic supporters of Israel’s political right to exist as a nation. But we should also be enthusiastic, in prayer and in action, for Jewish people to know their Messiah.  

As Paul told the Romans, God desires all Israel to be saved. We should too.