Although the shooting of Jewish people at Bondi Beach occurred over a month ago, the questions it raises have not faded. Acts of targeted violence leave lasting wounds—within individuals, communities, and cities—and the way we respond to them continues to shape our shared life long after the headlines move on. For Christians, reflection after the immediacy has passed is often when deeper, more faithful responses can be formed. This article is written in that spirit.
By way of background, I am of Jewish descent. My mother accepted Jesus as the Messiah, as I have, and we are often described as Messianic Jews. This heritage shapes how I grieve acts of violence against Jewish people in our own city and how I reflect on them as a Christian pastor in this city who is Jewish.
The shooting of Jewish people at Bondi Beach confronts us with intentional evil, resulting in grief, and was designed to bring fear. As Christians, we must be careful not to respond as the world does. We are not called to be swept up in mob emotion or social media frenzy. That kind of unchecked passion so often fuels destruction rather than peace and was clearly central to this tragedy.
Instead, Christians are called to respond in distinctly Christian ways.
1. Pray
Whatever emotions we feel—anger, sadness, fear, or despair—our first response must be prayer. We bring all things before the Lord of all, who cares deeply for everything he has made.
We should pray for:
- the restraint of evil
- protection for those who do good
- healing for those who continue to suffer injury
- grace for those who have experienced loss
- peace, so that quiet lives may be lived and good may flourish over evil.
2. Provide care
Secondly, we must care. We are commanded to love our neighbours as ourselves wherever there is need. We show grace because God has first shown grace to us. In responding to this shooting, we remember in particular that the God of Israel has been gracious to us, adopting us into his family by grace.
How should we respond to Jewish people?
Firstly, it really is hard to convey clearly to the average Australian the deep and tragic sense of ‘not again’ for all who are Jewish and have heard the stories of our family members fleeing to Australia to avoid this kind of persecution. Looking back, the tragedy of the Hanukkah massacre felt for the Jewish community like watching an inevitable disaster unfold. Offering a kind listening ear to hear the frustration and grief of Australian Jewish people is an entirely appropriate starting point for this moment.
Secondly, there are Jewish people in our churches who also are grieving at this time. Some people—even Christians—are surprised that one can be both Jewish and Christian. My response is simple: Jesus was Jewish. So were Paul, Peter, the Twelve, and Mary.
Finally, the apostle Paul was deeply grieved that many of his fellow Jews had not yet recognised Jesus as the Messiah, the fulfilment of all God’s promises to Israel. Yet he prayed earnestly for them and longed for the day when all Israel would be saved. That prayer remains relevant today even here in Sydney (Rom 9:1–5; 10:1–4).
In light of the violence directed at Jewish people at Bondi Beach (and elsewhere), Christians should pray for Jewish communities and show care, compassion, and practical support wherever there is opportunity and need, and as opportunity arises, we can speak of our own hope in the Jewish Messiah.
How should we respond to Muslim people?
Firstly, it must be acknowledged that the overwhelming majority of Muslims live peaceful lives. Many are kind neighbours, colleagues, and friends, and everyday interactions often reflect goodwill and respect. The day after the tragic events at Bondi, I saw my Palestinian chiropractor and I was struck by the concern he showed for me and my family as we had our usual conversations. When he actively chose to wish me a public “Merry Christmas” as I left the waiting room—which was filled with predominantly Muslim people at the time—it meant more to me than he would have imagined in a moment where I was still feeling very aggrieved by the events of the preceding 12 hours.
Secondly, it must also be recognised that Islam cannot simply be described as a religion of peace without qualification. The usual apologetic discussions comparing Islam and Christianity can easily become unproductive when reduced to competing proof texts.
However, two issues must be honestly addressed by anyone who claims Islam is exclusively peaceful:
- We know that there’s significant historical and contemporary evidence of violence carried out in the name of Islam across cultures and nations. And this is commonly glorified and seen as right by Islamist thought and teaching throughout the world, and accepted by many Muslims. The Islamist aggression isn’t seen as ‘radical’ to significant parts of the Islamic world; it has in practice become a core teaching and widespread belief for significant groups. Violence of this kind is a serious threat to the peace of our city, for any who are currently not under submission to its teachings as the attack on Bishop Mari Emmanuel in Western Sydney so clearly demonstrated and other recent events have pointed towards.
- A comparison of the lives of Muhammad and Jesus presents a crystal-clear contrast on the central distinctions between Islam and Christianity. Muhammad advanced his cause through conquest and force; Jesus established his kingdom through self-sacrifice, laying down his life on a cross. I think it is abundantly clear which I would hold to truly be the religion of peace.
There is absolutely no comparison.
Jesus is the Prophet, the Messiah, the Son of God. Yeshua is God’s promise of hope and peace for the whole world—first for the Jew, then for the Gentile (Rom 10:11-15). And as Romans 1:16 teaches us, “gentile” covers all non-Jewish people of the world including our Muslim neighbours. We all need the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In response to the shooting at Bondi Beach, Christians are called to pray for and care for our city—for Jews and Gentiles alike. We do so not with guilt about our past, anxiety about our present or our uncertainty about our future, because whatever the details may entail, we face them with absolute confidence in the Christ, who alone brings true שלום (peace).