Should We Abandon the Term “Judeo-Christian”?

The term “Judeo-Christian” has been used as shorthand for shared values, moral foundations, and a common heritage between Christians and Jews. But have you ever paused to ask: What does it really mean? Where did it come from? Is it a helpful term—or does it obscure more than it clarifies?

This question isn’t just academic. It’s theological, historical, and deeply practical. So let’s roll up our sleeves and dig into it.

When most people hear “Judeo-Christian,” they think it refers to shared beliefs or values stemming from the Old Testament. On the surface, it seems like an innocent enough term, one that suggests unity. But here’s the issue: That unity isn’t real.

To understand why, we need to distinguish between Biblical Judaism, Rabbinic Judaism, and Talmudic Judaism.

Here’s the key: Biblical Judaism is fulfilled in Christ and therefore is Christianity. Rabbinic and Talmudic Judaism, on the other hand, are religions of rejection. They reject Jesus as the Messiah, and in doing so, they reject the Father who sent Him (John 5:23).

When you say “Judeo-Christian,” what are you really referring to? If you mean the shared moral law of the Old Testament—like the Ten Commandments—then you’re referencing Biblical Judaism. But Biblical Judaism culminates in Christ. It’s not some separate entity running parallel to Christianity.

The reality is that Rabbinic and Talmudic Judaism, which dominate Jewish thought today, are fundamentally at odds with Christianity. Jesus Himself said it plainly: “If God were your Father, you would love Me” (John 8:42). He even declared, “You are of your father, the devil” (John 8:44). Strong words, but true words.

The term “Judeo-Christian” often conflates these distinctions. It lumps together Christianity with post-Christ Judaism, muddying the theological waters and confusing people about what Christianity actually is.

History further illustrates the problem. Throughout the centuries, Christianity and post-Christ Judaism have been anything but unified. There have been times of cooperation—what we might call co-belligerence—against common enemies, such as during the spread of Islam. But theological harmony? Never.

The early church fathers, like Justin Martyr and Augustine, viewed Christianity as the true Israel and Judaism as a religion under judgment for rejecting the Messiah. This view carried through the medieval period, the Reformation, and beyond. The term “Judeo-Christian,” however, didn’t even exist until the 20th century. It gained popularity in the aftermath of World War I and II as an attempt to combat anti-Semitism and highlight shared cultural values.

While the intention might have been good, the term itself is misleading. It suggests a spiritual unity that doesn’t exist

Does this mean Christians should hate Jews? Absolutely not. The gospel is for the Jew first (Romans 1:16), and sharing Christ with Jewish people is the ultimate act of love. But we need to be clear: There’s no salvation apart from Jesus. To reject the Son is to reject the Father (1 John 2:23).

Using the term “Judeo-Christian” uncritically can blur this truth. It can give the impression that Jews and Christians worship the same God in the same way. They don’t. Christianity fulfills the promises of Biblical Judaism; modern Judaism denies them.

It’s worth noting that the rejection of Christ leads to moral and spiritual decay (Romans 1:18-32). This applies to individuals and societies. Many of the cultural conflicts we see today—whether it’s the dominance of secularism, the pervasiveness of pornography, or the promotion of immorality—are rooted in the rejection of God’s authority.

Some have noticed that many leaders in these cultural cesspools are of Jewish descent. Why is that? Romans 1 offers a clue. When people reject God, He gives them over to a debased mind. And when a people group has generationally rejected Christ, it’s no surprise to find them entrenched in godlessness.

This isn’t about biological determinism or anti-Semitism. It’s about spiritual realities. Without Christ, any person or group—Jewish, Gentile, or otherwise—falls into darkness.

So, should we abandon the term “Judeo-Christian”? Yes, or at the very least, we should use it with great caution. It’s a term that confuses more than it clarifies, obscuring the vital distinctions between Biblical Christianity and post-Christ Judaism.

Let’s embrace clarity. Let’s proclaim Christ as the fulfillment of Biblical Judaism and the only hope for all people, Jew and Gentile alike.

And while we can work with others on shared moral concerns, let’s never lose sight of this: Without Jesus, there is no salvation, no unity, and no true Judeo-Christian anything.