WAITING ON BEIRUT

This morning I am supposed to be in Beirut, but this has all changed since conflict broke out, leading to the closure of the international airport. It’s a strange feeling. My schedule says I am in the Middle East, but I am still in the Northwest, still waiting to depart.

 

I had no idea what I was getting into when I first flew to Lebanon in 1995. My first impression from the air was a city deeply wounded. You could see it in the existing structures. The wounds are not so apparent in some parts now, but underneath some of the beautiful new architecture is a lot of deep hurt. I try to read the thoughts of men like Robert Fisk, read Time blogs, and opinions from columnists in places like Damascus, but who can understand this region? If you think about it, Lebanon is as complex as any place on earth. Carved out by France after WWI, using artificial lines, there are at least seventeen recognized identities, which help to explain a lot of the mess. Each has an official role in government thanks to a creative quota system. As Robin Wright notes in her new book, Dreams and Shadows (a great book on the Middle East), the formula for inclusion has ended up making Lebanon a battlefield. It doesn’t help that Lebanon has also inherited a huge, displaced Palestinian population, and sits on the border of Syria and Israel.

 

What has complicated things in the past week is the attempt by one of these identities, the Hezbollah, with its links to Syria and Iran, to flex its muscle in the Sunni neighborhoods of West Beirut, rendering the present government (what’s left of it) impotent. The fighting has spread outward, involving the Druze. Analysts see this Shia-Sunni-Druze conflict in Lebanon as part of a larger conflict between Iran/Syria on one side and the US/Israel on the other. And it may be. Thomas Friedman, in today’s NY Times, refers to all of this as “the new cold war”.

 

So why even have an interest in all of this? Why do I continue to go to Lebanon, and why am I committed to being part of a Near Eastern partnership, determined to bring Christian leaders and ministries together? In large part it is because many of us are convinced that an even greater conflict is going on, one that you will not read about in the New York Times or Lebanon Daily Star. It is a clash between two kingdoms. One kingdom is of that of this world—the other kingdom is of another realm. One kingdom is interested in posturing, intimidating, controlling, and ultimately destroying. The other kingdom is about bringing peace and forgiveness and reconciliation—and HOPE. One is essentially alienated towards Jesus. The other is committed to bringing honor to His name.

 

If Lebanon is the gateway to the Middle East, and if the ME is the most strategic region on earth, than it makes a lot of sense to pray and engage. And if the cause of Christ is to gain any traction in this region, it will come only as dwindling believers in the region are willing to set aside some of their own egos, their own posturing, their own rigidities and turf issues and join arms to work together—to be missional and advance the only kingdom that matters, the kingdom of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It will also come as we continue to pray and hold up the church.

Comments

[tony jeffery]

the Damascus airport is open. Unfortunately, the Hariri Future Movement has closed the Masna crossing.
A good hiker could come over Mt Hermon.
The latest Cryout shows evangelism's
advance without prerequisite unity of the church. It also shows 'followers
of Jesus' instructed to deny the 'Christian' label. Here we see the
result of disunity; more disunity.
I found another example of a refused
offering. After the publication of the
"Letter from Birmingham Jail', Andy Young's offering was refused at First Baptist. 70 members also walked out when
he walked in. I'm feeling better.

[Randy Ehle]

John, thanks for sharing your passion for this region. I have a friend there that I'd love to connect you with if/when you next get over to Beirut.