October 7, 2020

Is Following Jesus a “Politic?”

by Mike Kuhn Is following Jesus a “politic?” That question is perhaps the latest step in a life-long progression. Early in life I was taught that Jesus saved me from my sin so I could go to heaven when I die. Later came the realization that being a “Christian” meant […]
October 1, 2020

Are we Closer to a Peaceful Middle East? Politics, Abraham, and the Good Samaritan

By Nabil Habibi The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain recently signed a peace deal with Israel. The deal is of great importance economically and politically. In more than one sense, this might be the first actual peace, “warm peace” (a peace which goes beyond the political level to an actual […]
June 18, 2020

From George Floyd to Iyad al-Hallaq: Can the American Church Also Engage with the Palestinian?

By Wissam Al-Saliby Amid the protests to the killing of George Floyd, many Evangelical pastors and leaders are speaking up and supporting racial justice, reconciliation, and public institution reform in the United States through Sunday sermons, peaceful protests, and social media. I would like to challenge these pastors and leaders […]
May 21, 2020

Our Gods Are Burning

By Robert Hamd All of us are affected. From the beginning of the popular protest, to the current collapse of the Lira, all of us are affected. What sets this time apart from the bloody era of the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1991) is that now we can’t stand behind our […]
March 12, 2020

Church as a Pioneering Community

by Elie Haddad Many of us continue to write about the recent uprising in Lebanon exploring how the people of God can respond to a crisis such as this. We continue to wrestle with the big question: What is the role of the Church in society? Our June consultation will […]
February 13, 2020

“History Doesn’t Repeat Itself, but it Rhymes” – how Christians can make history right here and right now.

by Robert Hamd We are living through historic times. If you are reading this, whether you live in Beirut, Bangkok, or Baltimore, you are well aware we are all witnessing massive shifts in culture, economy, environment, and political conditions. For us Lebanese, not a day passes that doesn’t reminds us […]
January 30, 2020

Stuck in the Swamp: Contemplating Evangelical Enmeshment in Politics

by Mike Kuhn “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” (Matthew 7:6). One interpretation of these strange words by Jesus understands “pigs” and “dogs” to vaguely reference Gentile (i.e. Roman) political authority. In the […]
January 16, 2020

The Assassination of Qassem Suleimani Reopens the Festering Wounds of Victimhood in a Region in Need of Deep Healing

by Martin Accad The targeted assassination of Qassem Suleimani and of Abou Mahdi al-Muhandis at Baghdad Airport, authorized by President Donald Trump in the early morning of the January 3rd , officially baptized the new year of 2020 with blood. The elimination of the Major General of the Quds Force […]