June 16, 2022

“In Christ” in Crisis: Lessons from Paul

by Elie Haddad The New Testament expression in Christ, which was heavily used by the Apostle Paul, has always intrigued me. It is a curious way of describing our relationship to Christ, or to God in Christ. These days, living in a perpetual crisis in Lebanon, the notion of in […]
June 9, 2022

Yearning for Mercy: A Christian Reaction to the Death of Non-Believers

by Nabil Habibi My colleague, Abed, reflected last week on the death of the Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and the subsequent debate among Muslims about whether it is acceptable to wish mercy on a dead Christian. Building on his own research of the effects of attitude on relationships, Abed […]
June 2, 2022

Abu Akleh and the Religious Other

By Abed Zein El Dien On May 11, Shireen Abu Akleh, a journalist and longtime TV correspondent for Al Jazeera Arabic in Palestine, was shot dead by the Israeli forces while covering army raids in the city of Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank. Her death is a tragedy […]
May 26, 2022

The Lebanese Parliamentary Elections are Over. Now What?

By Wissam Nasrallah This year’s election season in Lebanon wrapped up when citizens went to the polls on May 15, and oh what a mentally and emotionally exhausting spell it was. Besides the visual onslaught of candidates’ faces looking down on us from rows of giant billboards with their cheesy […]
May 19, 2022

Trapped in the Academic-Spirituality Divide?

By Grace Al-Zoughbi In the second and third centuries, Tertullian asked the following rhetorical question: ‘What has Jerusalem to do with Athens, the church with the academy?’ Have you ever felt trapped in the Academic-Spirituality divide? Although these two narratives should not compete with one another, often it appears as […]
May 12, 2022

Should a Faithful Christian Vote in the Lebanese Elections (or Any Other Elections)?

by Nabil Habibi After terrible years that have brought on economic downfall, the Beirut explosion, and increasing national instability, the Lebanese parliamentary elections this Sunday are of massive importance. Will there be a renewal of trust for traditional ruling parties that have led Lebanon into this malaise? Will opposition movements […]
May 5, 2022

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, Let Our National Borders Grow Strangely Dim

By Brent Hamoud It’s voting time again in Lebanon! The upcoming May 15 parliamentary election gives those who have been blasted, devalued, robbed, and neglected a chance to steer the direction of the state. This is a democratic ritual here and other countries; a testimony to the value of republican […]
April 28, 2022

The Talents of Our Youth: The Importance of Youth Empowerment for an Aging Church

by Jad Tabet In a 1981 sermon titled “Choices” where he talks about the importance of choosing to worship God despite our weaknesses, Billy Graham makes the apt observation that “young people today want a challenge”. He says choosing to follow Christ provides a challenge that is engaging to people, […]