Small mercies in Lebanon war

Lebanese Christians have expressed their distress at the reaction to their plight in the West.

Riad Kassis, who is supported by John Stott’s Langham Partnership in West Bekaa, says he was ‘completely shocked, greatly saddened, and disappointed’ when the US veto led the UN Security Council to take no stand. “I am encouraged by the ability of the worldwide Christian church to speak about peace… but disappointed with its ineffectiveness to work for a real and just peace,” he said.

Martin Accad from Beirut’s Baptist Seminary told Christianity Today that many evangelical ‘messianic’ Christians have ‘lost their ethical balance’ because Israel is involved.

Meanwhile, Sydneyanglicans.net blogger Julian Price reports on the situation of his friends witnessing in Beirut. The couple, who cannot be named for security reasons, see the war as an opportunity to serve. The bombardment which has forced thousands to flee their homes has delivered rare opportunities to witness.

“Many of the refugees are now in different schools, often Christian schools,” the husband says. “We’ve gone to a school, doing crafts with the kids, singing, listening to the hurts.”

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