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The Rev. Dr. Ghassan Khalaf, chancellor of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut, said:

For more than 45 years, I have been observing the Middle Eastern conflict that takes place among adherents of three religions. I did not find a well-developed doctrine of reconciliation except in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I do believe that the only viable solution to the Middle East conflict is for us Christians to be ambassadors of reconciliation. This is the only hope for our troubled region.

A genuine reconciliation is one that recognizes the differences among the parties involved but insists that such parties are able to live together in harmony and peace. A genuine reconciliation is based on viable dialogue. Arab Evangelical Christians need to keep focused on bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to all, but at the same time, they should be working to reconcile their families, societies, communities, and countries. This is not an easy task.

Nowadays, the Lebanese people, divided, announce their politics with colors. Orange, green, yellow, and pistachio identify the opposition camp while blue, dark green, red, and white identify the loyalists' camp. Neighbors in one building display signs and flags showing various political opinions. Colors are displayed on flags, billboards, T-shirts, stickers, even caps of bottled water.

On my way to Beirut yesterday, I saw a new color on billboards and signs. It was white. The billboards with a pure white background carried writings such as: "We are fed up with colors!" "No more divisions: We all together make up Lebanon." "We're the Middle Way."

As I passed these billboards, I thought about Lebanese evangelicals, including myself. Where do we stand in the recent conflict? Are we taking a one-sided stand? As a Lebanese evangelical, I believe that I cannot stand wholeheartedly in either camp. I would like to seek another way, a middle way that is authentically Christian, based on biblical principles of respect, care for others, human rights, and social justice. Is our voice being heard clearly in Lebanon? Do we address actively, wisely, and intelligently the issues that face our Lebanese society? Do we dare to dream of a new Lebanon for our children and us? A new Lebanon where democracy is a model for other Middle Eastern countries, a Lebanon where Christians and Muslims are able to coexist in harmony, a Lebanon from which the light of the gospel shines throughout the Middle East, a Lebanon that is free of corruption and injustice, a Lebanon that interacts with the West and the East without being controlled by either?

Rabbinic tradition tells this story of how the rainbow was created: There was a fight between the sun and the clouds (waters). Each tried to assert its importance over the other and to show its might and power. After much discussion and disagreement, God spoke. He decided to bring the sun and the clouds together and formed the rainbow.

It is my hope that Lebanese people will come together in a real spirit of reconciliation to form a rainbow. It is my prayer that American and Lebanese sisters and brothers would come together in real partnership to bring God's peace, promise, and reconciliation to this suffering region. May the colors of disunity in Lebanon become the united colors of love and peace.

Riad A. Kassis is Overseas Council International's regional director for Middle East and Eurasia. He is based in Zahle, Lebanon.

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February (Web-only) 2007, Vol. 51