It can be easy to become disillusioned by stories of war, conflict and persecution around the world. But there are glimmers of hope across the Middle East, says Martin Thomas, and we can all learn lessons from the resilience of Christians living there
Displaced Palestinians return to their homes in Gaza Strip, after Israel and Hamas agreed a ceasefire in Jan 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
As one of the presenters of SAT-7, I have the privilege of hearing first-hand accounts of the daily challenges faced by Christians in countries across the Middle East, from Morocco to Tajikistan. I’ll be honest, reflecting on the ongoing conflicts and hardships faced by many around the world in 2024 has not been easy, so perhaps I could be forgiven for starting the New Year feeling a little resigned.
But there is already some cause for cautious hope: a new ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, with Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages being freed as part of the deal; a holding ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that has seen thousands return to their homes; and a new Syrian leadership which promises to respect the rights of minorities.
Our strong faith is in Jesus Christ…is what keeps people in my village strong
Yet many in the region begin 2025 amid war and uncertainty. Continuing conflict in Sudan has led to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises; the fall of the Assad regime has left many with unanswered questions and an ongoing search for justice; and the ability for Christians across the region to openly and safely practice their faith is increasingly curtailed.
Living in peace
As I write these words, I’m reminded of the stories of faith that I’ve heard over the past 12 months. If I listen to their voices – not just the news headlines – it’s clear that the resilience of these communities of faith offer valuable lessons for us, not just at the start, but all throughout the year.
A passage that’s fast becoming my set text for 2025 is Romans 12:9-21. In just over ten verses we read words such as evil, affliction, persecute, curse, mourn, revenge, wrath, and enemy. Yet it ends with the exhortation: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Perhaps this reminds you of the corny “Give Peas a Chance” greetings cards, a sermon about resolving the battle between your spouse and the duvet, or a work colleague and a shared hot desk. If you’re seeing a pattern here, that’s because the source of conflict (or the lack of peace) so often centres around a boundary that’s been crossed. And you don’t need to be an expert in Middle Eastern current affairs to know that a lack of peace across the region has often been about disagreements over land.
Love without borders
This came into sharp focus for me towards the end of 2024, as we heard on a weekly, sometimes daily basis, how the conflict in the Holy Land was impacting the Church across the region.
Nisreen, a mother of three from the southern border of Lebanon, shared the heartbreaking reality of how her children, once terrified by the sound of explosions, now accept it as a part of their daily reality. But even while Nisreen feared for her children’s safety and future, her belief in God brought peace: “Our strong faith is in Jesus Christ…is what keeps people in my village strong…To find resurrection, we must walk on the path of Calvary. That’s why we say we are children of hope and the resurrection.”
Maroun Bou Rached, SAT-7’s executive director in Lebanon, shared how the recent conflict brought back trauma from his childhood. When he was just eight years old, in 1982, Beirut was also bombed: “My father had us under the table to shield us from the bombing. I consider myself a strong man, but when I saw and heard this new conflict in our land, I couldn’t hold back my tears. The feelings from 42 years ago came rushing back. I realised that the trauma from back then hasn’t healed.
The resilience of these communities of faith offer valuable lessons for us
“Today, we are in the same situation. Children and families are being killed across the country. Many people are living in fear and struggling to survive. This will continue to affect Lebanese people for years to come. We have been praying about how we should react as Christians and reflecting on Jesus’ command that we should love our enemies. God is challenging us to walk the extra mile, to help people and pray for them.”
Maroun’s words challenge me. In the context of last year’s bombing and amid the current, fragile ceasefire, he and his team are grappling in real time with the radical words and call of Jesus to turn the other cheek, love your enemies, and “pray for those who persecute you”. But they know that Jesus also said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
Hanging onto hope
Most of us are not living in a conflict zone. But we can all take inspiration from stories of faith and resilience from near and far. Here are a few questions for reflection:
- Has someone crossed a boundary in your life recently? How did it make you feel?
- Are you living at peace with everyone in your life? What could you do differently to be a peacemaker in 2025?
- What people or resources from Christians around the world will you draw on this year?
It can be hard to hang onto hope in the face of such continuing bad news. But the ceasefire between Israel and Gaza reminds me afresh that we are called to “hate what is evil; cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9); to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).
My challenge for 2025 is to look beyond the headlines. Maybe, there, we’ll see or hear a different story. But you don’t have to play a passive role, because the good book says: “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9).
As far as it depends on you, I think that’s a very good place to start.
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