[Today’s Prayer] Signs of sectarian conflict resurfacing in war-torn Lebanon

In Lebanon, which has been caught up in the war between the United States–Israel and Iran, there are signs that tensions between major religious sects are beginning to resurface.

After a private Lebanese broadcaster aired a video that caricatured the leader of Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian armed faction, as a mobile game character, Hezbollah supporters responded by sharing images insulting the Maronite Christian patriarch.

The situation has continued to worsen as comments from the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon further provoked Hezbollah.

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Hezbollah supporters strongly condemned the video, saying it mocked their leader, Secretary-General Naim Qassem, a Shiite cleric.

In the process, some supporters retaliated by sharing images insulting Bechara Rai, the patriarch of the Maronite Church, the most influential Christian sect in Lebanon.

This sparked widespread outrage across Christian communities and the political sphere.

As tensions between sects escalated, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Mitchell Issa visited Patriarch Rai on the 5th to express support, stating, “I am displeased by what happened over the weekend.”

He added, “Such behavior is inappropriate in Lebanon, a country known for coexistence. Those who engage in such actions may find that Lebanon is not a suitable place for them, and they may be better off seeking another country to live in.”

After his remarks became public, Hezbollah strongly pushed back.

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As the controversy grew, high-ranking Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, jointly condemned attacks against religious leaders. The broadcaster LBCI deleted the video after being summoned for investigation by judicial authorities.

Although Lebanon generally guarantees a relatively high level of freedom of expression compared to other Arab countries, there have been frequent cases in which journalists and artists have faced repression for insulting political or religious figures.

In particular, the current war, which began on March 2 when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by the United States and Israel, has further deepened sectarian divisions within Lebanon.

As a result of the war, about 2,700 people have been killed and more than one million displaced. Meanwhile, the Lebanese government is pursuing direct negotiations with Israel, which is calling for Hezbollah’s disarmament.

Following a prolonged civil war from 1975 to 1990, Lebanon adopted a unique political system based on a balance of power among religious sects.

Under this system, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of parliament a Shiite Muslim. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, exerts strong influence in Lebanese politics.

Source: Yonhap News

“The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets.” (Psalm 50:1)

God, we hear the news that in Lebanon, which has been caught up in Iran’s war, tensions between Shiites and Maronite Christians are showing signs of erupting again after a Lebanese private broadcaster aired a video mocking the Hezbollah leader and Hezbollah supporters retaliated by insulting the Maronite patriarch.

As Lebanon is swept into the chaos of war, we ask that You would have mercy on the Lebanese people, who for thousands of years have been blinded by the falsehood of Islam and have not come before the truth.

Father God, who calls the world from the rising of the sun to its setting, reveal Your greatness among the nations, call Lebanon back before the gospel, and let all the souls of Lebanon and the nations You created praise that only Jesus Christ is Savior and King.

Also, we pray that the Lebanese church, which has compromised with Islam and failed to preach the gospel, would cast off the error of religious pluralism, stand before the truth, and proclaim the gospel. Protect the Christians in Lebanon by the Holy Spirit from the threats of Hezbollah.

In this situation, move the global church to pray for Lebanon, and let them work together with the Lebanese church to proclaim the truth of the gospel to the Arab world and to the ends of the earth.

So that the broken worship among the nations may be restored, and Lebanon may become a nation that proclaims the gospel of the cross of Jesus Christ to all peoples.