MapIn the news, if you are watching/reading any news at all, is the current conflict between Israel and Lebanon.

I’ve always been confused about the armed conflicts that take place in the Middle East. But I do find that there are plenty of reasons for this conflict. Thankfully, they boil down to one simple explanation.

No one is willing to make concession. And when a concession is made (as Israel conceded land in Gaza and elsewhere), some idiotic attack of “revenge” or political manipulation renews the cycle of violence.

Selfishness nearly always results in violence. While this current issue is more about the manipulative diversion away from Iranian nuclear efforts (Iran has been the financial supporter of Hezbollah for years), the problem is based on the tensions between Israel and every other Islamic/Arab radical in the world.

What’s the lesson for us?

Before a problem becomes generational and ongoing, its vital for Christians to set the example of concession and agape. While Christ never advocated becoming a “Doormat for Jesus,” there are dozens of teachings that point to the absolute centrality of placing the needs of the other before your own.