We can help the Ukrainian wounded while loving the Russian neighbor. Usually, the first casualty of war is the truth. It follows then that the first step towards peace, reconciliation, and restoration is being able to see the truth. But in the twenty-first century, this is no easy task when the mass population is fed on a constant diet of biased media, propaganda, and well-designed lies to further an agenda. What’s not new, however, is the old tricks of the power-hungry dictator’s wish to unite a failed empire using atrocious acts and inhumane means to achieve it.
In line with every dictator cast to the ash pile of history, Vladimir Putin’s reckless attempt to subjugate a fragile democracy to his demented ambitions is playing out before our eyes in a horrid and atrocious way. So the battle lines are drawn, and the old playbook employed, but this time with unimaginable consequences that include the possibility of nuclear war.
But make no mistake, this is a Putin vs. Ukraine war, rather than a Russian people vs. Ukrainian people war. Yes, there are Russians in positions of power who can stop Putin and who thus far have cowardly refused to do so. However, there is much evidence of thousands of Russians bravely protesting this pointless war who are being arrested, beaten, and jailed. Furthermore, for every Russian soldier who is “just carrying out orders,” there is a confused and scared 18/19-year-old kid who fears the consequences of not falling in line with orders. Or a young conscript sold on the idea that he is marching in on a peacekeeping operation and, when captured by Ukrainian forces, calls their confused parents who are desperate to get their son safely home.
It’s well established that the Russian people are being lied to, and some do not know the true scope and size of this “military operation” as described by Mr. Putin, while in reality, it is a full-blown war. This war is a tragedy, and all who propagate and enable this disaster will have to give an account before an almighty and Holy God, not to mention that history is not very kind to such people.
But on this side of eternity, what can we do? In an attempt to do something to help, the world unites around the cause of Ukrainian freedom, and rightly so. Standing in solidarity with the victims of war is a noble cause and my hope is that this would happen every time going forward, not only when those affected are close family or friends or fellow citizens. Weeping with those who weep is not only a noble way of sympathizing in suffering but also the Christ way of relating, ministering, and encouraging.
But I am afraid that in the process of sympathizing and mourning with those who mourn, we forget that our Lord and Savior also instructed us to love those with whom we disagree, despise, and even may consider to be an enemy.
In full disclosure, I am neither Russian nor Ukrainian. I was born in the tiny country of Moldova, and I suspect if Ukraine were to fall, Moldova would likely become Putin’s next conquest. That aside, from the time of my youth to the present day, a significant portion of my friends are Russian, Ukrainian, or both. It has never been an issue between us where we are from, apart from the occasional Moldovian joke that I am still trying to get over. We primarily identify ourselves as “ Slavic,” meaning with roots from the Slavic people. One can see evidence of what entertains and unites us by searching Instagram for “ Slavic peeps” or Slavic anything and accounts alike. We attend churches that are a mix of all kinds of Slavic people. We have families of two, three, and sometimes four nationalities united and laughing around the same Thanksgiving table. That is until recently when this war started…
Suddenly, like a cold front that came over, I noticed how there is a deep divide between Russian and Ukrainian diasporas. Like an unspoken and unresolved conflict between two best friends, there is a void and barrier that should not be left unaddressed. The Ukrainians are emotionally overwhelmed, exhausted, anxiously worried about their family back home; on the other side, Russians silently feel the weight of Putin’s actions and threats that they have no control over.
I am sure that everyone can rationalize their actions and thinking processes. After all, Russian people can do more to find out what’s truly going on and do everything they can to stop this horrible war. At the same time, Ukrainians can pick a better slogan to unite around other than “Slava Ukraini! Heroyam Slava.” (Glory to Ukraine, To heroes, be the glory). If one proclaims glory to anything, it should be to our Lord and Savior, not to a nation of people. While fighting for Ukraine might be a cause for temporary freedom, Ukraine did not die for our sins, Jesus did, and Jesus secured ultimate and eternal freedom for all who trust in Him.
Instead of focusing on uniting around the glory of a specific nation and hate of another nation, we need to focus on joining around Christ and taking on the heart of God; and in the process ask ourselves what is God trying to do in the midst of this war? The Bible talks about how these things will happen. “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation” Matthew 24:6-7)
I know it’s hard, if not impossible, to see when you have a black and swollen eye, just as it’s hard to see the truth when we are hurting. But the truth is that Christians do not “…wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” Ephesians 6:12
The enemy is not your Russian neighbor or brother from church. The enemy is not the Russian family-owned business that you plan to boycott. You don’t have to choose; you can help those hurting while loving those you do not see eye to eye. This is not asking too much of you; imagine what the first-century Christians had to go through having to accept Apostle Paul as a brother in Christ after Paul went on a rampage of actually killing Stephen and many other Christians.
And when he (Apostle Paul) had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus. Acts 9:26
Dear Christian Slavic community, you can do both. You can help wounded Ukrainians and love Russian neighbors at the same time. When everyone is afraid and seeks revenge, you can be a peacemaker like Barnabas, but it requires us to see past our hurts and pain in the suffering. It requires us to lay down our politics and nationalities and see with God’s eyes.
So If you really want to fight, fight by praying for Ukraine and pray for the people in Russia who are isolated and protesting against this war. Pray that all soldiers would stop fighting and lay down their arms. Pray for God’s will to be done; finally, dare I say, pray for Mr. Putin. If everything revolted inside of you because of that last sentence, see Matthew 5:43-48 for guidance and consolation.
By : Slaveck Moraru
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