Ukraine

The world is watching the tragic events unfolding in the Ukraine since Russia invaded them on February 24th. I find myself caught up in the story as it unfolds, even checking the newsfeed incessantly to learn of the latest developments. An unprovoked attack, including civilians being fired upon by an overwhelming adversary. Will there be nuclear war? Will Russia defeat Ukraine and continue to rebuild their former empire?  Will NATO, or the United States intervene and how? What of China? I have been doing a lot of praying for the people of Ukraine and for the Russians too. 

The ability for some free, and not propagandized, news to come out of this nation has allowed us to see inside the invasion, including the atrocities that are now being investigated as possible war crimes. The Ukrainians are heroically fighting the Russian forces with (but mostly without any one’s help) and despite all the overwhelming odds against them. 

They have lived as a free people for some thirty years since the collapse of the former Soviet Union. However, they have struggled throughout the course of their history due to their proximity to the kingdom of the north, Russia. They were swallowed up by the 1917 communist revolution and I believe the Ukrainian people have known that the day would come when they would have to again face the Russian bear. That time has now come.

This is why the Ukrainians so desperately wished to join NATO. Not as Russia has said, to threaten Russia but, their motive was to stop Russia from doing what they are currently doing today. The former Soviet Union made sure that the Ukraine was left without nuclear weapons as they were becoming independent of that state. Weapons that would now have made Russia think twice before they invaded their neighbor.

Ukraine has repeatedly resisted attempts by Russia to install a puppet regime in their country over the years. The goal was to have a pro-Russian ruler in the Ukraine so that in effect, the Ukraine could be under Russian control while still looking free. What we are seeing unfold is a tangled web of lies and manipulation. Each side of the conflict claiming that the other side is in the wrong.

But, who is telling the truth? The truth really matters to a Christian. But, what is truth? Many people are asking what is the truth concerning this conflict. They are confused because of all the conflicting narratives. Pontus Pilate was confused when speaking with Jesus, causing him to conjecture and to utter the famous line, what is truth? Humanity has been and always will be asking this all important question. In today’s philosophical and spiritual environment the answer seems to be, the truth is anything you make it.

Many people tell a story or two on facebook, back it up with some slightly doctored pictures and even they believe it is true. I have told several stories on this blog about online romances that have turned out disastrous for people that I know when they discovered that the person they thought they were communicating with was not being truthful. 

Without a firm basis in God’s objective truth and the help of the Holy Spirit we are doomed to a life of confusion all because truth matters. The Bible says there is a difference between knowledge and wisdom.Wisdom comes from knowing God. Wisdom moderates knowledge. Wisdom is what you need to properly run your life, your community and your world with more sanity.

God handed down the Ten Commandments and described what goodness and what evil was. In doing so God revealed what the truth really is. Almost a third of the Bible is devoted to prediction of the future, called prophecy. In prophecy the truth of the human story is also revealed.

Underlying the laws and the revelation of the course of humanity is the truth that we are sinners. The pages of the Bible scream that lesson and so does everything to do with the invasion of the Ukraine. The fake news coverage screams sinners, and the gunning down of the elderly, women and children does too. The Russians are raping in southern Ukraine, walking around dangling open grenades to control the populace, dropping cluster bombs and sieging Kherson like the Nazis seiged them at Leningrad! Whose the Nazi now?

The Bible never compromises the truth, no matter what that truth is. The Jews were repeatedly and brutally attacked by powerful neighbors such as the Assyrians, the Babylonians and the Persians. These Bible accounts of war tell the truth about who we are as people. According to the revelation of this book war will continue until God himself will “beat their swords into plowshares” and their will never be war again.

There are little lambs in the world who think that this planet should be one big, happy family. That freedom is a human right. While they naively stand on their soap boxes saying that hate has no place here, have Ukrainian flags flying in front of their houses or on their social media accounts, the Ukrainian people are begging the world to send weapons, and help them with concrete military and humanitarian aide because the world is not a big happy family. 

The Bible says that we are continually sinning and that our hearts plot evil. It says that the only way that war will stop is when God supernaturally will intervene. The Bible, in addition, shows that war has been necessary at times. God commands war for example when evil must be vanquished. He instructs the Israelites to vanquish the evil inhabitants of the land of Canaan in a war. The Bible talks of preparing for war, including and down to such facts as the proper age of a soldier etc. 

One of the practical outcomes of accepting that mankind is a fallen people is to understand that you have to be ready to defend yourself from aggression. Being able to fight if someone attempts to steal from you, rape you or tries to kidnap you is self-defense.

Even the checks and balances on government written into the United States constitution were put in place because of the christian founding fathers belief that government is inherently wicked and that a way to combat that is by placing checks and balances on all the governmental offices. Sort of like self-defense against overreaching governments. (Sad to note that the constitution is being side-lined).

Europe is practically defenseless at this moment accept for the treaties they have with Nato. Europe wanted to shuffle off their past history of wars, and get rid of their weapons. They thought that they were entering a new era, maybe the dawn of the age of Aquarius or something.

This aggression upon the Ukraine has put all that supposed wisdom into question. If Russia is again on the move in the eastern end of their continent, what would they do if Russia again sought to retake their old empire. After all, during the Cold War their sphere of influence went all the way into the heart of Western Europe into Germany. The difference now is that Russian is so much more militarily powerful than it was during the Cold War. Their military stockpile is huge. The Europeans have a problem.

The talk has again come to the practicality of handling the Russians. Will the truth of humanities war-like nature bring a rearmament to Europe? French President Macron has addressed his people and Europe with plans of an European Union army. That idea was rejected before but now, whatever the outcome of this war with Ukraine, I think that something has changed and we are entering another chapter of strategic planning. 

But for now, as of this blog posting, the United States has agreed to supply Ukraine with MiG fighter jets. Stay tuned, the air battle is about to begin. The truth is the Ukrainians have been given too little too late. But is it enough for them to succeed? They are fighting for their lives against one of the strongest military powers on earth. Yet, their love of freedom shows and they are bravely giving their all in this terrible war. I pray that the Ukrainians succeed in their battle to stay free. 

Is the time coming when we will gladly be happy to follow anyone promising peace and security? You betcha ya.