By Andrew Moroz, Op-ed contributor Monday, March 03, 2025
There is without problems an overwhelming desire for peace in Ukraine — especially amongst Ukrainians. It was as soon as their nation that was as soon as unjustly invaded. Their cities are being bombed. Their troopers and civilians are paying the closing mark to defend freedom from tyranny. Their younger folk are traumatized day-to-day by air raid sirens and the horrors of war. Ukrainians lengthy for peace, but they also watch justice and security.
Merely ending the war without addressing why it started in the first space — and without guaranteeing it won’t happen again — is now not ample.
Take hang of into consideration the Christian figuring out of the Gospel and salvation. Repentance is a well-known step in our relationship with Jesus Christ. For there to be lasting peace between God and humanity, girls and men need to humble themselves, confess their sin, and switch from their harmful ways. That’s when God responds with His overwhelming grace (2 Chron. 7:14). When Jesus preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God, He said, “Repent and imagine” (Sign 1:15). Repentance strategy turning some distance from a fresh strategy of being and realigning with God’s understanding for flourishing. Western Christians need to behold that some version of here is critical to pause the war in Ukraine in a strategy that holds perpetrators responsible and protects the victims.
A brand fresh tale has emerged in fresh weeks, suggesting that Ukraine provoked Russia into war or may perchance perchance even like performed one thing to prevent it. Right here is merely now not gorgeous.
In 1991, Ukraine democratically selected independence from the Soviet Union. In 1994, thru the Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine surrendered its nuclear arsenal — considered one of many greatest on this planet — to advertise regional and international peace. Nonetheless, when Ukrainians persevered to reject Russian interference of their govt, Russia answered by invading Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in 2014 and instigating war in the eastern areas. The enviornment stood by and watched Russia annex Crimea — we let it happen. The paunchy-scale invasion in 2022 was as soon as pleasing, but now not hideous. If Russia confronted no real penalties in 2014, why wouldn’t they’re attempting and destabilize and draw shut all of Ukraine?
Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us that “injustice wherever is a threat to justice in each space.” If we tolerate injustice in one piece of the realm, it’ll inevitably manifest in our have lives with devastating penalties. Within the previous, North America was as soon as rather protected in opposition to international conflicts, protected by two good oceans. But in lately’s interconnected world, we are more correct now impacted than ever earlier than. When war and injustice erupt in Ukraine, Palestine, or Israel, they’re nearer to us than we would also deem.
Evangelical Christians are proud defenders of existence. Our perception in the sanctity of existence rightly fuels our passionate opposition to abortion. But it completely is now not correct defenseless fetuses who need protection. We are able to now not shy some distance from total communities devastated by war — especially when that war is waged with blatant omit for civilian existence.
Within the autumn of 2024, I was as soon as in the town of Kharkiv, Ukraine, when a wing bomb struck a residential condominium building. When my crew arrived, a total bunch of firefighters and first responders like been scuffling with the flames and attempting out for survivors. We like been told that moments earlier, folk had been seen leaping from the burning building. My ideas correct now flashed serve to 9/11. I was as soon as in high college then, and I would also honest now not ever neglect the fires engulfing the Twin Towers, the falling bodies, and the overwhelming lack of existence. Ukrainians like been experiencing their very have 9/11 time and again.
Certain, this war need to pause. It need to pause as quickly as that it’s seemingly you’ll perhaps perchance imagine — but it completely need to also pause justly, in a strategy that ensures lasting peace.
Psalm 20:7 says, “Some have confidence in chariots and some in horses, but we have confidence in the title of the Lord our God.” Our brothers and sisters in Ukraine are praying for peace while inserting their religion in God. That religion has given them the energy to suffer these three years and to attend their nation with courage and humility. Struggle can steal many issues from us, but it completely can now not steal away the victory that is already ours in Christ Jesus.
Right here’s a well-known moment to hope for Ukraine. But prayer alone is now not ample — we should always also steal action. When Nehemiah led the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s partitions, the folk labored with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the diverse. Likewise, we should always pair our prayers with meaningful action. With the fresh suspension of USAID funding, the work of grassroots organizations take care of The Renewal Initiative is some distance more well-known. Please proceed to stand with the folk of Ukraine as they anticipate a resolution to this war. Even after the war ends, there’ll be years of rebuilding lives and restoring dignity.
The strategy we show up now matters. Our response will be piece of our are looking ahead to. As Jesus said, “By this each person will know that you’re my disciples, as soon as you take care of each other” (John 13:35).
Andrew Moroz is a Ukrainian-American pastor and the founding father of The Renewal Initiative.
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