Because I am an Eastern Orthodox Christian, I will address the question asked by many: Where do I stand on the Ukraine-Russia conflict (both being Orthodox Christian nations)?
“Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:4, KJV. This Scripture is what the Russian Federation is doing – saving thousands (or more) from the wicked. At the request of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, Russia launched a special military operation to protect the Donbass residents from the continuous attacks of Ukrainians which they have suffered since 2014.
As an Orthodox Christian,truth is my highest priority. Only truth is reality.
Although I seek peace in all situations, I realize it is impossible when confronted aggressively by those who reject God. It requires both in any conflict to be dedicated to the truth before peace may come.
If one party to a conflict is devoted to their passions instead of God, there can be no peace because self-defense must ensue. (Passions are uncontrolled desires of the mind and body which lead to sin.) No true Christian is to allow evil people to injure/kill the righteous and innocent.
Self-defense is sanctioned and required by God throughout the Bible. To allow God’s people to be slaughtered by those who have chosen evil is itself sin.
My opinion: In the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Russia is righteously defending her people after thousands of civilians have been and continue to be murdered, raped, and otherwise persecuted by the USA-backed Ukrainians since 2014. Further, Russia is defending the nation from NATO/Collective West aggression (who have formulated plans to try and topple the Russian Federation for decades.)
After many years of trying to negotiate with the warmongers, being lied to repeatedly in fake treaties, Russia is compelled to defend the innocent. To fail to do this would itself be sin. Only those without love would permit the weak and relatively defenseless to be murdered and severely persecuted when they could step in and stop the violent abuse.
“Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.” – Luke 22:36-38, KJV.
Christ instructed his disciples to have self-defense with them as they ventured into the Godless world.
He needed no self-defense thus his rebuke to Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane. However, he knew they in their travels in the worldly society of non-believers would require self-defensive protection and obviously told them to do so.
No passage in the Bible speaks against self-defense. (The frequently quoted passage referring to turning the other cheek, upon study, is obviously against the taking of personal revenge as was the custom during Old Testament times. Jesus was giving us a new command to abstain from infliction of a harsher punishment/retaliation than that done to us in personal matters such as insults. It does not advocate pacifism. It was to teach us how to maintain holiness even when ridiculed or slandered – to get over the inanity of “personal honor” when one’s ego (false sense of self) is wounded. During Jesus’ time, to smite another on the cheek, was an insult – an attack on dignity (likely a reference to the Roman slap of Jews at the time). Liken it to name-calling, cursing or otherwise disrespecting/insulting another. We are to be above such immature reactions and view the offender with pity for their lack of awareness and self-control.) We are to seek peace with all, “if it be possible” (as Paul said in Romans 12:19, KJV)…implying it will not always be possible. Despite our desire to live peacefully, not everyone will do so – some will use violence against the righteous.
To omit to defend another when we have the power to do so is sin.
To allow evil to be perpetrated upon another when you can stop it is itself commission of an evil by neglect.
Proverbs 24:10-12 admonishes one who would see another in need and yet refuse to render help – whatever form that defense might take in word or deed on their behalf. Claiming falsely not to know of persecution is no defense before God. It is always right to courageously defend those being persecuted and God expects us to do so. “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?”
We are here to help our brothers and sisters, not simply watch and turn away from their misery, pain, suffering and death when God has given us a way to intervene. To protect, defend, and provide is the mission and duty of every Christ follower. There are martyrs who may choose to sacrifice themselves, but Christians are called to defend others being persecuted. We do not allow another to suffer at the hands of the wicked when we can intervene. A righteous nation does not permit evildoers to persecute its people or take its land, just as a righteous father would not allow evildoers to harm his family.
Sin can be an act of commission of evil upon another, and sin can be an act of omission by allowing evil to happen to another. To courageously defend our brothers and sisters in need is the love God instructed us to have. It is Jesus who told us, ““Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13.
That is the love the Russian Federation demonstrates, doing what God declared is the purpose of a righteous government: “For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” – Romans 13:4, KJV.
Using force to defend your nation, brethren, family, or oneself is righteous. Who would not defend the well-being of their friends, family and countrymen?
Ukraine, one of the most corrupt nations in the world, has long been using violence against thousands of its Russian-speaking residents.
The credible reports of all manner of evil committed by them is horrific. Rapes, organ-trafficking, torture rooms, raids into civilian towns exacting violence in many forms upon the people, and years of endless shelling of civilians as well as the dropping of internationally prohibited “butterfly” mines which resemble toys while blending in with the ground…all upon civilians who simply refused to accept the US-backed coup which replaced their duly elected president with the predecessor and the usurper you see now- people who wished to practice their traditions/faith/and use their native language. Human rights are obviously not considered when you look at the the violence Ukrainians have committed against innocent civilians. Ukraine even venerates Stepan Bandera as a national hero (an internationally recognized Nazi collaborator).
In addition to the years of atrocities and crimes Ukraine committed against the people of Donbass, the country also gave itself over to be used by the United States to overtake Russia. The USA and NATO repeatedly threatened Russia by aggressive actions – all done despite promises and treaties they had made with Russia – using Ukraine as the battleground if need be (as it did become) to threaten the people of Russia. The Russians have never acted aggressively against Ukraine – Ukraine became the aggressor years ago despite Russia diligently trying to avoid military action. However, the time had come (some say that time came years before when the treaties were obviously being violated) for Russia to defend the people of Donbass and the Russian Federation. The government of Ukraine is wicked – a violator of international law/treaties/human rights – a perpetrator of heinous crimes upon even its citizens – and a persecutor of faithful Orthodox Christians residing in Ukraine.
It grieves me to see fellow Orthodox Christians (and others) cowardly or ignorantly joining with the evil forces of NATO/Ukraine/United States against Russia.
It cannot be a matter of neutrality for a follower of Christ. There has never been a time when anyone could so easily educate themselves about geopolitical matters and obtain perspectives and reporting from people worldwide. Yet, many in the Collective West choose complacently to accept whatever their media and governments tell them without regard to their track record of fake news as well as concealing real news. Truth is not the priority of the Western governments nor their mainstream media – it should be the priority of a Christian.
As opposition to US hegemony grows worldwide, faithful Christians should follow God’s instruction and righteousness wherever and by whomever it is evinced – not conform and give lip service to the evil society and government under which they may reside. We are first Christians not any national identity. We must pray to God for guidance and diligently seek information and facts from multiple sources, before coming to any conclusion. Few have done so in my country.
As Orthodox, we are not called to neutrality to fit in and get along with the corrupt world, we are called to be bold, strong, and courageous when confronted with evil. We are not to seek the approval of the society we find ourselves. We are not to take up evil causes to appease the opinions and judgments of our peers, family or the government.
We are instructed, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” – Ephesians 5:11, KJV.
We can be sorrowful to see the fighting as people die in the thousands on both sides, however, this in no way correlates with choosing the side of evil or claiming neutrality.
God never instructed us to be neutral when evil violently threatens our brothers. Ignorance is no excuse – because the only ignorance that can exist in a person today is willful ignorance. The facts are available to anyone who seeks them. God gave us a mind to use and a heart to discern. We are not to merely exist and accept whatever a government tells us – particularly a government we know has for decades repeatedly lied to its citizens and the rest of the world advance and maintain their hegemonic agenda for decades.
Look at those individuals, countries and organizations that have joined in the unholy alliance against Russia – these are not those who instill trust whatsoever on the world stage. On the contrary, they are responsible for millions of deaths and suffering worldwide resulting from their wrongful military interventions, exploitation, sanctions and coups worldwide.
In the Ukraine-Russia conflict, any knowledgeable individual who has studied history or observed the world in the last 50 years can identify what is happening.
It has all the markings of yet another unjust US/NATO warmongering operation- the coup which instilled a puppet government in Ukraine – the taunting/threatening of Russia – all in diametric opposition to the promises given Russia repeatedly over the years. The thousands of deaths and injuries suffered by Russian-speaking Ukrainian residents over the past nine years as Ukraine has shelled them goes uncovered by mainstream media. The ever expanding NATO presence in order to put more weapons on the Russian border is opposite of the agreements/promises and treaties given to Russia. NATO lies as innocents die and more are threatened because of the American hegemonic goal (well documented) to conquer Russia or perpetrate a regime change to then divide and steal its resources. And, this time, the Collective West has come up against a nation which refuses to submit.
An Orthodox Christian is called by God to holiness. Holiness requires strength – courage – and the seeking and devotion to truth. To remain silent/neutral is to choose the side of evil. In this case, Ukraine and its Western controllers have been perpetrating evil and plotting more evil against Russia for many years. Russia has never shown aggression toward Ukraine. Ukraine (actually the Collective West/NATO using Ukraine as a proxy) has provoked Russia time and again. Finally, the patience and tolerance in the midst of much suffering has had to cease so that Russia/Russian people might one day be free of this brutal persecution and ongoing existential threat to its sovereignty. Russia has been repeatedly provoked and Russian-speaking Ukrainians have been brutally persecuted and murdered for years by the US-installed government. The self-defense we see by the Russian Federation is justified.
Fellow Christians, choose your loyalties carefully. Study, research, pray…before you mindlessly join in the fake empathy for Ukraine…a carefully crafted narrative intended to deceive you into working for Satan’s cause to the benefit of the warmongers who care nothing abut the needless deaths of those who do the fighting.
I firmly believe that to choose Ukraine is to side with the demons.
I find it sad (and frankly, disgusting) to see some Orthodox Christians so fearful of the repercussions of speaking the truth (as I believe most of them do know the history). Their pro-Ukrainian stance is an abrogation of their service to God.
To learn more, recommended documentaries:
8 Years Before Donbass Documentary
https://youtu.be/da5T_nEvi3I
Ukraine on Fire – documentary
https://rumble.com/vwxxi8-ukraine-on-fire.html
Revealing Ukraine – documentary
https://rumble.com/vwy6pm-revealing-ukraine.html
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