War is Hell

With the news about Ukraine streaming in and the images displaying the horrific violence at the hands of the Russian military, Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman’s words are devastatingly accurate. War is hell, and it has arrived in Ukraine. It is hard to cut through all the spin and propaganda surrounding this conflict. Political posturing and the v i r t u e - s i g n a l i n g coming from both the Left and the Right are nauseating and only distract from the reality that in war, both sides lose. Ukrainians will die, and so will Russians, and the suffering will extend beyond the borders of these two nations.

Please do not misunderstand me that we should allow a despot and tyrant like Putin to invade sovereign nations, bomb innocent civilians, and threaten nuclear war if any country attempts to intervene. But, as the United States of America, in large part, we are duty-bound to promote the cause of freedom. Ronald Regan, borrowing from John Winthrop’s sermon preached in 1630, described us as a “city on a hill,” and so, therefore, the light of God-given liberty should shine into every corner of the world.

However, as Christians, our perspective is beyond border disputes between nations transcending upward to a vantage point with Christ—a position of peace. Unfortunately, peace has always been in short supply. Peace, as the world gives, is temporary and fleeting.

For as long as I can remember, we have always labored for peace in the Middle East, but what invariably happens? Some situation rises to the surface, violence, and mayhem ensue, and ultimately reveal that peace is too delicate of a thing to endure.

I fear the same will happen with Ukraine and Russia. There may be peace in Ukraine—a temporary ceasefire and a halting of Putin’s invasion—but it won’t last. In other words, as long as wicked men rule, there will always be bloodshed. True and everlasting peace must come from a true and eternal source, and the only source that fits that criterion is Jesus.

He says in John 14:27, “Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” In this passage, Christ is speaking to individuals who were afraid and distraught. The disciples’ lives were being turned upside down and facing the absence of their beloved Messiah only made matters more difficult. Yet Christ reminds them that the peace he speaks of is eternal and that he has the authority to give it because he, himself, is the “Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6).

What Ukraine and Russia both need is Jesus. What Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky need is Jesus. What the world needs is Jesus. Ultimately, Christ is the only one that can put a stop to the animosity. By the shedding of his blood on the cross, he annihilated the hostility between God and man (Eph. 2:14) and, as a further consequence, destroyed the barriers that separate people. Bombs, tanks, even economic sanctions can adequately do what Christ did on the cross.

They may restrain or stop the conflict for a season, but only the gospel can give permanent peace. We have many Ukrainian contacts—personal friends who are actively ministering in the middle of conflict. Huddled in bunkers as the shelling continues above, they say that they are more than comforted in the Christ that promises peace and that this Christ is not just for them but also for their enemies. They repeatedly urge us to pray for peace, not just to end the war but also for peace of the soul. War is hell, but Christ can deliver people from it and give peace.

Pastor John Smith of Evergreen Baptist Church in Cashmere can be reached at pastorjohnsmithebc@gmail.com.