How Should we look On Putin?

Richard Hollerman

Probably you have read or heard about Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia. Although we don’t have TV, we do have our cell phones and receive bits of information by this means. From what we understand, Putin (the head of the country of Russia) invaded another country (Ukraine) and this invasion is now in the second week.

Quite plainly, we don’t follow the international scene and politics is something that we are somewhat ignorant of, but it does seem like the Ukraine did not provoke this attack but that Putin is the aggressor.

From these simple facts, it would seem like there is a simple and plain case of one country against another with Russia guilty of massive barbarism. It also seems that the Ukraine is defending its borders and that Russia should be condemned.

We also know that each nation is different with different laws, regulations, and practices. We are living in the United States and the present law is that those with convictions against the evils of aggression are to be granted the ability to plead conscientious objection and thus receive the status that would allow them to object to warfare and find meaningful work in the secular sector. Not all nations permit this objection. Of the 195 different nations on earth, we think that at least some (perhaps many) of them either require participation in the military (and thus warfare) or face disgrace and imprisonment. Do you know the practice of the country in which you live?

From what we understand, all of the male citizens of a certain age are required to be part of the fighting force when another country enters and seeks to enslave it. In the present case, it would seem that Russia has invaded the Ukraine and the latter is now forcing all of their male citizens to take up arms and fight the enemy (the Russians). Is this the way you see this conflict?

As Christians (and we do think that many or even most of our readers are professing “Christians” or think that they are), we have a different attitude, don’t we! We know that God holds all people guilty before His Judgment Seat. We refer to Germans and Italians, Bulgarians and Latvians, British and Japanese, Chinese and Iranians, Columbians and Brazilians, Americans and Russians. Thus, if you happen to come from Russia or the Ukraine, you are guilty before our holy God—because before our Creator, all are guilty..

To carry this line of reasoning further, this means that unless something is done to change the situation and the spiritual condition of these people, all are lost and will be eternally condemned. Perhaps some of our readers do not like this sort of discussion, but we all know that this is true. Scripture says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We also read, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). We know (if we are honest) that “all sinned” (Romans 5:12) and this sin will lead us to “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46). This most certainly includes Russians and Ukrainians—as well as all others on earth. All are guilty before God and all will face our holy God in judgment to be punished for all eternity for all of their sins—if they do not repent and come to Christ Jesus.

Maybe some of our readers will see the people of Russia and the Ukraine in one way (after all, they are either atheists, or Orthodox, or Catholic, or another false religion). However, we may think of ourselves in another way. We assume that people living in America, or Germany, or Italy, or Canada are “good upstanding people” and God will not hold such people accountable. However, as we have clearly seen, all people stand guilty before God and are “worthy of death” and eternal condemnation (Romans 1:32).

Whoever you may be, we urge you to look at this accurately, from God’s standpoint. We may not participate in warfare and may have a conscientious stand against it, but we yet stand guilty before the Lord and must face Him in judgment. We refer to not only those who blow up bridges, destroy streets, demolish buildings, murder massive numbers of people (young and old), but we refer to “good upstanding citizens” who we think are right before God. Thus, although we may think that the Ukrainians and the Russians are guilty and deserving of eternal death, we know that all people—including you and me—are guilty and will face eternal condemnation!

Yes, it is true that Putin seems like a wicked man, worthy of God’s wrath and he has done despicable things against a peaceful people (?), but we also know that he is a sinner and has done evil things times without number, thus is worthy of God’s judgment. (We refer to those who have not yet been born again of the Lord.)

Although we find Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine despicable and worthy of the greatest condemnation, there is a greater concept of right and wrong that God holds. This is what we need to be concerned about!

Let us find forgiveness through Christ Jesus and His sacrificial death while we have the time to do this. God, in His mercy and grace, offers us His full and free cleansing if we only humble ourselves and find this through Jesus Christ. Come to Him today!