Reader Writes April 2023

So we are now into the second year of the wretched and dangerous war in Ukraine. Since

Putin’s attack launched on 24 Feb last year it is thought that some quarter of a million

Ukrainians and Russian servicemen have died already. Putting aside environmental and

climate breakdown that is certainly going to change all of our lives radically over the

coming decades, this war is the most dangerous and intractable threat to face Europe

since World War 2. We know what we all hope for. But in a moment of inevitably enfeebled

taking stock, with a spiritual dimension in mind, what should we actually be doing?

Six months ago there seemed to be more hope in a diplomatic solution. Diplomats

certainly thought so; soldiers were more sceptical. Meanwhile history keeps pointing us to

1939 and the breaking storm of Hitler’s wars. At the same time, we should recognise that

Western Europeans, especially the UK, have been privileged to live in a bubble of security

and prosperity where wars are other people’s problems, (apart from the ones we have

helped start). The invasion of Ukraine has pricked that bubble and is forcing us to take a

practical position and see it through.

Pacifists take a clear line and refuse to engage in war; significantly there seems to be a

strong anti-war movement in Germany. Ukraine’s friends and allies in terms of support

haven’t hesitated to judge Putin to be evil and dangerous, and his attack on Ukraine illegal.

Just-war arguments unhesitatingly support Ukraine in defending herself and reclaiming her

legal borders. War here is judged not the worst option and Ukraine must win for all of our

sakes. But it is with a heavy heart that we lament our own complicity in the middle eastern

conflicts and our hypocrisy in dealing with Russia. The torture scandal of Abu Ghraib in

Iraq comes to mind, and the torrents of dirty Russian money that passed through

“Londongrad”.

Bringing it back closer to the personal, we all know that there are no easy lines that clearly

mark good from bad and right from wrong. War is horrible and cruel. The more you read

about it the more you hate it and are compelled to pray for peace, with justice.

Solzhenitsyn said that the line dividing good from evil doesn’t divide nation from nation or,

of course, a Russian from a Ukrainian, but it travels through the heart of every human

being. That is the nature and sadness of a fallen world where Satan remains at large and

dangerous until our Lord returns.

The psalms are full of war, and were clearly often written under extreme circumstances; I

think of David who was hunted and persecuted by King Saul. Jerusalem, later, was

besieged and sacked and its people driven into exile. Justice was a theme the psalmists

urgently pleaded for in prayer. We, ourselves, should act justly, care for the refugee fleeing

war and destitution, follow Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan, and when necessary be

prepared to fight a war. I heard that a church in Ukraine, dispersed in basements and

hiding in wrecked buildings, recited Psalm 31 as their prayer for their country; “In you, O

Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!”

Amen.

Robert MacCurrach