I made a New Year’s resolution to write more often, at least once a month, inspired by a book on blogging I checked out from the library. It’s the last day of February, which means it’s time to post something new. Given what’s happening in Ukraine right now, events that look an awful lot like the beginning of WWIII, I felt that any other topic—progress on my 72,836-word novel draft, the dozen or so butterflies I’ve released into the world this year—is utterly trivial.
Why is Putin doing this? I have not followed events in Ukraine closely enough to be able to write about what’s going on, and I don’t have time to research it. A few commentators are suggesting Putin is off his rocker.
Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has stated that Putin “seems erratic” and appears to be “descending into something I haven’t personally seen before.”
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio tweeted “I wish I could share more, but for now I can say it’s pretty obvious to many that something is off with #Putin”
And here’s a weird exchange between Putin and his visibly nervous Director of Foreign Intelligence Sergey Naryshkin (WATCH: Putin Scolds Intel Chief For Saying The Quiet Part About Ukraine Out Loud):
My heart goes out to the people of Ukraine, the Russian troops being sent to their death fighting this senseless war, and any other victims of Putin’s megalomania. I pray that Putin comes to his senses and peacefully ends this conflict.
I found this Facebook statement from the Evangelical Reformed Seminary of Ukraine I’d like to share (courtesy of The Daily Wire), because what Putin is doing is pure evil.
JOINT STATEMENT ABOUT THE WAR AGAINST UKRAINE
The Christian Church has been instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Created by the Word of God and directed by the Holy Spirit, the Church confesses one Lord and Savior Jesus, His gospel and law. Therefore, as part of the Church and under the Lordship of Christ, we are called to speak the truth and expose deceit (Eph 4:15; 4:25).
In the light of Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine, we consider it necessary to strongly condemn the open and unjustified aggression aimed at destroying the statehood and independence of Ukraine and based on blatant lies from the lips of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and the country’s top leadership.
We reject Putin’s mythical narrative, which has nothing to do with historical reality, about the alleged artificial creation of the Ukrainian state.We condemn Putin’s cynical lies about Ukraine’s alleged genocide of the people in the east of the country, lies that Putin uses to satisfy his own geopolitical ambitions, which are clearly contrary to God’s revelation (Deut. 27:17; Prov. 22:28).
We confess the real and unlimited power of God over all countries and continents (Ps 24:1), as well as over all kings and rulers (Prov 21:1), therefore, nothing in all creation can interfere with the fulfillment of the good and perfect will of God. We, together with the first Christians, affirm “Jesus is Lord,” and not Caesar.
We express solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We share the pain of those who have already lost their loved ones. We pray that all of the aggressor’s plans would be thwarted and put to shame. We call on all people of good will around the world to resist the lies and hatred of the aggressor. We call on everyone to petition for a cessation of hostilities and to exert every possible influence on the Russian Federation in order to stop the unmotivated aggression toward Ukraine. We ask you to pray for peace for the people of Ukraine and for courage and wisdom for Christian churches so that they continue to serve those in need.
We pray for our authorities and put our hope in the King of kings and the Lord of lords, who is, and remains, our refuge and our fortress, even in time of war (Ps 46).
Evangelical Reformed Seminary of Ukraine
Baltic Reformed Theological Seminary (Riga, Latvia)
Evening Reformed Seminary (Almaty, Kazakhstan)
Kyiv Theological Seminary
Odessa Theological Seminary
Poltava Theological Seminary
Reformed Theological Seminary of Donetsk (temporarily located in Kyiv)
Reformed Theological Seminary Heidelberg, (Germany)
Seminary in Western Russia (we withhold the name of the seminary)
Seminary in Western Siberia, Russia (we withhold the name of the seminary)
Taurian Christian Institute (Kherson)