Dear Friends
Was Jesus a pacifist? You can make a strong case. Reading the Gospels, it’s impossible to imagine him picking up a sword and killing or injuring anyone.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, one of his companions does draw his sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Jesus rebukes him saying ‘all who draw the sword will die by the sword’ and Luke records that he heals the man’s ear.
At the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, someone from another church said to me: ‘If I had a gun and was in a room with President Putin, I would shoot him.’ Of course, none of us will get that opportunity but what would we do? Can I be so sure that I’m right and someone standing in front of me is so wrong that I could pull the trigger and take their life?
The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres visited sites around Kyiv that were previously occupied by Russian troops. Surrounded by reporters, he said: ‘When I see these destroyed buildings, I imagine my family in one of these houses, I see my granddaughters running away in panic’ and pointing towards the blackened buildings behind him he added: ‘There is no way war is acceptable in the 21st century - look at that.’
And yet Russia has invaded with brutal force, Ukraine has stood up to the onslaught and other countries – including our own – are piling in weapons. But I cannot argue for pacificism. If Ukrainians had not fought against the invaders, their country would now be firmly under Russian control with no way back. In fact, Putin would be eying up his next target.
I’m left with more questions than answers. I don’t think I could pick up a gun and kill someone. I’m thankful I haven’t had to make that choice. I do hope Russian forces are defeated in Ukraine. I fear many more lives will be lost before the situation is resolved.
If you’re wrestling with these questions, I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.
Roger.
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