We live in a world dominated by memes and soundbites. Often presented to us in such a way that we immediately have an emotional response. If anyone dares to try to transcend those and even query them, they’re soon met with ridicule, abuse and a display of anger that will make the Incredible Hulk envious! For many, offering an opinion and even asking a matter on this divided and bitter world is just too dangerous.
But let’s take that risk.
A historic press conference
This past week we saw one of the crucial extraordinary press conferences in modern times. Some are suggesting that it was a historic event which is prone to cause a realignment in global geo-politics. Trump, Zelensky, Vance, Starmer and others gave a press conference which was alleged to be a formality – a getting together before signing the already agreed minerals deal. Instead, it was a somewhat indignant and bitter negotiation/spat which resulted within the deal not being signed, and the US suspending all military aid to Ukraine.
In commenting on this I find that, a bit just like the ending of the press conference, things soon begin to degenerate, with tempers quickly flaring as discussion gets out of hand.
However there was some good, in addition to some bizarre, commentary. On the secular side, the Scottish journalist Iain McWhirter is all the time price reading or this perceptive piece from Christopher Caldwell. From a Christian perspective Glen Scrivener has provided some really helpful insights, and RR Reno explains how ‘just war theory’ suits into the situation.
But is there a selected Christian perspective on this?
Perspective is the important thing term here. When I saw the four-minute segment which was doing the rounds on social and news media I used to be horrified and disgusted. It looked like a few bullies picking on the plucky wee Ukrainian leader – which then was an unseemly shouting match. But then I checked out the entire 49 minutes – and also you get a distinct perspective: the primary 40 minutes were quite civil and friendly. So, what went improper?
If you broaden out to a wider perspective then there may be the query of the minerals deal which had been agreed; go even wider and you’ve gotten the past three years of a brutal war after Russia invaded Ukraine; you possibly can go still wider and reflect on the war for the reason that Russians reclaimed Crimea or the 2004 US aided “Orange Revolution’; or the break-up of the Soviet Union and the nuclear disarmament of Ukraine – with guarantees of security for Ukraine; or the Second World War and the Ukrainian Nazis; or Stalin’s brutal starvation of tens of millions of Ukrainians within the Holodomor famine from 1932-33; or the Ukrainian Soviet war 1917-1921, or go even further back to the founding of recent Russia through the Rus of Kiev in 988. The trouble is that there may be all the time a wider perspective. But for the Christian there may be an excellent greater one – the everlasting perspective. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall. None of them – whatever their National Anthem proclaims – lasts without end.
But let’s come all the best way back to the current day and contrast the foremost protagonists.
Two bad saviours
There are some who regard President Trump because the saviour of the US and indeed the Western world – the person who is popping back the woke tides and making America great again. Others look upon President Zelensky because the saviour of Ukraine, the EU and the entire of Western liberal democracies – the person who stands as much as tyrants and fearlessly takes on the enemies of democracy.
Both men have strengths and faults – as was evidenced of their conversation.
President Trump wanted the tip of war, and the cash used to rebuild Ukraine. Surely a noble aim. He praised the Ukrainian soldiers as being unbelievably brave. And identified the futility of an extended war in addition to expressing fear about World War Three. He even defended Zelensky’s dress sense!
But then the narcissism stepped in. He claimed to have stopped many wars and that if he had been president the Russian invasion would never have happened. Trump could never be accused of being meek and humble! His recent posting of an AI video wherein Gaza was reimagined as a Mediterranean paradise complete with a large golden statue of himself was nauseating – a mirrored image of Nebuchadnezzar’s arrogance (Daniel ch.3), relatively than the humility of Christ.
Vice-President Vance, while understandably annoyed at some things that were said (there may be a transparent animosity between him and Zelensky), didn’t conduct himself well either. He showed little empathy and understanding and let his frustrations get the higher of him.
President Zelensky spoke well, despite English not being his first language, and made the not unreasonable point that Putin couldn’t be trusted, and Ukraine would want security guarantees somewhat greater than Trump’s assurance that Putin would honour any deal. He gave examples of Russian mistreatment of prisoners, including several pastors. To me he got here across rather well.
His mistake was when he decided to directly interrogate Vance after which claimed that Ukraine had been standing alone. While Zelensky doesn’t manifest the identical public narcissism as Trump, and has shown enormous courage in his leadership against a malevolent foe, he too faces questions over his leadership and financial dealings (e.g. he and the pinnacle of his security service are alleged to have operated a network of offshore firms within the British Virgin Islands, Cyprus and Belize, with extensive property portfolios including in London).
When Trump said at the tip that this was going to be ‘great television’, he spoke the reality. The irony is that each Trump and Zelensky are TV stars. While I even have never watched Trump’s show, The Apprentice, I used to be an avid fan of Zelensky’s Servant of the People where an unlikely history teacher becomes President of Ukraine. It seems to me that each men know learn how to use and manipulate TV. I fear that to a point each are playing a task. Both are chargeable for the show we watched.
There was one other man within the room, Keir Starmer, who was praised for his response when he returned to London, but was silent throughout the entire discussion. Coming to Zelensky’s defence inside the security of the EU admirers shouldn’t be quite the identical thing as defending him when he’s being attacked by those that are alleged to be his allies. This is indicative of the EU approach. Talk big in public, while hoping in private that Trump ends this as soon as possible. There is not any way that Europe will give you the option to send troops to defend Ukraine, not least because while this may be the fantasy of some European politicians who see themselves as latter-day Churchills to Putin’s Stalin, their populations are already bitterly divided and is not going to want war. The view of some in Europe of ‘Peace through Victory’ is a fantasy that politicians indulge, but populations despise.
The supreme irony here is that while Starmer and the EU leaders discuss putting in a peace keeping force, it can only be used if Trump’s peace deal is accepted. The most probably consequence is that there shall be a ceasefire with a de facto everlasting partition of Ukraine – with the Donbas and Crimea remaining with Russia. It is unjust. It is unfair. But it’s what happens in war. The alternative could be much worse. There is not any absolute salvation on this earth.
But as a Christian, I can’t leave it there.
Three great truths
One of the good things to confess is that in all our evaluation we might be improper. I listened to at least one well-known commentator assure us that regardless of what happened, US military aid to Ukraine wouldn’t be suspended. Within per week it was.
We may all have opinions, but they’re all the time limited due to our own filters, our uncertain knowledge and ever-changing circumstances. So, what can we do? We can shout our opinions as absolute truth and regard everyone who disagrees as a blasphemer. Or we will hand over on truth altogether and choose that only cynical disinterest and crossed fingers work.
As a Christian I can’t go there. I do know only a limited amount of what happened prior to now. I’m unsure I understand what is occurring now. And I definitely don’t know what will occur in the longer term. But I do know three great truths, which each give me hope and help me to know.
1. Christ is King – He is sovereign. He is the King of Kings. All kings (Putin, Trump, Zelensky, Starmer, Macron etc) will bow all the way down to him. His name will endure, not theirs; the entire earth shall be full of his glory (Ps 72). That’s why I respect them but love and serve Him.
2. Christ is Returning – He will come back because the judge. “He will judge the world with justice by the person he has appointed” (Acts 17:31). If you don’t accept that there’s a judgement day then the temptation is, especially if you’ve gotten any type of political power, to think that you would be able to bring judgement and a ‘brave recent world’ on this earth. And you then double down – regardless of what the fee. The Christian accepts that while we do what we will, we cannot bring absolute justice in the current, but we all know that The Day is coming.
3. Christ’s Word is the Truth – I recently began a bible study with a gaggle of teenagers who’re concerned about knowing truth. In a world filled with spin, misinformation and lies it’s wonderful to give you the option to point them to the reality that’s everlasting. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words won’t ever pass away” (Matthew 25:35). The Oval Office press conference was historic and shall be talked about for years to return. But give it a bit more time, like a few many years, and it is probably going it can be forgotten. Meanwhile the words of Christ will still be with us.
“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom lets go? You have the words of everlasting life. We have come to consider and know that you just are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69).
