The Russia-Ukraine war is both a sad and unnecessary event that is based on greed and power. How does the Bible state that we should view these kinds of events? What should the role of a Christian be during war?
Matthew 24:6-8 – You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Jesus warns that although unfortunate events may inevitably happen around us, we are not to defend or participate in the violence of war. We must see to it that these kinds of events do not frighten us or influence us and cause us to hate.
Mark 13:7-8 – When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
Christians are not meant to get involved with war and violence. Out of hate, we would be picking one side over the other, neither of which are right.
Luke 21:9-11 – When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
In the case of Russia and Ukraine, both sides are wrong. The aggressor, Russia is wrong for violently trying to covet from their neighbor, Ukraine, what is not theirs.
Exodus 20:17 – “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Deuteronomy 5:21 – “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
According to the Bible, however, Ukraine is not blameless, as they are not meant to be fighting back. As Christians, we are not meant to resist an evil man, we are meant to turn the other cheek.
Matthew 5:38-39, 43-46 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also…43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
By resisting the evil of Russia and Putin, Ukraine is falling into sin. Ukrainians must live for the Kingdom of Heaven and not for land here on earth.
Luke 6:27-36 – “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
In the time of Jesus, Israel was occupied by the Romans. As cruel and harsh as they were, at no time, did Jesus incite rebellion or violence against Israel’s occupiers. The Romans themselves did not see any rebellion in Jesus or his teachings. He did not speak against them or their occupation of Israel.
Luke 23:13-15 – Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.
Luke 23:4 – Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
Matthew 27:23 – “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
Mark 15:14 – “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
Luke 23:22 – For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”
John 18:38 – “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.
John 19:4 – Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”
John 19:6 – As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”
This unusual support from Pontius Pilate was due to the fact that Jesus did not at any time preach rebellion, hate or violence against the Roman occupiers.
Even Jesus states this:
Luke 22:52 – Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?
New Living Translation – Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the Temple guard, and the elders who had come for him. “Am I some dangerous revolutionary,” he asked, “that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me?
New American Standard Bible – And Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a man inciting a revolt?
Mark 14:48 – “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?
New Living Translation – Jesus asked them, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me?
New American Standard Bible – And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you would against a man inciting a revolt?
Jesus was stating that in no way, was he leading a revolt of any kind. He did not teach anyone to revolt or incite a revolt against the Roman occupiers.
Matthew 26:55 – In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.
New Living Translation – Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day.
New American Standard Bible – At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a man inciting a revolt? Every day I used to sit within the temple grounds teaching, and you did not arrest Me.
In fact, Jesus taught the opposite. During this time, there was a Roman law where a Roman soldier could force a Jew to carry his infantry pack for one mile. To this rule, Jesus says to go two miles instead.
Matthew 5:41 – If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.
The Romans could also make the Jews pay a tax to Julius Caesar. So when Jesus was asked by the Jews about whether they had to pay this tax or not, Jesus did not incite violence, insurrection or rebellion in any way. Instead, he instructs them to pay the tax to their occupiers, the Romans.
Matthew 22:15-22 – Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
Jesus did not incite rebellion or resistance towards their Roman occupiers in Israel.
Even in the last days when there is to be a great tribulation, Jesus is not instructing his followers to engage in any resistance or violence of any kind. He advises us to flee. As Christians, we must be willing to stand for the truth and give sound biblical advice to others.
Matthew 24:15-18 – “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.
When it comes to the conflict in Ukraine, we can help refugees flee the violence but we cannot involve ourselves or assist others in committing violence. Nor should we be advising others to engage in resistance and violence of any kind. Our advice must be in line with the teachings of Jesus.
2 John 1:9 – Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
As for the Ukrainian people, they must follow the example of Jesus. During the unjust occupation of Israel, Jesus did not encourage, incite or take part in any sort of rebellion, resistance, or violence against the Romans. Instead, he taught his followers to focus on not sinning. He taught them to love their enemies and pray for those who despitefully use and abuse them.
1 John 2:6 – Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
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