Here is how the King James Version translates James 4:1&2–“1Where do [a]wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and [b]war.” Here’s how the Message Bible puts it: “ 1-2 Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.”
Vladimir Putin wants what he doesn’t have. He wants his own way. He is engaging in horrific violence and is certainly indiscriminately killing to try to get his hands on the sovereign country of Ukraine. Putin is a war criminal and has ordered his troops to engage in crimes against humanity.
I am running out of adjectives to describe how evil the acts have been, such as sending a missile into a block of apartments making it look worse than the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. If that were in the U.S., that would focus the non-stop press coverage of the 150 people trapped in the rubble. Or, the firing upon Europe’s largest nuclear power plant coming very close to hitting one of the six towers. Then to put bombs around that plant, thus holding Ukraine, all of Europe and the world hostage.
There is an internal humanitarian crisis with many people without heat and running water during Winter. More are hunkering down in bomb shelters in the capitol of Kiev and other locations.
And externally, there are at least 1.5 million refugees in the countries surrounding Ukraine. Those countries (except Russia) have been magnificent, especially Poland. At least 500,000 of the refugees are children.
Non Governmental organizations are helping out. Samaritans’ Purse has a Tier 2 hospital on the Polish side of the border and is providing food, as well as hard plastic to replace blown out windows. An American pastor with a Ukranian wife and young daughter in tears was able to leave by train a few days ago from an embattled eastern city. I believe they did the right thing.
Ukrainian Christians are singing hymns in the subway. Youth for Christ staffers are either staying in country or helping others to evacuate.
What can you do? Pray. If you wish, you may donate to the organization of your choice. I recommend one that will pass through the money quickly and is already there, such as Samaritans’ Purse.
Glory to God. Glory to Ukraine.