A Christian Perspective on History, Sovereignty, and Justice.
In the heart of Eastern Europe lies Ukraine, a region whose history is as rich and complex as its vast landscapes. Ukraine has been at the crossroads of empires, cultures, and ideologies for centuries, leading to a tapestry of influences that have shaped its regional identity.
The recent conflicts, particularly the reclaiming of Crimea in 2014 and the ongoing war initiated by Russia in 2022 have brought Ukraine’s sovereignty and cultural identity into sharp focus.
As Christians, it’s essential to approach these issues with a heart of compassion, a mind seeking truth, and a spirit grounded in biblical principles.
While my views are biblical and historical, they will not be popular with many people. However, please give me the benefit of the doubt because I have been to Ukraine for ministry, on some occasions, for extended periods. I helped start a ministry for special needs children there.
I have met many regular people in Kiev and in outlying villages and towns. I have seen the countryside from trains and have sailed down the Dnieper River. I have even been to Chernobyl. I offer a perspective not held by many Christians, the companies manufacturing weapons, or most politicians.
I care deeply about the Ukrainian people, but there are many ways to look at their convoluted and complex situation. It is not as simple as placing a Ukrainian flag on a Facebook page and leaving it at that.
Ukraine’s Historical Context
Let me offer a spoiler. I believe the battle between Russia and Ukraine is a Civil War, much like the American Civil War. I think that Putin is a monster for the way he is conducting the war, but it is little different than Lincoln and Grant, who unleased William Tecumseh Sherman to devastate the South and obliterate any hope of future racial harmony.
The methods of a Sherman or a Putin can never be justified, even though some think each had a noble cause.
Understanding Ukraine’s current situation requires a journey through its intricate history. From the medieval era to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine’s path has been marked by periods of autonomy and subjugation.
The Kievan Rus Era
In the 9th century, the Kievan Rus emerged as a powerful federation of Slavic tribes, with Kiev as its capital. The founders came south from what we today call the St. Petersburg, Russia region.
This early confederation is often cited as the shared cultural and historical ancestor for modern-day Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. It’s crucial to recognize that these nations share roots in the Kievan Rus and that their subsequent historical trajectories converged significantly.
The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Russian Empire
Following the decline of the Kievan Rus, Ukrainian territories came under the influence of various powers. Western regions were integrated into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, exposing them to European cultural and political influences.
Eastern regions, however, fell under the dominion of the Russian Empire. This division led to distinct cultural and linguistic developments within Ukraine.
Dependence in the Soviet Era
The 20th century brought significant turmoil. After a brief period of independence following World War I, Ukraine was incorporated into the Soviet Union.
The Soviet era was marked by policies that suppressed Ukrainian culture and language, most notably during the Holodomor, a man-made famine in the 1930s that resulted in the deaths of millions of Ukrainians.
In 1991, amidst the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine declared its independence. However, the loss of Russian domination and any idea of independence was illusionary. The Ukraine government was still ruled by Russian surrogates. Ukrainians were never united; central and western Ukraine was more inclined towards Western European ideas, while most in the region’s eastern part staunchly supported the Russian position.
I was among the crowds in Kiev, Ukraine, in 2004-2005 during the Orange Revolution. This uprising tried to resolve the complex social and political issues. Interestingly, people outside the population centers had little interest in the Orange Revolution.
A desire for self-determination has never been a goal for most Ukrainians. They have deep ties to Russia, and many want to preserve them as part of their identity.
Cultural and Linguistic Identity
The assertion that Ukraine is predominantly Russian in language and culture is a fact, but not one without complex aspects. Ukraine’s cultural and linguistic landscape is primarily Russian but is somewhat diverse due to its multifaceted history.
This is true because Slavs are the largest ethnic and linguistic group in Europe. In centuries past, they spread across eastern and southeastern Europe and northern Asia. There are three main Slavic subgroups: East Slavs, West Slavs, and South Slavs.
The East Slavs are Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians. They share the same language and culture.
Linguistic Landscape
Russian is widely spoken, especially in urban areas and the eastern regions. Ukrainian is the country’s official language but is predominantly used in rural areas and the region’s western part.
Ukrainian has a melodious quality; it is described as more “musical” than Russian, characterized by softer sounds and more open vowels. Many say that people in the American South speak melodically, but it is still English, and most understand it.
Ukrainian and Russian share many cognates (words with a common origin), but Ukrainian has preserved a significant number of words from Old Church Slavonic, even though they were not commonly used until the rise of the present Ukrainian regime. The grammatical structure of Ukrainian has differences, despite both languages being Slavic and sharing many similarities.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the use of Ukrainian, driven by Ukrainian separatists. Ukraine has even implemented laws to promote the use of Ukrainians in education, government, and media, viewing it as a symbol of independence from Russian influence. Of course, such laws would have been unnecessary if Russian had not been the dominant language in the first place.
Many linguistic changes are a political sham designed to suggest an identity that has only emerged in the last couple of years. For example, the capital, with the historic name of Kiev, has been rebranded Kyiv. The Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, now masks his common Russian surname by spelling it Zelenskyy.
Politically correct nations and news outlets use these new spellings. The reality is, current leaders are reframing and inflating Ukrainian folklore in an attempt to erase the reality that they have been a part of Russia for most of the last thousand years. Changing historic names is an obvious form of Ukrainian separatists propaganda to gain international support. They did not employ these practices from 1991-2022.Cultural Identity
Ukraine boasts a rich cultural tapestry that includes traditional music, dance, literature, and art. They grow from a shared Slavic heritage. They share many of the same cultural elements as Russia. Some differ, as might be expected in any region of a country.
This situation is not different from any other country and does not qualify Ukraine as a separate country. For example, in the US, traditions and customs are different on the coasts than in the Midwest. New England customs differ from those in the South. In the US, we share a history and culture that transcends regionalism, and that’s the way it was between Russia and its Ukraine region before the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Perhaps the best thing world leaders can do is to help people of breakaway Ukraine accept their historic Russian identity, as complex as it is. It would immediately end the war. Putin could be deposed from power through a democratic process, and the Ukrainian separatists could be dealt with humanely.
Religious Influence
Religion has always played a significant role in cultural identity. We were all told that the old Soviet Union was atheistic, and that led to a Bible smuggling gambit by Christians in the West. It was mainly unneeded, however. The official policy of the Marxists in power was atheism, but a massive portion of the population stayed faithful to Christ, as expressed by the very biblical Russian Orthodox Church.
The majority of Ukrainians identify with Eastern Orthodoxy. Except for inroads made by some Evangelical groups, the churches in Ukraine were Russian Orthodox Churches.
In a political move, not a spiritual one, the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine was established in 2018. Many Christians saw this as an brazen act to create a Ukrainian religious identity that did not previously exist.
The Nature of the Conflict: Civil War or Invasion?
I am pro-life. Are you? To me, that means more than taking a stand against abortion. It also means taking a stand against war or any other activity that dehumanizes or kills people.
There is no question that the war in Ukraine should end. But some powers do not want that humanitarian and spiritual goal. They continue to supply soldiers and firepower to the fray. It is nearly two years into the destruction, and negotiations are not a priority.
The war would end quicker if we saw it for what it is, a Civil War between Russia and Ukraine. We need to realize that Ukraine has primarily been a region of Russia for more than a thousand years, and opportunists tried to make it an independent state amid the confusion of the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The US and NATO nations quickly recognized Ukraine as a sovereign nation. There was no sound historical precedent for this, but it was an act by the West to diminish Russian influence. Recognition was an act of diplomatic revenge against Russia.
As late as 2014, there were pronouncements from the UN and some countries, but no action was taken when Russia reclaimed Crimea. It is no wonder that Russia took steps in 2022 to also reclaim eastern Ukraine. The people in that region strongly identify as Russian.
Donetsk, which we often hear about in the news, was where the well-known Cold War era Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev grew up. That is a notable confirmation that Ukraine has been Russian territory.
A Biblical Perspective on Nations and Sovereignty
Christians turn to Scripture to guide our understanding of nations, sovereignty, and conflict response.
The Role of Leaders
Vladimir Putin is responsible for terrible atrocities because of his reckless use of his own soldiers and because of the killing of citizens in the Ukraine region. He should not be in power. He wanted to restore the Russian Empire to its former glory, but he miscalculated the resistance since reclaiming Crimea was almost unopposed.
He is not the only leader who has miscalculated the devastation of the war. Both President Biden and NATO leaders have fed the war monster. They are all correct that Russia should not envelop Eastern Europe as it did during the Soviet years. Yet they do not realize that Ukraine has been a region of Russia for nearly 1,200 years, with a few exceptions due to outside invasions, such as by the Ottoman Empire.
World leaders must cease sending arms in support of either Russia or Ukraine. They must force the situation in another way so that Russia and Ukraine can peacefully agree.
The Role of Nations
The Bible acknowledges the existence of nations and their boundaries. In Acts 17:26, it is written, “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.” This suggests that nations and their borders are part of God’s design.
The entire issue with most wars is the limits of those boundaries. Israel is another example of that. They possessed the land for thousands of years before they were exiled. Today’s conflict is not about “Palestine” or “Gaza.” It is about Islamic Nationalism. Mohammed only invented Islam in 600 AD, so there should be no impact on Israel. The pressure today is only secondarily related to geographic boundaries; it is based on the hate generated by Islamic regimes.
The role of nations should be to stop wars, not to supply weaponry to them. When diplomacy fails, all of humanity has failed.
Justice and Oppression
Scripture calls us to stand against oppression and injustice. Isaiah 1:17 urges, “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”
In the context of Ukraine, we must consider that Ukrainians have a false sense of nationhood and could end the injustice by assuming their former role as a Russian region.
The fly in the ointment is Putin, of course. He has acted so violently that he may never win the hearts and minds of the Ukrainian side of his Russian family.
But does that mean Ukraine had the right to proclaim itself an independent nation in 1991? Probably not. How would an American feel if California, Texas, or New York proclaimed independence? We learned the answer to that during our Civil War and remained united geographically.
The Pursuit of Peace
The Bible places a high value on peace. Romans 12:18 exhorts, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Christians are called to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) and to pursue reconciliation whenever possible.
And it is possible to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine Civil War.
While supporting justice, believers must also pray and work toward peace, seeking solutions that honor both truth and the dignity of all involved.
As Christains, we cannot automatically take one side or the other because one leader acts like a tyrant, and the other is a former comedian. It is up to Christians to find a path to peace, to vocalize it, and to elect and lobby officials who support a quick end to the war.
Navigating Complexity with Compassion and Truth
There are practical steps we can take to reflect Christ’s love and wisdom in a fractured world:
Pray for Wisdom and Peace
Lift up Ukraine, Russia, and world leaders in prayer. Ask God to guide their decisions and soften hearts toward reconciliation. Pray for the safety of innocent civilians and those aiding the affected regions. Yes, we need to pray for both sides in this devasting conflict.
Seek Understanding
Educate yourself on Ukraine’s history. The issue is not as black and white as you might wish it to be. Considering history, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is a Civil War, and we need not make it worse by interference.
Christians must avoid oversimplifications and stereotypes, striving instead to understand the diverse perspectives involved.
Support Humanitarian Efforts
Contribute to reputable organizations providing relief to those impacted by the conflict. As Proverbs 19:17 reminds us, “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”
Foster Unity in the Body of Christ
Encourage churches and Christian communities to come together in prayer and action. The global church can be a powerful force for peace and reconciliation that serves Russia and Ukraine when united in purpose.
By responding with grace, truth, and compassion, we can reflect God’s heart for justice and peace in a complex and broken world.
Sources cited: Unless otherwise noted, Bible quotations are from the English Standard Version (ESV).
