Will there be Peace in Ukraine?

There is certainly an overwhelming desire for peace in Ukraine — especially among Ukrainians. It was their country that was unjustly invaded. Their cities are being bombed. Their soldiers and civilians are paying the ultimate price to defend freedom from tyranny. Their children are traumatized daily by air raid sirens and the horrors of war. Ukrainians long for peace, but they also seek justice and security.

Simply ending the conflict without addressing why it began in the first place — and without ensuring it won’t happen again — is not enough.

Consider the Christian understanding of the Gospel and salvation. Repentance is a critical step in our relationship with Jesus Christ. For there to be lasting peace between God and humanity, men and women must humble themselves, confess their sin, and turn from their wicked ways. That is when God responds with His overwhelming grace (2 Chron. 7:14). When Jesus preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God, He said, “Repent and believe” (Mark 1:15). Repentance means turning away from a current way of being and realigning with God’s plan for flourishing. Western Christians must recognize that some version of this is necessary to end the conflict in Ukraine in a way that holds perpetrators accountable and protects the victims…

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