Christ or Kyiv: An Impossible Question?

One of the clearest directives of the Christian faith is found in James 1:27. “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” This simple but profound command has forged the foundation of Christ-centered charities caring for orphans of the former Soviet Union.

In prior U.S. presidential elections, Christians had zero problems aligning their political beliefs with their spiritual calling. While no one party can neatly fulfill all the principles of any religion, Republicans’ vigorous support of freedom — Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! — and the sanctity of life facilitated an easy choice. Now, the situation has become muddled.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, American Christian charities have been working around the clock to support the Ukrainian people in their hour of grave desperation. At the same time, with an election around the corner, these same believers are forced into a seemingly impossible situation.

As Christians, they cannot vote for Democrats because of their support of abortion. But they also cannot envision supporting the current Republican ticket as this would perversely justify wanton bloodlust. Simultaneously, they cannot vote for a third-party ticket as such a choice would invariably help Donald Trump.

To stand with Christ or with Kyiv — where arguably most Christians see contradiction and confusion, I only see clarity.

Without any doubt or hesitation, I stand with Kyiv.

The Only Choice to Make

To the indoctrinated, “professional” Christian, such a pronouncement seemingly clashes with long-established canon. Psalm 146:3 states, “Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.” It also suggests that I am placing human interests over Christ-centered ones.

But is there really a contradiction here? In fact, Jesus Himself has already addressed this very “contradiction.” Matthew 22:36-40 states the following:

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

As clear as the morning sun, we know that if we believe in Christ Jesus, then He would want us to aid the widows and condemn the widow makers. 1 John 3:17-18 states, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

The opposition has stymied this directive with an array of deflection tactics (i.e. whataboutisms), particularly in the economic realm. However, it is precisely because the Ukrainians cannot hope to pay us back that we are called to come to their aid.

In Acts 20:35, the Apostle Paul declared, “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

As Christians, standing with Kyiv is truly the only choice to make.

A Question of Maturity and Time

Growing up in a Christian home, I recognize that it is incredibly difficult to separate spirituality from science, especially in the area of the unknown. For instance, we know that biological life begins at conception. However, Christians are also convinced that personhood materializes at that moment; hence, our almost-sacrosanct support of the Republican ticket.

Nevertheless, we must be mature enough along our life journey to recognize hard realities. As much as I have stated in the past that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, in all honesty, this is a spiritual declaration and not a factual one. I never had a literal relationship with Christ. I cannot tell you with absolute certainty whether He is real or not.

In contrast, I know with absolute certainty that Kyiv is real. I’ve been there. I’ve walked the grounds, breathed the air, communed with the people. They have welcomed me during a time of peace. I will not turn my back on them during this time of war.

As we mature, we must also recognize the extreme dangers of hinging principles on politics. Otherwise, Christians will end up supporting a Republican party (either directly or indirectly through a third-party vote) that tacitly endorses a genocidal mandate.

As for the issue of abortion, advocating for government controls is an output issue. If we as Christians holistically cared about this matter, we would address the problem at the root: rectifying the biases of patriarchal hegemony, valuing and validating the female gender and resolving structural and economic inequities. A good-faith effort in these areas would not only address abortion but a host of other social ills.

Of course, such a path requires time — time that the Ukrainians do not have. That’s ultimately the best gift that we can provide. Irrespective of our leadership, the abortion problem will take decades, if not centuries to resolve.

We can always reach across the aisle with our fellow Americans on this and any other issue. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the current Russian regime when it comes to the sanctity of Ukrainian life and nationhood.

That’s the difference.

Standing Before True Judgment

In the midst of the current political whirlwind, I am struck at the dissonance of Russian propaganda, that Ukrainian identity is a fabrication and that forcible unification is the only proper solution. I am reminded by the words (and warnings) of the Prophet Isaiah:

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;

Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;

Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

While the American evangelical church bends backwards attempting to reconcile its principles with the contemporary Republican framework, I have never been more sure about the validity of the Christian tenet. If Christ is real, if our faith has any meaning at all, then we should do everything in our power to support the oppressed, not the oppressor.

Because ultimately, if we really trusted in what we say is the Truth, we would only know one fact: at the end of our days, we will give an account of our lives. At that moment, it comes down to not what we believed but what we stood for.

You know where I stand.