A Message of Reconciliation in a Troubled Time

I have been waiting to write this blog for a long while now. At first, I felt the inspiration to compile this while we were in Kosovo. Yet this post waited as we transitioned from the Balkans to serving in Ukraine. Just this morning (of Feb 24 I wrote the draft of this blog) the world woke up to a stark new reality. Russia has officially invaded Ukraine. It has been a whirlwind of emotions for my squad and I as we are grieving this new war and also praying over our ministry hosts that we served with less than three months ago. Ukraine was one of the most pivotal yet unexpected months as a squad, and we partnered with ministries scattered throughout the country. These people are near and dear to our hearts as this comes to pass- and as we navigate the last ? of the World Race and beyond.

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Shortly after the beginning of the world, Adam and Eve were given a choice: to follow God and obey Him or to eat the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. The crafty serpent tempted Eve into eating the fruit, and sin entered the world. The presence of sin is still felt today. One of the ugly effects of sin in this world is the presence of ethnic conflict. Originally, God created mankind to glorify Him and be made in His image. Since the Fall, man has splintered into various ethnic groups- many of whom have fought each other. A good chunk of the Old Testament showcases some of the bloody conflicts- like against the Philistines. Yet as I type this, one particular case really stands out. In the Exodus, God delivers His people (the Israelites) from the Egyptians and later ushers them into the Promised Land. However, the Books of Judges and 1 and 2 Kings shows this nation turning away from God and His righteousness. As a result, they engaged in a series of civil / tribal wars against one another. Eventually, the weakened kingdoms of Israel and Judah are exiled because of idolatry (See 2 Kings 17, 25).

Yet the Lord made a promise in the midst of the sin in this world. And that promise was fulfilled in the New Testament- that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die a terrible death (crucifixion) for our sins. He came as the Messiah- not to wage war, but to bring a message of peace. He did this to the point of death; but ultimately triumphing over death. Literally, He took on our sin for us as a perfect man so that anyone who believes in Him may have an everlasting life (see John 3:15-17). This is absolutely profound! Think about it- that He died a terrible death in our place so that we can be with the Lord forever. Later, He commissions His disciples to go and make Disciples of all Nations (Matthew 28: 18-20). His message is not just for the Israelites, but for all nations. Paul writes about that we are one in Christ (Galatians 3: 26-29). It is through the Gospel that we are sanctified as one humanity and restored with a relationship with God. And it is through the power of the Gospel that opposing ethnic groups are brought together into the global Church!

A little shy of 10 years ago, I was in New Orleans, Louisiana with my church. We were at the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) youth gathering. It was one of the most pivotal moments of my life, and I still tell others to this day that this was where I began the steps of taking ownership of my faith and giving my life to Christ. At the gathering, the theme verses were Ephesians 2: 14-20. Literally, it talks about two opposing humanities- the Jews and the Gentiles- being reconciled as one. The barrier, the veil, between God and His people and the Gentiles was shattered. These verses were used throughout the Gathering to illustrate the importance of knocking down walls in our own lives and laying down hostility (towards others or ourself) at the foot of the cross. These were powerful moments and the beginning of a winding and crazy Christian walk that continues as we serve in the country of Georgia (stay tuned for the next blog about this!).

One of the biggest themes of the World Race has been serving people who are hurting from recent or current conflicts with other ethnic groups. We became painfully aware of this as we worked in Kosovo. Kosovo (predominently Muslim) fought a bitter war in the 1990s against Serbia (Predominantly Christian Orthodox). Although they became an independent country, deep scars remain from the conflict. One of the biggest reasons the Yugoslav wars happened in the 1990s was because of ethnic conflicts. In Ukraine, we learned about the potential large scale war with Russia (and its now sadly taking place; much of it politically motivated). Both countries are predominantly Orthodox nations. And the country that we are now serving in, Georgia, has suffered multiple wars due to the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia wanting to be independent (mainly due to ethnic / political lines). All three people groups (the Georgians, the Abkhazians, and the Ossetians) are predominantly Orthodox.

As I dive deeper into the Yugoslav wars, the present war in Ukraine, and the past conflicts that Georgia endured- one conclusion can easily be reached. And that conclusion is this: Religion alone is not enough to bridge the gap between ethnic groups. A works based faith under the law and its regulations does not have the power to bring about reconciliation. Yet praise be to the Lord- who has made a way for ethnic reconciliation to take place through the blood of the lamb! And it is through Him that we are brought together as one united church. This church is the sanctified bride that is a citizen of Heaven and redeemed from the world.

Yes, I grieve today. I am grieving over the lives lost, the politics, and millions of innocent civilians who are suffering in Ukraine. And over these next couple of months, we will be ministering to people in Georgia and Armenia who have had personal experience with the ravages of war. One of the biggest ways God has used this Race has been to have us partner and walk with those who are suffering in challenging ways. And it has been a blessing to be able to do this as we press forward. I invite you to pray with us. And as the world faces dark times, I will always remember what is spoken in Scripture: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” (Romans 12: 9-13). May we continue to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and live like Christ- who is the Prince of Peace.