The invasion that began in the early hours of 24 February brought devastation to millions of lives and changed Europe forever – thousands of lives lost within days, schools and hospitals bombed, regions all over the country occupied; literally no-one in the country has been left safe from attack.
The devastation brought about by bombing, shelling and missile attacks, to buildings, communities and villages, is massive in scale – whole towns have been reduced to rubble. Yet this visiblephysical devastation can hardly match the pain and trauma felt by millions of families who have been ripped apart by the war. “A part of everyone’s soul has been ripped away,” said a local pastor recently.
Yet strange as it may seem, military fighting is not the only war going on right now in this country. Cruise missiles and tanks are powerful, but they are not the only kind of weapon. What kind of war is this?
Another battle
It is a battle over who is telling the truth, amidst all of the lies and propaganda. When confronted with accusations of war crimes by a reporter, one of the senior ambassadors for the invading country responded by quickly asserting that the evidence was made up ‘fake news.’ He then added: “This is an information war going on. Whoever wins the battle of information will win this war!” It is quite possibly the only true thing I have ever heard him say!
People are dying on both sides of this war simply because of lies
This battle for truth has been going on in society for a long time, of course. Christians have always had to fight against the prevailing resistance to truth. But in a time of war, when evil deeds are sought to be justified, carried out and then covered up, the propaganda machines go into overdrive. It is hard to see through the fog of war, to discern what is right and wrong, and Christians need to work extra hard to refuse and refute the lies that come at us daily.
I was struck recently by the incredibly dangerous consequences of believing human lies. People are dying on both sides of this war simply because of lies. A pastor friend of ours put it like this recently, “When the truth is neglected, a war becomes just a matter of time – it will inevitably happen. Therefore, it is not the absence of a war that is important, but truth. Only truth can lead us to true freedom … propaganda does terrible things.”
Those terrible things have been witnessed in the occupied areas of the invading army. The atrocities committed will keep war crimes tribunals busy for years and souls weeping for centuries. Lies always lead to darkness, as they come from the ‘father of lies’.
Christians have responded incredibly to this war, to stand with the afflicted and reach out to all who are in need. So many people have given, helped, supported, taken in refugees, fed the hungry, and lobbied for an end to the war. Thousands of gospel opportunities have opened up, which we pray every day will bring people to faith in Christ.
And every day we pray for an end to the war, so that bloodshed will cease, families will be reunited and gospel freedoms can be restored.
Another prayer
But there is another prayer that we must constantly pray – that the truth will prevail. That lies and propaganda will be uncovered for what they are: shrouded in darkness and malice. Pray that Christian believers who have been soaked in that propaganda will see the light and embrace the truth.
As Jesus said: “The truth shall set you free” (John 8:32). Freedom will come again to the broken lives of this broken country not simply when the bombs stop falling, but when the truth prevails. And we pray that many will see the truth of the gospel and the amazing grace of Christ.
A & T serve in Eastern Europe