What should your neighbors do if a bully breaks into your home in broad daylight, begins killing members of your family, and publicly announces that the killing will continue until you surrender or abandon your home? Should the neighbors send…
As Putin bombs children, Russian Orthodox patriarch names the root of Ukraine’s sin: Gay Pride parades
While his president bombed children in Ukraine, the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox church used his March 6 Sunday sermon to name the real source of the war started by Russia against its neighbor: Gay pride parades. Patriarch Kirill preached…
600 Ukrainian Baptist churches actively responding to humanitarian need
Baptist churches in Ukraine are providing around-the-clock humanitarian relief in increasingly difficult circumstances as Russia’s offensive widens, the European Baptist Federation said in a March 8 situation report. “Ukrainian Baptists continue to respond to the war in their country. Churches…
Black and Asian refugees fleeing Ukraine face additional barriers, discrimination
Black and Asian refugees fleeing Ukraine due to Russia’s unprovoked and deadly attack there are facing discrimination as they attempt to enter neighboring countries such as Poland. After multiple news reports of such discrimination, a member of Allen Temple Baptist…
Ethicists Without Borders issues statement on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine
Dear BNG readers: Ethicists without Borders is a Facebook group spearheaded by the distinguished Christian ethicist Tobias Winright of St. Louis University. This group has just released the statement below. I am a signatory. Note the following elements: This statement…
BNG webinar offers conversation on Ukraine, Eastern Europe and religious freedom
Two experts on international religious freedom will be featured in a Baptist News Global webinar Thursday, March 3, at 3 p.m. Eastern time. The speakers are Wade Kusack, founder and president of Love Your Neighbor Community, a nonprofit that promotes…
Let’s be clear: Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is not about the rapture and Russia in biblical prophecy
As soon as “Russia” and “war” are mentioned in the same sentence, all the premillennial, rapture, tribulation, Armageddon believers are on high alert. The Rapture Index (yes, there is such a thing) is at 186. The all-time high for the…
Don’t forget the religious implications of geopolitical upheaval
For weeks the world has been holding its breath as the simmering tensions between Russia and Ukraine reached a boiling point. When Putin’s Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, the pot boiled over. Already we have seen via global news…
How to pray for Vladimir Putin
I struggle to reconcile Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:44 with my desire to see Vladimir Putin and his minions annihilated. The Gospel text states: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Two questions…