It's been a busy week in Eastern European news, but significant events have gone the way of democracy and freedom. Undoubtedly things are ramping up and the admittance that we are at defacto war with Russia (even if that war is a collective fusion of sabotages and cyber threats or a "hybrid" war) by the ex chief of MI5 shows the significance of all events in this arena. Of most note I think are two events. Both show that European intellegence is on the front foot.
1. Modova votes for democracy.
Following on from yesterday's post about believers facing persecution because of their faithfulness, I received another friend's prayer request this morning. In their situation the church has been prohibited from meeting and those connected interrogated. The tactic of imposing fear, opponents pooring abuse and anger on the church is often followed by a season of growth within the church. The issue is not whether the church meets in public or underground, the issue is the authentic presence of God proven to be in operation keeping His people in resurection power. The reasons for persecution in such instances are so illogical. If authorities were honest they would say they want to control society, to keep people from free thought, and control social and fianncial influence for themselves or the religious/ social structure they defend which is inherently abusive. In reality, many folks see through this. This is especially so in women who are often the most abused in such a structural system.
The clarity this brings, that God lives amongst his people, that women and any downtrodden are treasured by God, and that human governance leads to hopelessness and selfishness is doing the church's work for them as the ground is prepared for the good news of Christ and God's word. I have seen this pattern countless times. However the immediate cost is paid by those who have laid aside their lives, reputation and comfort for the gospel to go forward. Pray particularly for women in this situation who are not only abused culturally regardless of religion, but especially intimidated if they belong to Christ. They are the one's often to pay the highest price for the growth of the church.
Pray for those women who lead such women and are showing great faithfulness particulalrly in this specific situation. In this context the church is relatively young in an unreached / frontier region. However, the maturity being shown is nothing other than superaturally inconquerable. Leadership is influence. Many of these women have never had social status, but their influence for the kingdom is parabolic.
As an aside in the light of this, let me say a word about the UK context and all that is going on regarding our debate of appropraite access for imigrants to make their home here.
Hi Friends,
An encouragement to pray for some persecuted friends and to learn from their distinctiveness in following Christ.
Two things came together for me this weekend. A clear word in our church plant context from one of the pastors preaching on 1 Sam 8-11 and some much awaited news of persecuted church in a frontier context. Sometimes we can read too much into circumstances colliding, other times we can miss God speak through what He does as well as what He instructs. An over academic approach can sometimes miss the bloomin obvious (theological phrase). God is so patient with us.
Both are summed up by Romans 12:2, I make no apology for repeating it as it what God seems to be pointing me to so often in this season.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
In 1 Sam the issue is that the people of God wanted a King "like all the other nations". (1 Sam 8:20). Their issue wasn't actually that they wanted a King. Wanting Godly, clear leadership is a univeral passion that comes from the law of creation and our image bearing of God which hungers for fruitfulness (Gen 1:21, 9:1, 17:6) . No, the issue was that they wanted the same life as those who didn't want God. Therefore their cry was a personal rejection of God relationally, all He had done for them, and all of His wisdom to be LORD and protector over them. It was a passion that would do them no good. It was a retrograde step back to the land of slavery, bitterness and hardship (EX 1:13-14) from which He had rescued them, a desire to return to sin (as proverbs 26:11 so graffically states it).
Over the last few days there has been a significant increase in activity around the coastal region of Odesa. Rockets and drones of course are sadly not unusual. What seems more brazen is the constant efforts to target civilian targets as a gesture of street bullying by military means.
The post service office was just one of many targets, which cannot be defined in any way as of military significance. From the beginning of this full scale invasion the objective has been to terrify, kill, torture and intimidate, not so much a milirary exercise as a terrorist plan of chaos and destruction.
When we think we are too good for God, that we are virtuous and good for our world, there is no hope.
We live in a sick and broken world.
The response and reaction to the murder of Charlie Kirk was so revealing. There was enough online without me wading in. In schools of several Western countries there were numerous quotes from teenagers, assemblies and R.E. discussion groups saying "he deserved to die". One vox pop speaker in Amsterdam said on the streets, "I don't know his positions, but i'm glad he is not with us anymore, it is a good thing." and even a teacher was quoted as saying "we need more assassinations." The Western World has become an asylam run by the lunatics, and what it says makes no sense. Hate is irrational, and the depth and width of it present in our age is not isolated or confined. The Oxford Union President said "some institutions are too broken to be reformed, they should and must be taken down by any means necessary". Any means ? The celebration of a murder is as broken as it gets. To define life by getting rid of people and killing people who don't agree with us (especially when we don't understand what they stand for), is as inhumane as it gets. The value of human life has plummeted to subhuman levels. One spokewoman Lizzy Page became the centre of attention when she said she spoke on behalf of the those who said Charlie deserved to be " a human water fountain". She describes herself as a writer, poet and mental health worker. In these chilling words she describes mental and social health in terms that can only be described as sick, without the remotest sensitivity to the human condition, with calculating callousness and ruthless grimness.
Over the last 3 and a half years a constant conversation has gone around in circles about what could be done with the frozen Russian financial assets secured from banking sanctions after February 2022's full-scale invasion.
Numerous complex and protracted discussions have deliberated on what was legally permitted with such frozen assets. What became clear over the last few days is that because Russia has clearly not complied with international law, the way is open to utilise these assets for the protection of Ukraine and European citizens. What still makes us want to scratch our grey matter is why this elementary analysis took so long.
Although the European union can be ponderous with decision making, on many fronts, it appears that when critical action is needed and Europe faces an existential threat or crisis the rubicon is traversed, laws can be changed. Put another way, when Europe is truly going to foot the bill, it sees the wisdom in trying to contain the cost and limit the tab.
The flurry of messages yesterday from Nepal all said the same thing, "heartbroken". As one friend put it so eloquently "What began as a movement with noble intentions was tragically hijacked, turning into violence, destruction, and fear. Lives have been lost, public properties destroyed, and hearts wounded."
Multiple videos of anger and brutal beatings were opened in many apps. Of greater importance than the tech however were the lives destroyed and the depth of despair at the reality unfolding. The conversation has dramatically moved in 48 hours. Following government resignations, it was not enough to quell anger, readdress the situation. Mass protests and mobs ignored curfews, the police and army ordered to control the outbreak said "no", "we are here to look after our people". Familiar, well known streets became unrecognisable places of fire, vilence and devastation. Anarchy was reality (Judges 21:25). The situation now shows some stability with only essential vehicles on the roads. |
| "We don't need a corrupt government" and "Youth cannot be killed" |
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| Government building as PM resigns and numerous ministers. |
