May the shock of war wake us up
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:14
One thing that the war in Ukraine has done is remind us of our mission.
For too long we’ve ignored the warnings of Jesus about the world in which we live. Jesus warned of wars, natural catastrophes and promised persecution. He commanded his disciples to press on with the gospel to the ends of the earth, making disciples and multiplying churches as they went. Every people. Every place.
Meanwhile we’ve hung onto our naive notions of transforming this world. Mission has become whatever we want it to be — green zones, smashing the patriarchy, capturing political and cultural power. In Ukraine the reality of human sin and rebellion against God breaks out once more reminding us that this world needs a Savior, not just good advice.
Western notions of mission are for privileged people who think they have the power to restructure society according to their kingdom vision. Putin’s tanks destroyed that notion. History is a battle field between Christ and the forces of evil.
The gospel has social impact. Lives are transformed and the benefits flow on. But the cross of Christ is not a tool for social reform. Wars, famine and disasters remind us that the battle will continue until the very end. His kingdom will come in its fulness on the other side of his judgment. Every wrong will be put right. Until then we have a job to do.
