He Will Change Swords to Plowshares

Dear CoaH,

During the past four weeks, we have seen the darkest side of Putin. His forces have been pounding upon the innocent civilians of Ukraine. People all over the world are furious. Some say that Putin is the modern-day Hitler with his ruthless bombing and shelling. While people liken him to Hitler, it is ironic that Putin wishes to de-nazify Ukraine. He says he has no choice but to engage in the 'Special Operation' to bring safety to Ukraine. Special or not, the people of Ukraine are living in hell.

But let's not forget that Putin's cruelty is also on his people. A Western reporter interviewed one mother whose son is a conscripted soldier fighting in Ukraine. She was worried about her son's life, as she had not heard from him for the past ten days. Very fortunately, her son called and said that he was still alive. But he said, 'mom, most of the soldiers in my regiment are dead.' The interview was cut short because the police spotted her. She had to walk away quickly to avoid the arrest. She insisted that her son was still a child in her eyes and that they should let him go. This war is a tragedy for both sides. The only way out, it seems, is for someone to take Putin out.

At the end of World War II in Germany, the underground church pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) received the death sentence by hanging for the conspiracy to kill Hitler. Bonhoeffer gave the analogy of a mad driver. Hitler was that insane driver about to kill innocent people. He argued like this:

"If you were sitting next to the driver, would you not take him out? Would you not take the handle away from him?"

In hindsight, many of us would agree with his argument. Yes, we should take the mad driver out.

It has been almost eighty years since the death of Bonhoeffer. The city of Mariupol in southern Ukraine reopened the bomb shelter which was used during Hitler's invasion. Now it serves as a shelter from Putin's bombs. Don't you wish that all bomb shelters in Ukraine be closed for good?

Let us pray for a quick end to this senseless war.

“He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isa. 2:4)

May the LORD bless you and keep you safe.

Pastor Minho Song