Some reflections on the Russo-Georgian conflict
Just before the fighting broke out, I was planning to post an update about exciting, recent events for the Baptists in Georgia: a visit by Baptist World Alliance General Secretary Neville Callam, the gorgeous wedding ceremony for Archbishop Malkhaz and his bride Ala, and the ordination of the first Baptist female bishop (alongside two other regional bishops) on the Eastern feast of Pentecost. Perhaps I can share more about all that later, but for now my thoughts turn to the unfolding tragedy facing that tiny Baptist union's tiny country.
1. While the purported spiritual leader of the Rus, His Holiness Patriarch Alexi II of the Russian Orthodox Church, has lamented the outbreak of hostilities between the two officially Eastern Orthodox countries and has called for a cease-fire, the renewed alliance between church and state in Russia has assuredly restored a heroic, persecuted church to the classical impotence of caesaropopism. After all, Alexi has gotten all buddy-buddy with his Autocraticness Putin, local governments continue to repress freedom of religion...oh, and here's a good idea - let's bless a tool of government-sanctioned violence and name it after a saint! Doubtless, Patriarch Ilia of Georgia is similarly compromised by wielding nationalism in order to restore Christian influence in society. In either case, the collusion between the ekklesia and the powers has muted any possible prophetic voice that would speak against Christian killing Christian....or even Christian killing at all! I am thankful that Archbishop Malkhaz and the Baptists of Georgia have forthrightly stood for peacemaking, reconciliation, and the honest confession of their nation's own sins in other conflicts. Certainly this time of troubles will test their commitment to the the peaceable kingdom of the Lamb who overcomes, and for that reason they must be in our prayers.
2. For me, this conflict draws attention to the fallen nature of the powers and principalities of our world - the structures of human existence that have turned aside from their good intents to serve selfish and evil human ends. The American media is clearly focusing on the wickedness of one power in this conflict, the Russian government. The response to Georgia's crackdown on the South Ossetian separatists is brutal, disproportionate, and unnecessarily devastating. The Russian military couldn't pretend to be following the classic principles of Just War theory. Putin and his puppet Medvedev have found a perfect excuse to execute punitive punishment on Georgia for being too smarmy and independent. Georgia has sided with America, NATO, and the West at large, and re-imperialized Russia can't stand a disturbed hegemony in its own backyard (of course, America has acted similarly before). It's a terrible expression of naked power, perhaps more evil than power exercised in the name of an ideology.
On the other hand, the government of Georgia, despite its proclamation of liberal democratic ideals and Western values, is no less a fallen principality. In the name of nationalism the country has broadly turned over those values in exchange for a far older impulse: control of land as a source for a people's pride or glory. The wishes of Abkhazians and Ossetians for self-determination (which are also compromised by nationalism and ethnic pride and so laden with sin as well! ) are set aside for a single-minded pursuit of "territorial integrity." The nation-state once again arrogates to itself ultimate prerogatives as it proclaims what are permeable and temporal (political borders and boundaries) to be, in fact, sacred and permanent. It's as much a power game as that played by the separatist leaders, and Russia is, I'm afraid to say, correct to point the West's hypocrisy in supporting Georgia's gambit while simultaneously chastising Serbia for wanting to hold onto Kosovo. Oh, and can we just admit that President Saakashvili was a bit bone-headed if he thought he could get away with invading South Ossetia? His nationalist fervor could drive his country to ruin.
3. And, meanwhile, thousands of people who have just been trying to get by with their lives have now become refugees, walking wounded or, worse, bodies in the ground. At the end of the day, analysis must give away to lament for all that has been lost. Grieve for Georgia and grieve for Ossetia. Pray for the Baptists and all other Christians there, that they may have the strength to testify with their lives: another world is possible. Another world is coming. And His kingdom shall have no end.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner. And take away my comfort.
1. While the purported spiritual leader of the Rus, His Holiness Patriarch Alexi II of the Russian Orthodox Church, has lamented the outbreak of hostilities between the two officially Eastern Orthodox countries and has called for a cease-fire, the renewed alliance between church and state in Russia has assuredly restored a heroic, persecuted church to the classical impotence of caesaropopism. After all, Alexi has gotten all buddy-buddy with his Autocraticness Putin, local governments continue to repress freedom of religion...oh, and here's a good idea - let's bless a tool of government-sanctioned violence and name it after a saint! Doubtless, Patriarch Ilia of Georgia is similarly compromised by wielding nationalism in order to restore Christian influence in society. In either case, the collusion between the ekklesia and the powers has muted any possible prophetic voice that would speak against Christian killing Christian....or even Christian killing at all! I am thankful that Archbishop Malkhaz and the Baptists of Georgia have forthrightly stood for peacemaking, reconciliation, and the honest confession of their nation's own sins in other conflicts. Certainly this time of troubles will test their commitment to the the peaceable kingdom of the Lamb who overcomes, and for that reason they must be in our prayers.
2. For me, this conflict draws attention to the fallen nature of the powers and principalities of our world - the structures of human existence that have turned aside from their good intents to serve selfish and evil human ends. The American media is clearly focusing on the wickedness of one power in this conflict, the Russian government. The response to Georgia's crackdown on the South Ossetian separatists is brutal, disproportionate, and unnecessarily devastating. The Russian military couldn't pretend to be following the classic principles of Just War theory. Putin and his puppet Medvedev have found a perfect excuse to execute punitive punishment on Georgia for being too smarmy and independent. Georgia has sided with America, NATO, and the West at large, and re-imperialized Russia can't stand a disturbed hegemony in its own backyard (of course, America has acted similarly before). It's a terrible expression of naked power, perhaps more evil than power exercised in the name of an ideology.
On the other hand, the government of Georgia, despite its proclamation of liberal democratic ideals and Western values, is no less a fallen principality. In the name of nationalism the country has broadly turned over those values in exchange for a far older impulse: control of land as a source for a people's pride or glory. The wishes of Abkhazians and Ossetians for self-determination (which are also compromised by nationalism and ethnic pride and so laden with sin as well! ) are set aside for a single-minded pursuit of "territorial integrity." The nation-state once again arrogates to itself ultimate prerogatives as it proclaims what are permeable and temporal (political borders and boundaries) to be, in fact, sacred and permanent. It's as much a power game as that played by the separatist leaders, and Russia is, I'm afraid to say, correct to point the West's hypocrisy in supporting Georgia's gambit while simultaneously chastising Serbia for wanting to hold onto Kosovo. Oh, and can we just admit that President Saakashvili was a bit bone-headed if he thought he could get away with invading South Ossetia? His nationalist fervor could drive his country to ruin.
3. And, meanwhile, thousands of people who have just been trying to get by with their lives have now become refugees, walking wounded or, worse, bodies in the ground. At the end of the day, analysis must give away to lament for all that has been lost. Grieve for Georgia and grieve for Ossetia. Pray for the Baptists and all other Christians there, that they may have the strength to testify with their lives: another world is possible. Another world is coming. And His kingdom shall have no end.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner. And take away my comfort.
Thank you for providing a touch of moral clarity to these distressing events.
Posted by
D. P. |
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 7:34:00 AM
Thanks. Your thoughts are well-thought and prayer-laden. They voice a frustration that I struggle to find words for.
Posted by
JHearne |
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 8:35:00 AM
ClaritY? maaybe not. Chris, do you view all govt as inherently evil? Your talk about the "falleness" of the powers lends to that direction.
I belive I can show that position deficient, but not now (I had 11 stitches put in my finger yesterday). Also, your post was disproportionately negative to Mother Russia. NATO and EU anti-Christianism didn't get near the bad rap as Russian Orthodoxy.
Posted by
Jacob |
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:33:00 PM
Jacob,
I understand from your perspective how my emphasis on the fallen character of the powers would raise that question. But, however much you think my language tends toward declaring government as somehow intrinsically evil, it is important that I didn't go so far as to say that. Are we "inherently evil" because we are fallen as well?
I don't think it impossible that government can be reformed in such a way that it better reflects God's good intent for human coexistence. I do think that we can argue that some governments in some ways better embody the good toward which the Church's proclamation points. And the Church should celebrate and congratulate what government gets right. But, in the end (or, should I say, awaiting the end/consummation), governments still stand judged for their arrogance, their power games, and their injustice.
If I was disproportionately negative toward Russia then it was because I believe Russia is disproportionately to blame in this situation. Putin's Machiavellian (and deadly) bullying of Georgia far outstrips the faults of others. Whatever "anti-Christianism" NATO (?) or the EU may possess, I don't recall either of those entities letting their paramilitary subordinates loot and pillage anyone lately...
Posted by
Chris Schelin |
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:49:00 PM
Until my finger heals and allows me to type, I have only one rebutall: nah-uh!
While not logically superior, it does make me feel good inside.
RE: Wilson. I didn't think B oyd was a lightweight. As for Yoder/Cavanaugh, ask him. He has a comments section (I say that because I really don't know).
But if it makes you feel bwtter, I am currently dealing with Cavanaugh on the State.
Posted by
Jacob |
Thursday, August 14, 2008 12:59:00 PM
I was asking if you hafe to take exams et al for ordination. I am not famliair with baptistic polity in this regard. In Calvindom, you have to take about 5 exams and be drilled publically concerning polity on the floor of the prebytery.
Posted by
Jacob |
Thursday, August 14, 2008 7:53:00 PM
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