God, Putin, family, race and homosexuality
The invasion by Russia’s President of Ukraine has engendered some confusing (to me) reactions here in the United States and around the world. Donald Trump speaks of Putin as a genius. Some conservative Christian organizations and individuals in the United States have praised Putin and the invasion of Ukraine. Some, such as Pat Robertson, believe Putin is doing what God calls him to do to hasten Armageddon (google Pat Robertson and Putin’s invasion. Many news sources report Roberson saying this.) Other conservative Christians have likened “Christian America” and “Holy Russia”
A handful of U.S.-based Christian nonprofits have consistently praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a global beacon of hope - both for families and for the survival of Christianity” (julieroyscom, Feb 28,2022).
Lauren Wtzkle, the 2020 GOP candidate for U. S. Senate in Delaware, praised Putin. Accordingly to Alex Henderson writing in the March1, 2p11 edition of alternative.org states that “…some Republicans and white American evangelicals today- say they have admired Putin because of the alignment of their beliefs with his about homosexuality, authoritarianism and fealty to former President Donald Trump”. President Putin has aligned himself with the Russian Orthodox Church with regards to its view that marriage is between “one dad and one mum”. Does this make him a Christian?
Many others, including some who identify as Christian, describe President Putin as evil.
As I noted in last Sunday’s blog, many in the Christian church have begun the season of Lent during which all are encouraged to do a searching moral inventory and to prepare for a new beginning. In the midst of the praise of Putin or the labeling of him as evil, the teachings of Jesus seem to me to be absent. Although there is no record of Jesus offering an opinion about the same sex relationships, nothing he says indicates that he would be concerned. There is no indication that he knew that the there was not, in fact, a shortage of male “seeds which was the eroneous belief which resulted in Old Testament teachers warning about the dangers of same sex relationships.. He was concerned about such issues as loving your enemy, feeding the homeless, visiting those in prison, and a host of other issues which we loosely referred to now as social justice issues.
It is clear to me that Mr. Putin is a human who is clearly addicted/attached to power and a set of beliefs which he thinks will enhance his power base. Any addict who is in recovery will be happy to share that self loathing and a need to prove oneself is a core element of addictive thinking. Obviously, fear about one’s worth does not cause addiction but it can lead to an attempt to numb the pain of self rejection or to seek one’s worth in power, sex (also about power and not sex per say), possessions, things, money or anything outside of oneself. Any recovering addict will tell one, one of any of these is not enough and a thousand is too many. This is as true with power as it is for recreational drugs or other people, places or things.
I feel sorry for President Putin. I do not believe he is evil. I do think that his attempt to prove his worth by wielding military power again the Ukrainian or anyone who does not feed his ego has evil results. Yet the man himself is not evil. Certainly, he needs to be relieved of his power base. I would go so far as to suggest he be forced into an addiction treatment program. I would never recommend that we use evil/violent behavior to stop evil. Yet, having said that, I cannot say what i would do if I was living in Ukraine and faced with watching the destruction of family, friends, and other community members as well as the very fabric of the economic, historical and spiritual base of the country. Would I remain non-violent but not passive? How would I be assertive in my resistance without becoming violent? Would a willingness to use my body to stop a bullet from striking a family member solve anything? Would the teachings and lessons of Martin Luther King Jr. guide me in a realistic response? How could I obey the command of Jesus to love my enemy and not become a passive pawn?
What is the connection between fear of same sex love, gender fluidity, addiction, and the justification or at least endorsement as necessary of violent behavior? Why is racism and other forms of oppression so often connected with these issues? What is the common thread?
It seems to me that the common thread is a deep fear that it is not enough to be us; not enough to be human with all the strengths, possibilities, and limitations we, as humans, have. With the same mind which creates the beauty of art and music and engineering genius we doubt we are enough. The message of Jesus, the Buddha and may other wise teachers is: It is enough to be us. It is enough to be part of a whole who together can work the magic of caring for each other and living in harmony with Mother Earth. Sadly , this is a truth which eludes Putin, those Christians who praise Putin the addicted dictator and those who simply dismiss him as evil.
Written March 6, 2022
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org