Joint Statement About the War Against Ukraine by Seminaries Around the World

The Christian Church has been instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Created by the Word of God and directed by the Holy Spirit, the Church confesses one Lord and Savior Jesus, His gospel and law. Therefore, as part of the Church and under the Lordship of Christ, we are called to speak the truth and expose deceit (Eph 4:15; 4:25).

In the light of Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine, we consider it necessary to strongly condemn the open and unjustified aggression aimed at destroying the statehood and independence of Ukraine and based on blatant lies from the lips of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and the country's top leadership.

We reject Putin's mythical narrative, which has nothing to do with historical reality, about the alleged artificial creation of the Ukrainian state.

We condemn Putin's cynical lies about Ukraine's alleged genocide of the people in the east of the country, lies that Putin uses to satisfy his own geopolitical ambitions, which are clearly contrary to God's revelation (Deut. 27:17; Prov. 22:28).

We confess the real and unlimited power of God over all countries and continents (Ps 24:1), as well as over all kings and rulers (Prov 21:1), therefore, nothing in all creation can interfere with the fulfillment of the good and perfect will of God. We, together with the first Christians, affirm “Jesus is Lord,” and not Caesar.

We express solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We share the pain of those who have already lost their loved ones. We pray that all of the aggressor's plans would be thwarted and put to shame. We call on all people of good will around the world to resist the lies and hatred of the aggressor. We call on everyone to petition for a cessation of hostilities and to exert every possible influence on the Russian Federation in order to stop the unmotivated aggression toward Ukraine. We ask you to pray for peace for the people of Ukraine and for courage and wisdom for Christian churches so that they continue to serve those in need.

We pray for our authorities and put our hope in the King of kings and the Lord of lords, who is, and remains, our refuge and our fortress, even in time of war (Ps 46).

Signed:

Evangelical Reformed Seminary of Ukraine

Baltic Reformed Theological Seminary (Riga, Latvia)

Evening Reformed Seminary (Almaty, Kazakhstan)

Kyiv Theological Seminary

Odessa Theological Seminary

Poltava Theological Seminary

Reformed Theological Seminary of Donetsk (temporarily located in Kyiv)

Reformed Theological Seminary Heidelberg, (Germany)

Seminary in Western Russia (we withhold the name of the seminary)

Seminary in Western Siberia, Russia (we withhold the name of the seminary)

Taurian Christian Institute (Kherson)

 

The War in the Ukraine: Praying, Hurting, Longing

The following prayer offered by Scott Smith, founding pastor of Christ Community Church in Franklin TN, is laced with grief and lament, sobriety about the reality of evil, and fervent trust in God's presence and promises for his persecuted in Ukraine and around the world.

“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them… They will neither harm nor destroy anywhere on my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Isa. 1

 Lord Jesus, our hearts break, our anger is growing, our fears are real. The evil we are witnessing in the Ukraine fuels our longing for the fulfillment of Isaiah’s vision. How long, O Lord? Have mercy, King Jesus. We pray for the church, children, and citizens of the Ukraine. We pray for the growing masses of Russian citizens protesting this horror. 

Jesus, hasten the Day when all enmity, strife, and violence will be gone forever—no more wars or even rumors of war. All selfishness, racism, tribalism, or trafficking have an expiration date. As you have promised, “They will neither harm nor destroy anywhere…” Your entire every-nation Bride will love one another as you love us, Jesus. Hallelujah, what a glorious, guaranteed hope. 

Hurry the Day when God’s glory will cover the earth like saltwater covers the oceans of the world—the Day when knowing the Lord won’t be something we do, but who we are. The Day when we will finally and fully love and worship you with everything we have and are. 

Until then, keep us groaning and growing in grace, Lord Jesus. Grant us quick repentances, softer hearts, and a passion for local reconciliation and global mission. May the world recognize us as your disciples by the way we love one another. You have come, and you’re coming again, Jesus. How long, O Lord? So Very Amen.

Scotty Smith, founding pastor
Christ Community Church
Franklin TN