About “our own” God on both sides of the war
On how faith becomes an argument in favor of one’s own side. Illustrative photo from open sources
I read a Russian bishop’s account of how a Ukrainian bullet lodged in a prayer book in the pocket of a Russian soldier, and the Russian soldier did not die. A miracle. Therefore, God is with the Russians.
Then, the other day, I read a Ukrainian priest’s account of how a Russian bullet lodged in an icon in the pocket of a Ukrainian soldier, and the Ukrainian soldier did not die. A miracle. Therefore, God is with the Ukrainians.
It is clear enough that both sides, with their lavish prayers for the victory of their own army, are trying to persuade God to be precisely on their side. And, of course, against the other side.
But God Himself, it seems, has still not quite made up His mind. One moment He helps these ones, the next moment those ones. He saves these, then He saves those. One detects here a certain divine lack of discrimination.
After all, both sides have explained everything to Him quite clearly:
“Give us victory! Us!”
“Give us – Russians/Ukrainians – the victory!”
And yet He keeps insisting on doing things His own way, on deciding for Himself, without our helpful instructions.
It is almost embarrassing – on God’s behalf.
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