Even as I type this salutation, I am drawn to the time when Moses approached Pharaoh on behalf of his people. On behalf of God’s people. Perhaps you have heard this story. Yet, Mr. Putin, unlike Moses and Egypt… your weapons of war are ominously different, but the oppression, control, hatred and power are very similar.
Additionally, as I write to you, I realize in a fresh way, that unlike Moses, I have the recorded teaching of Jesus to inform this letter.
Without calibration or exception, Jesus gave me very specific instructions in ways that inform the crafting of this letter, and in my attitude toward you… “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:43-45)
Your propensity to persecute is not a personal matter for me, but it most certainly is for others that I respect, esteem, value, and love. I listened to some of them pray this week. They prayed with passion and pain and courage and compassion… And my heart and soul melted. I ached. I grieved.
In October, you will turn 70 years old. Like me, you are in the waning days of your earthly life. I would remind you, that while we are radically different in power, wealth, spiritual values, political reach, military strength and global influence… and this in orders of magnitude beyond calculation, we will both, someday soon… be dust. As the book of Genesis says, “you are dust, and to dust you will return.”
Dust. Gone from your position of power. Gone from the control of vast armies and arsenals. Dust. You and me… and all of mankind.
Then, judgment. An accounting. A reconciliation of accounts. For me. And yes, Mr. Putin, for you. “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
I will answer for my treatment of the vulnerable, the outcast, the alien, the weak. The least of these. I will answer for my attitude and actions of injustice to those within my scope of influence and impact…
And yes, Mr. Putin, so will you.
I believe that this is why Jesus teaches us, instructs us, and expects His followers to love our enemies. Because even now, you, like Pharaoh can “let these people go.” You can loosen your fierce and violent grip that you have on the throats of innocent people. Even now… God can shift your thinking and constrain your will. Even now, you can repent.
It’s only a short time until the billions of dollars that pollute your pockets will abandon you to the grave… until your voice of rage will be silenced… until your fist of power releases… until your story is a tragic chapter in human history. Then, dust.
You and me. Answering to God. Answering for the lives that we stewarded and power that we were entrusted.
Make no mistake, while the instructions of Jesus were to love our enemies, He has not set His justice aside. And this should bring sobriety to any intoxicated ego.
Yes, Mr. Putin… please. Let these people go.
{ 0 comments… add one now }