How does one “keep away from politics” when talking about praying for a country [i.e. Ukraine] whose “crises of the moment” are due, not to “natural phenomena”, such as earthquakes or climate change or the weather, but are due to politics?
Why is Ukraine the West’s Fault? Featuring John Mearsheimer
One can talk in general terms about a situation without bringing specific discussion of individual leaders, parties, policies into view.
If any user thinks they would not be able to do that then they may wish to reconsider whether this is the best topic for them to engage in.
[edit: additionally the question in the title is theological, not political.]
In general terms we are closer to extinction than we’ve been for 60 years, thanks to an individual leader.
It’s fascinating as to what one man in power can do, it is also terrifying.
I agree. I guess we can also say that he would have no power if it were not for others who think he has the solution to their problems. The truly powerful despots convince people that they are serving them.
This sure reminds me of the Cold War.
Good song at the end about where our security is.
And then there’s this… 
Yes. It seems we don’t care nearly as much for the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, either; or for their refugees, perhaps. Parents Selling Children Shows Desperation In Afghanistan : NPR
And this:
Viewpoint on Ukraine: Why African wars get different treatment - BBC News
We can pray for all of them.
In every sense it’s about distance, but above all ethnic, cultural, historical, political, religious. How many boxes are ticked. We’re that kind of monkey.
A refugee from Ethiopia was almost bitter about the warm welcome that was given to refugees from Ukraine. He said that nobody has said ‘welcome’ to him, although he feels that he is in a comparable situation than the refugees coming from Ukraine.
Our love is selective, which is a shame.
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Thank your christian brothers and sisters for that .You guys are indeed hypocrites.You have the worst people in the chuirch.
I think Nero would be a good replacement in the world right now so you can learn some manners . 
But to be honest, this is a rare, secular finding of welcoming refugees. It’s not a Christian movement for the Ukraine, I think. The church in Russia is strongly pro the Russian movement. War is heartbreaking in any case.
On the other hand, as I am sure you know, there are many, many Christian movements in favor of not only refugees, but also of caring for the poor elsewhere–more than any other NGO (religious or not), by far. My uncle’s church supported a family of Iraqi interpreters and their little girl (Muslims), and we often ate with them at my grandma’s house for Thanksgiving and Christmas. As children we knew immigrants from Vietnam supported by a church.
At the very least, no one can ever say they are 100% pure or right.
I’m interested more and more in Christian pacifism.
Thanks.
No it’s perfectly natural. This is evolved morality working as it should and always does. He is not in a comparable situation by multiple unticked boxes.
It’s natural, but by Christ’s law, it’s not morally right–which I guess is also evolved 
And so, that’s “natural,” too?
Most believers I know show love towards all people, including refugees. Some are against immigration, mostly persons supporting populist parties. Even these persons show love towards refugees they learn to know, so it is not being against individuals. My guess is that the negative attitude stems from fear.
Immigration is a nasty problem in the sense that we should help these people but a policy of open doors would easily lead to a situation where the number of immigrants exceeds the number of citizens. Especially in a situation where the proportion of retired persons increases and puts financial stress on the public economy, a large amount of immigrants may shift the balance between taxes and the need of public economic support towards a catastrophic direction.
A common solution to this problem is to support refugees as close to their homes as possible. Most refugees would not like to leave their home and would like to return as soon as possible. If we send support to these people where they are, it might be a win-win situation. The suffering get the help they need and stay in the neighborhood of their home, instead of being unwanted immigrants far from their home.
Personally, I believe that praying for peace and praying for these people helps these people as much as sending money. I believe that our heavenly Father listens to the prayers of His children through Jesus. He can change the situations in ways we could not even imagine, both at the level of nations and individuals. This is of course a matter of faith - I believe that He listens and acts, therefore I pray.
Well aye Randy. If Jesus were not God incarnate, then the arc of His morality would still be the greatest individually based contribution to the development of morality. Which is unquantifiably insignificant in Russian culture, especially church.
Morality is what we say it is, and objectively there is no cultural comparison with the Tigray and Ukrainian Wars. Apart from that Christianity is significant by its absence in both.
It’s true, and very sad. Ukrainian refugees have been treated with overwhelming love by the Polish, but refugees from the Middle East and African are treated with brutality.
Two Refugees, Both on Poland’s Border. But Worlds Apart.
A young man fleeing war in Sudan and a young woman evacuating Ukraine crossed into Poland at the same time. They had very different experiences.
If we are careful to hold ourselves a mirror, maybe such disparities and brutality can alert us to the need of refugees, the world over.
In a war, there are people praying for the victory of both sides. Both sides think they are on the ‘right’ side of the conflict. What could be a united prayer is to pray for peace.
I read an interview of a Russian writer, Viktor Jerofejev. He told that the ‘realities’ (or national narratives) have diverged for centuries between the west and Russia. He said that going over the border to Russia is like jumping from one planet to another. What is seen as ‘light’ and ‘darkness’ is the opposite in these planets. He claimed that the west analyses the situation in a superficial way, does not understand the differences between these worlds. He assumed that most Russians support Putin because of this difference. They think that Putin may be a ‘bad boy’ (gopnik) but he is fighting for the light, against the forces of darkness. In the west, the viewpoint is naturally the opposite.
It is likely that many in Russia are praying for the rapid victory of Russia in this ‘special military operation’. Yet, I hope we all pray for peace.
Sad that our worldviews are often so far from each others. It is very good that God decides what He will do, not us or those having an opposite viewpoint.
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” -Colossians 4:6
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