The Russian People Are Not Our Enemy

 For most of my life, Russia has been presented to the American people as our enemy. I grew up during the Cold War believing that all Russians were communists and that Russia was a godless nation determined to destroy America.

Then something happened that changed my thinking.

Our family met a Russian family who explained that there were Christians living in the Soviet Union. These believers were suffering for the cause of Christ. Later, I met other Christians from the USSR. I discovered that many of them opposed communism as strongly as I did. They loved the Lord, believed the Bible, and wanted the freedom to worship Jesus Christ.

That realization changed my entire belief system.

I learned that a nation’s government does not necessarily represent the hearts of all its people. The Soviet government was communist and officially atheistic, but that did not mean every Russian was a communist or an atheist. Behind the Iron Curtain were faithful Christians praying, worshipping, raising their children in the faith, and sometimes suffering imprisonment because they refused to deny Christ.

They were never my enemies. They were my brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Russia Is Not the Soviet Union

The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Russia today is not the same communist state that existed during the Cold War. That does not mean the Russian government is righteous, democratic in the American sense, or beyond criticism. Russia has serious problems involving political freedom, warfare, government power, and religious liberty.

However, America also has serious problems.

The Russian Orthodox Church now occupies an important position within Russian society. Many Russians profess values concerning marriage, family, abortion, and morality that are similar to those held by conservative American Christians.

Yet millions of Americans continue thinking about Russia as though nothing has changed since the days of Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union.

Why does this old hatred remain?

Part of the answer is that Cold War thinking became deeply planted in the American mind. For decades we were taught that Russian, Soviet, communist, atheist, and enemy all meant approximately the same thing. The Soviet Union disappeared, but the old enemy image remained.

It is much easier to prepare people for conflict when they have been taught to fear and hate the people on the other side.

Two Different Weights

As I look at Russia and America, I see both governments doing things they condemn when the other side does them.

When Russia interferes in another country, we call it aggression. When America interferes, we call it defending democracy.

When Russia spreads its version of events, we call it propaganda. When our government controls the narrative, we call it public information.

When Russia conducts surveillance, we call it tyranny. When our government watches its own citizens, we are told it is necessary for national security.

When Russia uses military power outside its borders, we condemn its expansion. When America sends troops, weapons, intelligence, or bombs into another country, we are told it is protecting the free world.

Not every Russian and American action is exactly the same. Each situation should be judged by the facts. Nevertheless, Christians cannot use one moral standard for our friends and another for our enemies.

The Bible says:

“Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.”
— Proverbs 20:10, KJV

A wrong action does not become right because the American government does it. Neither does every accusation against Russia automatically become true because our political leaders or news media repeat it.

If we condemn another nation for something, we must be willing to condemn the same behavior when it is committed by our own nation. Truth does not change according to which flag is flying over the government building.

Patriotism Must Never Replace Truth

I love America, but loving my country does not require me to believe that my government is always right. In fact, genuine love sometimes requires us to speak when our nation is doing wrong.

The prophets of the Old Testament loved Israel, but they did not remain silent about Israel’s sins. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, and Micah warned their own people. They did not excuse wickedness simply because it was committed by their nation.

Isaiah declared:

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.”
— Isaiah 5:20, KJV

Christians should never surrender their moral judgment to a government, political party, military alliance, or television commentator. Our standard is not Washington or Moscow. Our standard is the Word of God.

America is not always right, and Russia is not always wrong. Russia is not always right, and America is not always wrong. Both governments are composed of human beings, and human beings are affected by pride, greed, fear, ambition, and the desire for power.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
— Romans 3:23, KJV

That verse applies to presidents, prime ministers, generals, legislators, intelligence officials, journalists—and country preachers.

Religious Language Does Not Make a Government Christian

The renewed visibility of the Russian Orthodox Church does not automatically make the Russian government Christian. Political leaders may use religious language to justify their policies or strengthen their authority.

But we must also admit that the same thing happens in America.

American politicians speak of God, quote Scripture, attend prayer meetings, and appeal to Christian voters. Yet invoking the name of God does not make a person a follower of Jesus Christ. Putting a cross beside a national flag does not make every government policy righteous.

Jesus gave us the proper test:

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
— Matthew 7:20, KJV

We must examine the fruit.

Does the policy produce justice or oppression? Does it protect innocent life or destroy it? Does it promote truth or depend upon deception? Does it seek peace or increase hatred? Does it defend the weak or enrich the powerful?

Those questions must be asked about Russia, but they must also be asked about America.

The institutional Russian Orthodox Church must not be confused with every sincere Russian believer. Neither should American political Christianity be confused with every genuine follower of Jesus Christ.

God has faithful people who may be living under governments with which we strongly disagree.

The Government Is Not the People

One of the greatest mistakes we make is treating an entire population as though every individual were responsible for the actions of its government.

The Russian government is not the Russian people.

The American government is not the American people.

The Ukrainian government is not the Ukrainian people.

There are Russian mothers who do not want their sons sent to war. There are Ukrainian mothers who grieve over children who will never return home. There are Americans who do not want their taxes used to support endless warfare.

Ordinary people often suffer while powerful men make decisions from secure offices.

We should remember that Russian Christians may disagree with their government just as American Christians sometimes disagree with ours. Some may be afraid to speak openly. Others may have heard only the information permitted by their government. The same possibility should cause Americans to examine how our own understanding is shaped.

Before we condemn an entire people, we should remember the words of Jesus:

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
— Matthew 5:9, KJV

Jesus did not say, “Blessed are the warmakers.” He did not say, “Blessed are those who hate their national enemies.” He called His followers to become peacemakers.

Our Brothers and Sisters Across the Border

A Christian in Russia who has trusted Jesus Christ as Savior is my brother or sister in the Lord. National borders do not divide the body of Christ.

Paul wrote:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
— Galatians 3:28, KJV

In Christ there is neither Russian nor American, neither Ukrainian nor Iranian. Earthly nationality does not determine our place in the household of God.

Paul also instructed:

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
— Galatians 6:10, KJV

It is time for Christians around the world to support and encourage one another. We should pray for Russian Christians, Ukrainian Christians, and believers living in every nation touched by war and political conflict.

If one part of the body suffers, the entire body should feel that suffering.

“And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it.”
— 1 Corinthians 12:26, KJV

When a Russian believer is persecuted, I should care. When a Ukrainian church is destroyed, I should care. When an American Christian is deceived into hating people he has never met, I should care.

We belong to one body, serve one Lord, and have been redeemed by the same blood.

The Real Enemy Is Spiritual

The deepest struggle in this world is not America against Russia. It is not East against West, Republican against Democrat, or one race against another.

The battle is spiritual.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
— Ephesians 6:12, KJV

Our enemy is not the Russian farmer, factory worker, mother, child, or Christian worshipping in a small congregation. The real enemy is the spiritual power that produces lies, hatred, murder, pride, division, and destruction.

Satan does not care which nation wins an election or plants its flag on a battlefield. He is pleased whenever human beings hate one another. He is satisfied when fear replaces faith, propaganda replaces truth, and nationalism becomes more important to Christians than the kingdom of God.

If Satan can persuade American Christians to hate Russian Christians, he has divided the body of Christ. If he can persuade Russian Christians to hate Ukrainian believers, he has accomplished the same purpose.

Jesus warned us:

“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.”
— Matthew 12:25, KJV

The Church must not allow the governments of this world to determine whom we love, whom we hate, or for whom we pray.

No Earthly Government Can Win This War

America cannot win the spiritual war through superior weapons. Russia cannot win it through military strength. NATO cannot win it, and no political alliance can defeat the powers of darkness.

Only the Lord can win this battle.

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”
— Zechariah 4:6, KJV

Our victory will not come through tanks, missiles, sanctions, intelligence operations, or political propaganda. The weapons of the Church are spiritual.

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.”
— 2 Corinthians 10:4, KJV

The Church must fight with truth, prayer, faith, holiness, compassion, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must refuse the hatred being sold to us by those who profit from division and war.

That does not mean ignoring evil. Christians must speak against injustice, invasion, persecution, and the killing of innocent people. But we must condemn those things consistently—whether they are done by an enemy, an ally, or our own government.

The Church Must Be the Church

The Church was never called to become the religious department of an earthly government. Our responsibility is not to bless everything our nation does. We are called to bear witness to a kingdom that is greater than America, Russia, or any other earthly power.

Jesus said:

“My kingdom is not of this world.”
— John 18:36, KJV

Our highest loyalty belongs to Jesus Christ.

It is time for Christians to look beyond political borders and recognize the household of faith. Let Russian believers pray for American Christians. Let American Christians pray for Russian and Ukrainian believers. Let us encourage those who suffer and refuse to allow national hatred to separate those whom Christ has joined together.

We may not agree about every political issue. We may receive different accounts of world events. But if we have been born again through faith in Jesus Christ, we are members of the same family.

The world is trying to convince us that flesh and blood are our enemies. The Bible tells us otherwise.

The world tells us that military power will save us. The Bible tells us that victory comes by the Spirit of the Lord.

The world teaches us to hate. Jesus commands us to love and pray.

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
— Matthew 5:44, KJV

I am not asking anyone to trust every government, excuse injustice, or ignore the suffering caused by war. I am asking Christians to remember who we are.

We are not first Americans, Russians, or Ukrainians. We are first followers of Jesus Christ.

The Russian people are not our enemy. The Ukrainian people are not our enemy. Ordinary people on either side are not our enemy.

We are engaged in a spiritual war that only the Lord can win. Therefore, let us stand together with our brothers and sisters in the household of faith, pray for one another, speak the truth without a double standard, and follow the Prince of Peace.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”
— Ephesians 6:10, KJV