"This world was not created by ourselves. God created it and it was originally very good. God's will is that all of his creation should be well and that there should be peace among one another. However, he does not do it alone, but gives us the freedom to choose for ourselves, to choose good or evil and to do it or not. Even today, God still speaks to us through the face of every other human being: "Do not kill the other, do not harm the other." Roman Solivy in a conversation about the "theology of the other"
The image of building a house
"Anyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them is like a wise man who has built his house on rock. The rains came down, the torrents came, the winds blew and beat against the house, and it did not fall. For its foundation was rock.
And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who has built his house on sand. Then the rain poured down, torrents came, the winds blew and beat against the house, and it collapsed, and its fall was terrible." Gospel of Matthew 7:24-27
Our fear
"In the world you have fear, but be of good cheer, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Gospel of John 16:33
Our confidence
"You will receive the power of the Holy Spirit and will be my witnesses." Acts 1:8
Kierkegaard
"You can only understand life backwards, but you have to live it forwards."
I've just heard on the news that a new study shows that 71% of people in Switzerland are worried about the future, and this applies to all generations. Life is actually going well for them, but will it stay that way for us?
At the moment, I too am very worried about our future. I agree with Olaf Scholz that we are living in a turning point. We can already see what all this means, even if we can only guess what lies ahead. Many people don't want to deal with it in detail, they live their own, still good lives and say to themselves: Whoever comes, as it comes. Let's eat and drink, because tomorrow we'll be dead. Some simply suppress their fears and questions. Others seek refuge in simple explanations, taking refuge in sect-like movements.
Julian Chaplinsky told me in a conversation: "We are witnessing the resurrection of a new totalitarianism that will soon reign in this world." I shared his assessment at the time and share it more and more.
Construction, Destruction, Reconstruction
I would like to explain what we are experiencing today using the terms "construction - deconstruction - reconstruction". I dealt with this in a conference with the Protestant theologian Thorsten Dietz. It was about the "post-evangelical movement" among many, especially younger Christians. However, he also showed us that this doesn't just affect the churches, but is actually an expression of general developments in this world.
Construction of a new world order in recent decades
After the two First World Wars, everyone said: Never again war. We want to secure peace for the future. A great deal was subsequently rebuilt, not only the devastated cities and landscapes, but a generally recognised new order emerged in Western Europe, based on the values of the Enlightenment, whose pioneers were rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition: Democracy and freedom, liberalism and human rights. As a result, the European states separated from their colonies and new states emerged.
International organisations were created: the UN and, as a result, the new state of Israel. International rules for the laws of war were created, NATO, which was to guarantee common security and mutual support in defence in the event of a new war, the Court of Human Rights, later the EEC, which eventually became today's EU, France and Germany reconciled, Germany and Poland too, the USA, which participated in the victory in the Second World War, became the protective power in the West. Europe and the entire West flourished.
But at the same time, the world divided. The other victor, the Soviet Union under Stalin, was spreading. Communist regimes emerged in Eastern Europe under the rule of Moscow. Uprisings were suppressed in Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Poland. The Soviet Union spread its communist ideology worldwide, infiltrating and spying everywhere it could to overthrow other governments and overcome capitalism. It believed itself to be superior, ideologically, technically and militarily.
A bipolar world order emerged with two major powers: the USA and the Soviet Union. And with it the "Cold War", a new threat, mutual armament, nuclear bombs. Later, the peace movement, pacifism, attempts at rapprochement, trade agreements, the Helsinki Accords with mutual recognition of human rights (which, however, were only unilaterally and only partially honoured).
The Berlin Wall finally fell in 1989, the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and new independent states emerged. The borders of the states were internationally guaranteed. The West believed that peace and joint development for the benefit of all were finally possible.
Looking back today, this all seems too optimistic. A dark phase followed in the states of the former Soviet Union, a general chaos, a certain freedom and an oligarchy of nouveau riche people who seized everything they could to enrich themselves. Democracy only appeared, however, and a new president appeared, previously unknown. Russia recovered with Western investment. But hardly anyone realised who Putin was and what he wanted. It became clear when he said in Munich that "the greatest global catastrophe of the 20th century would be the dissolution of the Soviet Union".
Wars followed: first in Chechnya, then in Georgia and Moldova. Separatist, pro-Russian regions emerged. The West was helpless and sought negotiations. Corruption spread in Ukraine, its presidents came and went. There were popular uprisings: first in favour of the country's independence, then the "Orange Revolution" after a new president was almost poisoned, and finally the "Revolution of Dignity" on the Maidan, which led to the overthrow of the Russia-friendly president.
During this time, the world was celebrating the Olympics in Sochi and Putin was showing off his great Russia. The following day, however, came as a shock: the seizure of Crimea and the creation of the two separatist People's Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. Ukraine was in crisis at the time and barely had an army. But there were people who resisted the Russian attack, some very nationalistic men who were later integrated into the new Ukrainian army and had to renounce their extremism. The elections showed that far-right parties had no chance, however, with less than 2% of Ukrainians voting for them. This was followed by the long war in eastern Ukraine, the shooting down of a Malaysia Air plane, which is now proven to have been shot down by the Russian military, the monitoring of the new borders by the OSCE, the Minsk agreements, which Russia was the first to violate, and a gradual calming of the situation.
And finally this big shock on 24 February 2024.
Deconstructing the current world order
Actually, it should have been visible for a long time: The new order after the Second World War never really worked. We in the West allowed ourselves to be deceived and believed in negotiations, Putin was misjudged, violations of the order were not really sanctioned, people believed in "peace through trade". The Eastern European voices that warned were not heard.
During the coronavirus crisis at the latest, it became clear how divided the world was, especially in the West. Russia manipulated and spread its propaganda. A global network of far-right parties emerged, well connected with Russia. Dissatisfaction with Western governments spread. What Vance said recently about Europe and the West has a certain truth to it. Many things in the West can be criticised quite justifiably. But not simply by not criticising the other side: the attack on Russia is not condemned, Putin and his dangerousness are never mentioned.
The developments of the last few days clearly show that our familiar order, our security, is over. We will not be able to save it. The USA is no longer our protective power. Europe is becoming a regional power that must defend itself and develop its economy independently of the USA.
What is currently emerging is a new multipolar world. And the question is, what does this mean for us, how do we deal with it?
Reconstruction: Our challenge with a view to the future
We must remember the wisdom of Kierkegaard: "Life can only be understood backwards, but we must live it forwards."
Looking back, we see many things that we could have seen. But looking back, the nostalgic view of our apparent peace, does not help us. We have to face up to the challenge we find ourselves in. Try to move forward, despite everything.
In this area, I believe we can learn a lot from the Ukrainians, who do not simply surrender, try to survive, defend ourselves, live in spite of everything, work on the future and develop new things.
We should therefore support each other, walk together, try to fend off the common enemy. If we don't succeed, we will all end up in chaos.
Spiritual perspective
At the beginning, I mentioned what Roman Solvivy said recently. God wants us all to prosper and live together peacefully. But he doesn't do it without us. We have to choose, decide whether to do good or evil.
The future also lies with us. At the same time, God continues to believe in this world and also in us. We must take the risk of faith and do what is good. We have to leave our comfort zone and try to do the right thing.
Our rock as Christians in the storms of the times is Christ. Let us look to him, the true ruler of the world. Let us be inspired by his actions. He hears our voice, our despair, our questions, our helplessness. "Do not be afraid!" He told his frightened people again and again. "In the world you are afraid, but I am with you." Christ also continues to tell us the truth of the Bible: "Seek the world's best." "You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world". And he does not leave us alone: "You will receive the power of the Holy Spirit and will be my witnesses."
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