“Therefore keep watch, for you do not know the day nor the hour.” – Matthew 25:13
Does uncertainty prevent us from walking in faith? Do preparations for war, for pandemic, for crises show that we do not believe God shepherds us and guides us? What do Christians do when the world seems to be crumbling around us in ways over which we have no control?
In Europe, such questions are becoming increasingly relevant. The war in Ukraine, a changing climate, economic distresses for so many on the continent, and the tensions and violence in the Middle East have shown that the world is not a place without suffering or fear. How the Church and its members approach such events must be determined.
At the 9th General Assembly of the CPCE in 2024, the Assembly resolved to begin a working process on the topic of “Being Church Together in Times of Uncertainty”. CPCE’s Advisory Board on Ethical Issues took on the working process and has begun working on ways to reflect on this topic and provide guidance for the Member Churches. On March 13, the group took part in a workshop with presentations from three esteemed speakers on the topic of uncertainty.
Insights from Ukraine, Finland and the EU-Head of European Civil Protection and and Humanitarian Aid Operations
Taras Dyatlik of Ukraine provided the group with a theological reflection on uncertainty from his position in a war-ravaged nation, where many feel powerless and many have experienced losses. Petri Patronen of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland detailed the concept of comprehensive security and the role of the Finnish church in this framework. Dr. Philip-Frank Vilar Welter of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations gave his insights on the EU Preparedness Strategy and the role individuals can play in realizing its aims.
From these three presentations from different sectors of society came a common theme: Uncertainty and preparation are acts of faithfulness. They are faithfulness to God, faithfulness to our institutions, and faithfulness to each other.
Preparedness, Faithfulness and sharing feelings of uncertainty is both christian
Acknowledging that we face uncertainty is the first step towards action. What this action should be is contextual. In some situations, action in the form of preparation for crisis is needed. In others, Christians must be given time to deeply feel this uncertainty and show their faith in doing so before moving to steps of reconciliation.
Uncertainty grants Christians an opportunity to act in service. We can serve our fellow Christians feeling immense uncertainty by praying with them and walking with them, as in Ukraine. We can serve the authorities in which we have placed our trust, whether secular or divine, by presenting ourselves as willing participants in measures to help our neighbors. This can be in ways as small as knowing what to do in an emergency, or as large as hosting youth summer camps and combatting social exclusion through church
programs. Each church and each individual is an actor when it comes to preparedness. As wars intensify, as outlooks become bleaker, it is all the more important that faithfulness in times of uncertainty supplants fear.
The Advisory Board on Ethical Issues will meet this month and continue their work on this relevant and important topic, and will provide the Member Churches with materials on “Being Church Together” in due time.
-Daniel Mohr