“You will hear of wars and rumours of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains”. (Matt 24:6-8)
International crisis No. 2
Following hot on the heels of the Covid 19 crisis – a two-year nightmare of lockdowns, masking, social distancing and unprecedented restrictions on our rights and freedoms – our attention has now shifted to the war in Ukraine.
But the full implications of the pandemic and the well-orchestrated fear campaign that has damaged so many lives cannot yet be known. One thing, however, is clear. Public trust in government and the output of mainstream media is at an all-time low. The theory that the emergence of Covid-19 represented the opportunity to turn the concept which the World Economic Forum calls ‘The Great Reset’ into a reality has gained traction. The response to Covid-19 has certainly produced in our leaders an appetite for more authoritarian government. Some believe that the pandemic was used as a convenient tool in the broader Global-Reset agenda.
There are those who argue that the terrible new war in Ukraine, and particularly Western government responses to it, could take us another step closer to a one-world government and financial system.
There are those who argue that the terrible new war in Ukraine, and particularly Western government responses to it, could take us another step closer to a one-world government and financial system. We are now facing a clear energy crisis; and the war will reduce world food production, leading to shortages which may necessitate rationing, as Russia and Ukraine are both major wheat producers. We also risk a major cyber-attack – and one on the banking system could lead to financial collapse. (Not to mention the possibility of nuclear devastation.)
Response to the crises
Western leaders are understandably outraged because Putin is undermining the will of a people in a sovereign state – a clear threat to the world consensus established since 1945 that no country’s borders should be changed through force, only through political means (such as referenda). But the will of the people meant nothing to them when they locked down our nation states, forced us to stay in our homes, told us to inject our children, shut down our churches so we could not worship God together and closed our businesses.
Western governments have already shown their authoritarian streak – which some have relaxed more than others – for a disease that, although serious, bears little resemblance in severity to the great plagues that have swept our world in times past. How will they react to the more existential threat which is becoming more and more likely the longer this war lasts?
What will be needed to control the rationing system that may well be needed?
What could come next? Will it be mandatory microchips in our hands, or a human/machine interface for digital verification? Or more traditional methods? We’ve lived through rationing before, with some still able to remember it, of course, so it’s not unreasonable that it may be necessary. But will this crisis be used to build on the social controls we’ve become used to over the last two years, which have inoculated us against authoritarianism? And will countries have to work together to manage this, paving the way for a global government?
Preparing ourselves
As we inevitably face shortages and rising prices caused by the terrible war, it makes sense to prepare ourselves. There is more to be said about preparing for social controls, which we will address another time, but many have been discussing ways to lessen some of the pressures on us on energy and food.
Stocking up, however, may help us, but it will not help the world, as many people doing this will simply push up prices further, putting everyday essentials more and more out of reach for those already struggling to get in the weekly shop that they need, and those across the world facing food insecurity. Our focus shouldn’t be on survival at all costs, but we should be seeking to love others even amidst scarcity. For what use is it “for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matt 16:26) For “whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8).
Our focus shouldn’t be on survival at all costs, but we should be seeking to love others even amidst scarcity.
Finding ways to reduce food waste and cut gas and electricity usage in the home will help everyone, not just ourselves. Creating networks to share what we have will be essential. Find out who in your neighbourhood is most at risk of food shortages and find ways to help them. If you already have food stored up from when food was not scarce, then wonderful, it can be used to supply both you and your neighbours in need. If you don’t already support a local foodbank, look to how you can do this. And you may wish to consider planting seeds to grow food, using flower beds, or even window boxes and windowsills – it’s just the right time of year. Anything you can grow will be one thing less that you need to buy in the supermarket, which will then be available for someone else.
Whether or not this leads to a global new order or not is as yet uncertain – it could just as much lead to global fragmentation. There is little we can do to stop a new world order if that is what will happen, but it is important that we do not fear, as Jesus told us: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more” (Luke 12:4). There is, however, plenty we can do to ensure that we live the way that Christ called us to live.
Meanwhile, we watch and we pray for the restoration of peace and freedom in Ukraine.
