Would you pray for Putin?

Robban · Feb 9, 2025

Lukaris said:
The OP encouraged discussion so it happened. Replies were given and discussion developed. Apparently some might see Putin’s mark on the world as good as sliced bread and others not so ( me included). Personally, I pray that he steps down, the war ends & Ukraine & Russia have peace, sovereignty, & cooperation from here on.

The OP was being optimistic thinking there would be a difference of opinion, surely.

If all are agreeing with eachother, what is there to discuss?

I do not want to discuss, I just said what I mean, that´s it.

It was as good an opportunity as any, so , "If not now, when?"

Yarddog · Feb 13, 2025

Terek said:
You certainly know that Christ was called "the friend of sinners and tax collectors" . Not without reason - Jesus hung out with tax collector (Mt 9:10-11, Mk 2:15-16, L 5:29-30), he set one of them as an example in the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee (L 18:10-14), and appointed a tax collector, Matthew, as his disciple. (Mt 9:9, Mk 2:14, L 5:27-28).
It's easy to talk about it theoretically - after all, nowadays such tax collectors are not associated with very negatively by most people, and even those who don't like them do not have such a bad opinion of them as the ancient Jews had of their tax collectors. However, do we realize how controversial these words and actions were?
Let us imagine the person we hate the most, someone who has done us the most harm, and now let us try to pray about him. We can also imagine someone we do not know personally, but who we know does evil. For me, such a man will be Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. He attacked an independent state for no reason, bringing death to tens of thousands of innocent people and suffering to tens of millions. Of course, Russian Patriarch Kirill and Putin's supporters can easily pray for him, but that is not the point. Also, if for someone the war in Ukraine is an abstract topic, they can pray for him, because just hearing that "Putin is killing people" is something completely different from seeing the effects of his actions with one's own eyes, listening to the testimonies of the victims of the uprising and constantly pondering over the scale of this evil, not to mention experiencing the effects of his actions firsthand. But what if someone knows and feels how bad the war in Ukraine is? Or has even suffered from it? Could he really sincerely pray for Putin to turn from his evil path? I honestly admit that as an outsider, although a very attentive observer, I simply couldn't do it.
Someone might say: "I'll pray for Putin, because if he converts and ends the war, all the innocent people will benefit." Okay, but could you pray for him just for his own benefit? Let's assume that 10 years have passed. Putin has conquered all of Ukraine, achieving all of his goals, including the extermination of "resistant" Ukrainians. Now he is old, senile, and sits in a very luxurious nursing home. He has been removed from government and no longer has any power - political or moral. In other words: No one will benefit in the slightest from his change of heart and repentance. Would you still pray for him? After all, what good is it if he repents if it doesn't undo the evil he has done? What's more, it will mean that all the suffering and pain of his victims will go completely unpunished forever. And in such a case, could God punish those who acted on his orders, e.g. ordinary Russian soldiers, in a situation where the main person responsible will go unpunished? Especially since many of them will not even live to the end of the war to regret it, or a victorious war will strengthen them in the belief that their crimes have been rewarded.
Of course, the above question is directed to people who follow the conflict in Ukraine and feel anger because of the unimaginable evil that is taking place there. As I have already written, if for someone this is an abstract topic, then they cannot understand the scale of evil done by Putin and instead can refer in the comment to the examples that appeal to them the most.

I encourage discussion!

Yes, I pray for Putin, I prayed for Osama bin Laden, I pray for Trump, etc.

Sinners that change are a great testimony.

Jo555 · Feb 23, 2025

So I'm not sure if you are a Christian or not, but I will give you my view from my perspective as a Christian.

As Christians in the Holy scriptures we are told to pray for all, even our enemies. Jesus, going through such a horrific death cried out, "Father, forgive them. They know not what they do."

This is a work of being intimately acquainted with God, and also a work of his Spirit. Christians make a big deal of the law, but that is nothing compared to what Jesus showed us, that the standard is way above the law, impossible to reach of our own.

Not eye for an eye, but turn the other cheek.

Not just physical act of murder, but hating our brethren is murder for we have murdered him in our heart.

Not hate our enemies, but love them.

He wants to take your shirt, give him your coat too.

Impossible of ourselves.

But He didn't come just to show us we can't do it ourselves, but to empower us by his Spirit for all who believe.

By his Spirit, we can pray for Putin, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't deserve to pay on this Earth for what he has done. That would be a grave injustice. The matter of his soul would be in the hands of God, and he can use how his Spirit would lead us to pray.

I pray for others, but at times it doesn't feel genuine, so I try and press through my flesh as the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. If it still doesn't come I pray to God to engage my heart as He wants, and look to move on, leaving it in his hands.

I suspect, although a believer has his Spirit within, God is not looking to engage our hearts everywhere on an individual level, but engage it as we go through life.

I have a heart for Russia and Putin.
My deep affection for Russia was birthed through Russian literature, and I pray for them. But that doesn't mean I believe in what he is doing, and do believe he should pay for grave sins on this Earth, like any of us. God is a God of justice. He may forgive our sins, but He also hears the cries of those suffering and their cries for justice and does punish sin in the flesh.

I remember a long time ago God showing me (if you believe in that) a darkness covering continents, from West heading East, but it stopped at Russia's door.

I prayed for Russia and Putin. I'm still not sure what it was about, but suspect it was about looking to enforce our way of living on the world, but it had stopped at Russia's door.

Ok, so don't shoot me. It was a long time ago. I haven't had anything on Russia during the Ukraine war, but I have more matters quite serious on my heart on things closer to home.

Maybe if my heart was more engaged there I may see a darkness heading West and stopping at Ukraine's door, and feel more compelled to pray for Ukraine.

God has various ways to engage our hearts, especially when we are in love with the people, and / or grieving in love for them.

FireDragon76 · Feb 27, 2025

It's lawful to do so, but I'll spend my ill-gotten mammon more wisely than wasting my breath on that man.

johansen · Feb 27, 2025

Jo555 said:
I remember a long time ago God showing me (if you believe in that) a darkness covering continents, from West heading East, but it stopped at Russia's door

It would not surprise me if the deaths due to destabilization and regime change operations that the usa and its friends have done, over the last 30 years or so, exceeds what putin has done by a significant margin.

as for other evils that russia attemps to prevent.. LGBTQ rights in Russia - Wikipedia

Jo555 · Feb 27, 2025

johansen said:
It would not surprise me if the deaths due to destabilization and regime change operations that the usa and its friends have done, over the last 30 years or so, exceeds what putin has done by a significant margin.

as for other evils that russia attemps to prevent.. LGBTQ rights in Russia - Wikipedia

During the Arab Spring uprising, I heard one of the Arabic leaders say,

"The vision needs time to grow."

Something the Lord had been showing me too, in and out of the four walls of church; the lefties and righties.

How'd that Arab Spring work out?

Longing to kneel · Feb 27, 2025

Terek said:
You certainly know that Christ was called "the friend of sinners and tax collectors" . Not without reason - Jesus hung out with tax collector (Mt 9:10-11, Mk 2:15-16, L 5:29-30), he set one of them as an example in the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee (L 18:10-14), and appointed a tax collector, Matthew, as his disciple. (Mt 9:9, Mk 2:14, L 5:27-28).
It's easy to talk about it theoretically - after all, nowadays such tax collectors are not associated with very negatively by most people, and even those who don't like them do not have such a bad opinion of them as the ancient Jews had of their tax collectors. However, do we realize how controversial these words and actions were?
Let us imagine the person we hate the most, someone who has done us the most harm, and now let us try to pray about him. We can also imagine someone we do not know personally, but who we know does evil. For me, such a man will be Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. He attacked an independent state for no reason, bringing death to tens of thousands of innocent people and suffering to tens of millions. Of course, Russian Patriarch Kirill and Putin's supporters can easily pray for him, but that is not the point. Also, if for someone the war in Ukraine is an abstract topic, they can pray for him, because just hearing that "Putin is killing people" is something completely different from seeing the effects of his actions with one's own eyes, listening to the testimonies of the victims of the uprising and constantly pondering over the scale of this evil, not to mention experiencing the effects of his actions firsthand. But what if someone knows and feels how bad the war in Ukraine is? Or has even suffered from it? Could he really sincerely pray for Putin to turn from his evil path? I honestly admit that as an outsider, although a very attentive observer, I simply couldn't do it.
Someone might say: "I'll pray for Putin, because if he converts and ends the war, all the innocent people will benefit." Okay, but could you pray for him just for his own benefit? Let's assume that 10 years have passed. Putin has conquered all of Ukraine, achieving all of his goals, including the extermination of "resistant" Ukrainians. Now he is old, senile, and sits in a very luxurious nursing home. He has been removed from government and no longer has any power - political or moral. In other words: No one will benefit in the slightest from his change of heart and repentance. Would you still pray for him? After all, what good is it if he repents if it doesn't undo the evil he has done? What's more, it will mean that all the suffering and pain of his victims will go completely unpunished forever. And in such a case, could God punish those who acted on his orders, e.g. ordinary Russian soldiers, in a situation where the main person responsible will go unpunished? Especially since many of them will not even live to the end of the war to regret it, or a victorious war will strengthen them in the belief that their crimes have been rewarded.
Of course, the above question is directed to people who follow the conflict in Ukraine and feel anger because of the unimaginable evil that is taking place there. As I have already written, if for someone this is an abstract topic, then they cannot understand the scale of evil done by Putin and instead can refer in the comment to the examples that appeal to them the most.

I encourage discussion!

We must pray for all leaders of the world as they are just as lost as we once were.

johansen · Feb 28, 2025

Former Opiate Addict said:
We must pray for all leaders of the world as they are just as lost as we once were.

But why waste your time on them specifically?

Pray as the Sprit leads instead

Longing to kneel · Feb 28, 2025

johansen said:
But why waste your time on them specifically?

Pray as the Sprit leads instead

Praying for a lost sinner on his way to hell is wasting time?

johansen · Feb 28, 2025

Longing to kneel said:
Praying for a lost sinner on his way to hell is wasting time?

There are 6 to 7 billion others.

Longing to kneel · Feb 28, 2025

johansen said:
There are 6 to 7 billion others.

What are you talking about? I'm not dismissing any other lost person, they need it just as much.

RileyG · Mar 2, 2025

High Fidelity said:
We should pray for everyone, especially those hardest of heart.

This.

I do my best to pray for everyone. It can be overwhelming at times, but I try to pray without hypocrisy.

RileyG · Mar 2, 2025

stevil said:
Doing cpr is usefull

But the question of. Would you pray for....
My answer is no, I see no point in praying for anything. Is it like asking Santa for a gift? I don't see why anyone, even Christians, would pray for something

Atheists don't pray because they don't believe in God or any other deity. Simple.

RileyG · Mar 2, 2025

Lukaris said:
Actually in Christianity hope is involved with prayer ( 1 Corinthians 13:13 etc.). A person can apply basic CPR and save a life with a general secular hopeful disposition with a secular mindset or a person can be a praying Christian and apply these same basic principles giving glory to God. Either way, it is all good and to limit general motivation, prayer, hope etc. seems ignorant.

Yes. Prayer also takes a lot of humility before God.

johansen · Mar 3, 2025

RileyG said:
Yes. Prayer also takes a lot of humility before God.

Nah.

You just have to actually care about them.

David Lamb · Mar 3, 2025

johansen said:
Nah.

You just have to actually care about them.

Does you "Nah" mean that you don't believe that prayer involves humility before God?

stevevw · Mar 8, 2025

Yeah why not. Christ said to pray for your enermies. Maybe Trump is praying for him. Maybe his cabinet is. Wouldn't that be great as Christ said whenever two or more are gathered in my name I will be there.

I always find it hard to understand Russians. They are not quite Europeans and they have a long and complicated history. In some ways I sort of see Russia or rather the old Soviet Union like the US with many states. But now some of them are wanting independence.

I remember Mikhail Gorbachev and Glasnost after the cold war ended or paused. This was a different Russia but I still think its there. My dad has spent a lot of time in Russia and he says they are just like westerners. At least the everyday person.

Putin acts like the typical caricature of a western tough man and this is an insight into where they are at. Sort of trapped in the past. I think as like the 80's they can go back to being decent at least.

The trouble is Putin is a result of Russia softening itself and the old guard reacting and installing a tougher regime. But Trump plays that game and maybe they can do a deal. It may be the first step towards further peace.

So yeah pray for Putin and Russia that they may see the light so to speak. Now is the time more than ever as we are seeing great changes in relations and governments with new opportunities to set things right. At least for a few years hopefully. I know it will never be lasting peace in this world.

johansen · Mar 8, 2025

David Lamb said:
Does you "Nah" mean that you don't believe that prayer involves humility before God?

It's a lack of love that is the principal problem.

Praying "for" a world leader that you don't like is not humility. its at best, fear. fear that they, not God, are in control of a whole country.

read romans 13 and pray as God leads. not as the headlines, the wars, the rumors of wars that fill your mind.

Reneep · Mar 20, 2025

Matthew 16:19 KJV — And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. But remember when praying that His Word and thus His prophesies are at work.. so leave room for God working out his plans.

You will be right in the middle of Dan 7 AND RUSSIA HAS AT LEAST ONE OF THE RIBS IN HIS MOUTH NOW! THE RUSSIAN POLAR BEAR COULD STILL try and destroy 2 more countries so be prepared . But pray for Putins soul on a personal level, God could still do a Nebochanezzar on him , humble him like an animal , when or after the scripture has been fullfilled or during it.

So bind Putins demons and Let God be God and God's word be true as we Wait for the end of mankinds rule over men. And pray for all being crushed in Russians wars, send forgiveness so their hearts can live free , even when their bodies are in danger.

RileyG · Mar 20, 2025

johansen said:
Nah.

You just have to actually care about them.

Yes, you must care about them, but I meant, when praying to God, the prayer-er must be humble.

Would you pray for Putin?

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