Wisdom Lessons from Putin, Biden, and Graham—Or No

Where did wisdom go? We are not seeing much of it in the news these days, from anyone.

Putin is in an all-or-nothing holy war in Ukraine. He is 69 years old and thinking about his legacy. Some are even claiming that Putin’s war is a “Christian” war against woke Western Culture.

Narratives are spinning every which way and eventually people always find a way to make Christians—especially conservative Christians—the culprits.

There is truly a sense in which Putin, who is clearly aligned with the Russian Orthodox Church, is reacting against the degradation of the west. He actually said the following in a 2013 speech.

We see many of the Euro-Atlantic countries are actually rejecting their roots, including the Christian values that constitute the basis of Western civilization. They are denying moral principles and all traditional identities: national, cultural, religious, and even sexual. They are implementing policies that equate large families with same-sex partnerships, belief in God with the belief in Satan.

The article goes on to state that Putin sees himself as re-establishing Christendom—Russian Orthodox style—based in Moscow.

We know that western culture is depraved and wicked, but waging war and killing people over it just adds wickedness on top of wickedness. There is no way that it can be characterized as righteous.

So, we have a man coming to the end of his life, considering his personal legacy, and with a messiah complex leading his country in a war against his neighbor. He has shut out all criticism both public and private and is moving forward in his own self-righteous bubble.

On the other side of the world, we have an American president who is clearly cognitively impaired. This is apparent to all. There was likely a time when then-Senator Biden was aware that he was failing and he would not have the mental rigor to handle the demands of the US Presidency, but he pushed through those reservations and is now unlikely to perceive his own insufficiencies. This leaves him open to manipulation from the most unscrupulous people that might surround him.

My point is not politics. It is a biblical principle that applies to both men.

Better a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more. (Ecclesiastes 4:13).

Reactions to such situations can be foolish as well. This week, Lindsey Graham, a sitting US Senator from South Carolina called on the Russian people to assassinate their president.

The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy out. You would be doing your country – and the world – a great service.

You would think that a Senator, understanding that the man about whom he is speaking has his finger on the nuclear button, might be a bit more careful with his public comments. After all, such a statement just intensifies the paranoia of an already paranoid man and also portrays him as a victim to his citizenry at home. Just because you might believe something to be true does not mean it is wise to speak it.

A fool utters all his mind: but a wise man keeps it in till afterward. Proverbs 29:11

Has everyone lost their minds?

We could really use a dose of humble wisdom right now.