Posted on 02/20/2018 6:50:14 PM PST by GoldenState_Rose
Despite or, in some cases, because of the support it receives from the government and the new “anti-extremism” laws deployed against others, the Russian Orthodox Church is increasingly isolated from Russians in the North Caucasus and is losing many of them to Protestant groups who are also attracting some Muslims as well.
Ruslan Gereyev, the director of the Center for Islamic Research on the North Caucasus, says that the major reason for Orthodoxy’s failure and Protestantism’s success is that “unlike Protestant and Muslim preachers, representatives of the Russian Orthodox church do not reach out to the population.
Because they are more active in proselytizing, Protestants have been able to gain new adherents more quickly despite the Orthodox Church’s reliance on the state’s declaration of some as “foreign agents” or extremists.” Indeed, Gereyev says, the focus on Islamist extremism means that most of the time Protestants can function without attracting official attention.
As a result, the Protestants have made some significant gains. In Makhachkala, the capital of Daghestan, there are now about 30,000 Orthodox Christians, about the same number as five years ago, but there are 7,000 Protestants, far more than before. For the North Caucasus as a whole, there are more than 150 congregations registered and far more unregistered.
In North Ossetia, Protestantism is especially strong because of neighboring Georgia, local experts say. Protestant churches are well-organized, use modern communications techniques, and “are always ready to help people in difficulty,” something that cannot be said of the Russian Orthodox.
(Excerpt) Read more at windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com ...
Oh boy. The anti-protestant crusaders should arriving in this thread any second.
I am Catholic and personally don’t care how Muslims come to Christ: Orthodox or Protestant...but its just nice to know that Muslims are converting at all. And yes I do think the State can be a corrupting influence on religion in Russia as a whole.
It is far more important that someone comes to faith in Christ, than what church they worship at...
Agreed. I am Catholic and appreciate Eastern Christianity very much...but not the Russian government’s misuse of the church for its political ends. That’s a large part of what is keeping potential converts away in said regions.
Gotta post anti-Russian propaganda everyday.
She takes a break on federal holidays though...go figure.
Barely. The pro-Putinists have been running the show on FR, so don’t mind me. The bigger point here is that Muslims can and do convert. I think its the hopeful narrative God prefers.
I went into a local ROC (or Serbian) once, it was really amazing. From the street, it appeared rather humble but very elevating upon entering.
Meaning the evangelicals must obey God rather than men, as the NT church did in Acts. And "as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. "(Galatians 4:29) And that, as usual, a remnant will be saved. May God bless their efforts and increase our tribe, and gather many out of false and dead religion, including Catholicism
I predict Nasty-grams in your private mail from FR Catholics.
They must not have the weekends off.
Amen preach brother. This is great news.
I’m also seeing an increased interest in the youth in my church who before and after college warning to start their adult lives in missionary work overseas. They will be heartened by this article.
It is good to hear that what one might hope for and expect is actually happening. Doubtless there will also be reports of persecution from all parties that feel challenged, especially the Orthodoxen.
“” “” In North Ossetia, Protestantism is especially strong because of neighboring Georgia, local experts say. “” “”
For your information Georgia is predominately Orthodox. Orthodoxy is even mentioned in their Constitution as a kind of state Religion. Although one of their dictators Saakashvili liked Muslims above all.
God cares more about people’s hearts towards His Son than to their loyalty to Russia - something Russian Orthodox leaders tend to forget unless they count themselves among the few who are willing to be critical of the government.
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