Russia Tries to Erase Evangelical Churches From Occupied Ukraine

Wall Street Journal MSN ^ | 6/16/2024 | Matthew Luxmoore

[marcusmaximus]

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine—Moments after the band struck up a song of praise at a Christian church in a Russian-held city near here, Russian soldiers stormed in wearing full tactical gear.

One of them wove through the crowd, mounted the stage and told the congregation to prepare their documents for inspection.

The service in September 2022 was the last held inside Melitopol’s Church of God’s Grace. The Russian authorities took over the building, adorned it with murals depicting their dead fighters, and converted it into a culture ministry in this part of occupied south Ukraine.

The church’s erasure from view is part of a sweeping crackdown inside Russian-held territory on religious groups that aren’t under Moscow’s control, especially the evangelical Christian faiths the Kremlin considers instruments of U.S. influence in Ukraine.

Mykhailo Brytsyn, the church’s Baptist pastor, said he was questioned by Russian soldiers for four hours and told: “You don’t run a church. You run a nest of American spies.”

Religion has long been central to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s campaign to halt Ukraine’s westward drift and bring it under his sway. His army is now using violent methods to roll back religious freedoms in occupied areas while bolstering the one faith that openly backs his invasion: the Russian Orthodox Church.

[ansel12]

I don’t know what to tell you,

Recommended Bylaws for Local Assemblies
Assemblies of God
https://ag.org › Leadership › General-Secretary
Section 3.​​ The deacons shall be persons of mature Christian experience and knowledge, who shall be expected to meet the requirements set forth in 1 Timothy 3 ...

Assemblies of God (USA) Official Web Site | Structure
Assemblies of God
https://ag.org › About › About-the-AG › Structure
A board of deacons is elected to assist the pastor in spiritual matters and to help conduct the business operation of the church (Ephesians 4:11, 12; 1 Timothy ...

[bimboeruption]

I appreciate your research.

The local board determines the structure of the Church including what they themselves are called.

The board members were referred to as Elders at the AOG Churches I attended.

[Romulus]

Cosplay deacons don’t count.

[Romulus]

Because they don’t hold the faith entrusted to the apostles by Jesus Christ.

[ansel12]

Talk to your minister, the role of Elder and Deacon seem to be different.

[ansel12]

Russia isn’t very tolerant of Catholicism either.

[Verginius Rufus]

Ukraine is 86.1% Christian, of which 70.9% are Orthodox, 11.4% Catholic, with the remaining 3.8% presumably mostly Protestant. (Figures from The World Almanac.) I have seen almost nothing on how Ukrainian Catholics have fared in Crimea and other Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine.

[ansel12]

I was talking about Russia, their corrupt state/FSB church is used well by the state and the government is hostile to practicing Christians, whether Catholic or Protestant.

[bimboeruption]

I will. You’ve piqued my curiosity.

[marshmallow]

Russia has little use for American congregationalism.

[daniel1212]

Because they don’t hold the faith entrusted to the apostles by Jesus Christ.

Actually, it is distinctive Catholic teachings that are not manifest in the only wholly God-inspired, substantive, authoritative record of what the NT church believed (which is Scripture, in particular Acts through Revelation, which best shows how the NT church understood the gospels)

What the Bible teaches is that the redeemed are those who have been spiritually born of the Spirit (Jn. 3:2-7) by effectual, penitent, heart-purifying, regenerating faith (Acts 10:43-47; Acts 15:7-9) in the Divine Son of God sent be the Father to be the Savior of the world, (1 Jn. 4:14) who saves sinners by His sinless shed blood, on His account , rendering them "accepted in the Beloved" (Eph. 1:6; Eph. 2:6-9) - not deserved by any merit of themselves or any church.

For this faith is imputed for righteousness, (Romans 4:5) rendering one to be considered positionally righteousness, “justified” in God’s sight, and (as a result) this is shown in baptism and following the Lord, (Acts 2:38-47; Jn. 10:27, 28) whom they shall go to be with at death or His return (Phil 1:23; 2Cor. 5:8 [“we”]; Heb. 12:22, 23; 1Cor. 15:51ff'; 1Thess. 4:17) Glory and thanks be to God.

In contrast to those who were never born of the Spirit or who terminally fall away. (Gal. 5:1-4; Heb. 3:12; Heb. 10:25-39)

In contrast, Catholicism believes the act of baptism itself effects regeneration, by which change one is justified, thus resulting in salvation by actually becoming good enough (via the act itself of baptism, and then via sacramentally aided attainment and - for most, Purgatory) to ultimately actually be with/see God in Heaven.retu

[doorgunner69]

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[daniel1212]

Christians don’t get the support on FR that they used to.

It seems there are an increasing number who do not want God nor anyone else to tell them or even suggest what to do.

[McGruff]

“You run a nest of American spies”

Could be a problem.

[MayflowerMadam]

“Christians don’t get the support on FR that they used to.”

Just a sign of the times. The end times. We’ve been warned.

[Republican Wildcat]

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine—Moments after the band struck up a song of praise at a Christian church in a Russian-held city near here, Russian soldiers stormed in wearing full tactical gear. One of them wove through the crowd, mounted the stage and told the congregation to prepare their documents for inspection. The service in September 2022 was the last held inside Melitopol’s Church of God’s Grace. The Russian authorities took over the building, adorned it with murals depicting their dead fighters, and converted it into a culture ministry in this part of occupied south Ukraine. The church’s erasure from view is part of a sweeping crackdown inside Russian-held territory on religious groups that aren’t under Moscow’s control, especially the evangelical Christian faiths the Kremlin considers instruments of U.S. influence in Ukraine. Mykhailo Brytsyn, the church’s Baptist pastor, said he was questioned by Russian soldiers for four hours and told: “You don’t run a church. You run a nest of American spies.” Religion has long been central to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s campaign to halt Ukraine’s westward drift and bring it under his sway. His army is now using violent methods to roll back religious freedoms in occupied areas while bolstering the one faith that openly backs his invasion: the Russian Orthodox Church.

So this is the latest thing you are excusing or supporting...on top of supporting torture, murder, and terrorist organizations like Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

—> So this is

“So tho!”

10 points!

[Allegra]

“So tho!”

10 points!

I think this one should get an extra 10 points. The excessive handwringing and overblown hyperbole ( …you are excusing or supporting...on top of supporting torture, murder, and terrorist organizations like Hamas and Islamic Jihad ) make this one super-special. Zeeping at a higher level.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Thanks!!

I’ll gladly take the bonus points😅

[Wuli]

“Russia and Putin, or DC marxists and the woke ruling cabal?”

You tell me?