Authoritarian governments have always feared and fought churches. There is a reason autocrats are atheists and work so hard at stamping out religion. That is part of the current effort to turn Christians into second class citizens.
The power to tax is the power to destroy.
In the show “Courage New Hampshire” the British used their own appointed minister to spy on the people of Courage and nudge them away from revolutionary thoughts.
Authoritarian governments suppress Christianity because it presents another path and way of life.
This path and way of life tells the oppressive government that it is NOT the end all and be all of the peoples existence.
In other words, Christianity says there is a Sovereign above ALL OTHER sovereigns..... above the dictators, kings, potentates, and yes, even above PRES__DENTS.
Remember that one of the slogans of the Revolution was “no king but king Jesus “.
We would do well to remember that ....