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Russia's Crackdown on Evangelism Leads to Prosecution of Mostly Christians 1 Year After 'Anti-Missionary' Law
(Worthy News) - Evangelical Protestants make up the majority of the 181 cases prosecuted by Russian authorities under the country's notorious 'anti-missionary' laws, which came into force last July, according to a report. Christians were also prosecuted in Crimea, which Russia occupied in 2014.
Norway-based group Forum 18 recorded 181 cases since July 20, 2016, two weeks after the laws were signed by President Vladimir Putin to ban evangelism outside of churches.
Of these prosecutions under Parts 3, 4, and 5 of Administrative Code Article 5.26, as many as 57 cases were against Protestant churches, including Pentecostals; 26 against Baptists; six against people associated with the Gideon's; and three against Seventh-day Adventists.
Hebrews 13:3 Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body.
Revelation 6:9-11 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Is anyone really surprised? Just as it was foretold by so many in the US (now middle aged or older) as "the door" (Perestroika) suddenly flew open, it is now "slamming shut." But take a look at similar laws in the USA. US American Christians have their heads in the sand for far too long. Doors there (local laws) are and have been shutting while they pretend real Christians there do not get persecuted. Take the beam out of your own eye.
I completely understand Putin's concern about Western missionaries. Afterall he has succeeded to reopen and restore more Orthodox cathedrals in Russia ever in their history. Putin is doing a superior job decreasing abortion , halting public display of profanity homosexual and otherwise,as well as proved superior in his fight against ISIS in Syria.( Somebody had to stop the open slaughter of Christian villages). Putin probably thinks that Western missionary efforts would be better spent attempting to positively affect their own land