Evangelical Christians in Ukraine and Russia
In the latest issue of Evangelical Review of Theology there is a great article by Johannes Reimer about the evangelical churches in Ukraine and Russia, their history, relationship, and how they are fairing in light of the recent conflict.
Johannes Reimer, “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Ukrainian, Russian and Belarusian,” ERT 46.2 (2022): 101-110.
Johannes Reimer is director of the Department of Public Engagement of the World Evangelical Alliance. An Anabaptist theologian, Reimer grew up in the former Soviet Union and served time in a labour camp for his resistance to joining the Soviet army.
Reimar notes the plight of evangelicals in Russia caught between Putin and those that expect them to take to the streets to oppose Putin’s regime. He notes different approaches to political engagement by evangelicals in post-soviet countries and how the shadow of Byzantine ideology still lingers over much of Russia and Ukraine concerning church-state relationships. Reimar points out too that Ukrainian Christians are facing a tough temptation to abandon mission for the sake of patriotism. Many have turned away from their traditional pacifism and enlisted in military service.
In his conclusion, Reimar states:
I am impressed by some of the Ukrainian churches whose people have decided to stay in Ukraine in the midst of the war. Vasyl Ostryi, pastor of the Irpin Grace Church and professor at Kyiv Theological Seminary, writes:
While the church may not fight like the nation, we still believe we have a role to play in this struggle. We will shelter the weak, serve the suffering, and mend the broken. And as we do, we offer the unshakable hope of Christ and his gospel. While we may feel helpless in the face of such a crisis, we can pray like Esther. Ukraine is not God’s covenant people, but like Israel, our hope is that the Lord will remove the danger as he did for his ancient people. And as we stay, we pray the church in Ukraine will faithfully trust the Lord and serve our neighbors.
Ostryi and his church perform miracles day by day, offering their neighbours shelter, first aid, a hand of friendship, counselling and spiritual support. Some of them regain hope, find peace in God and join hands with the church. And no, they do not take up arms; their most important weapon is still prayer and the Bible as the foundation for all their mission and action. They are building community in the midst of crisis—the Jesus way! This might cost them all their lives, but did Jesus ever promise us anything else? Their testimony has been a great encouragement for me and my people.
Keep Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus in your prayers, the churches there, the refugees, that the war would end, and the peace of Christ reign in all hearts.
Faring.
We have a Ukrainian Evangelical family around the corner. When they moved here nearly 20 years ago, there were the parents, some grandparents, and ten children. They bought two houses. There are only a couple of teenagers left at home, now, and the family sold one of the houses.