Russian Rebels Shutting Down Protestant Churches in Ukraine, Armed Men Raiding Christian Worship

Christian Post ^ | Oct 24, 2018 | Stoyan Zaimov

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Russian-backed rebels in Ukraine's Luhansk region have been cracking down on Protestant Christianity by raiding churches, dispersing worshipers, and preventing re-registration.

There have been several instances of Protestant churches being raided in the past few months. Armed rebels raided a Baptist church in Brianka late in September, while the pastor of Krasny Luch Baptist church is facing possible punishment for allowing Sunday morning worship without registration.

Twelve police officers shut down the Sunday morning meeting at Revival Baptist Church, telling the 25 worshipers gathered to go home. Several of them were questioned, however, while Pastor Dmitry Sirbu was forced to watch as the church's safe was drilled in.

Sirbu is facing legal threats for violating the Administrative Code for allowing the gathering.

In another instance in August, men armed with automatic weapons raided Grace Church of God Pentecostal Church in Alchevsk during a worship meeting, forcing Christians to lie face down on the floor, as they seized church computers.

Forum 18, a Norwegian human rights organization, revealed that the rebels have issued mandatory re-registration orders for religious organizations in the region, but have denied approval for many.

No Baptist or Seventh-day Adventist communities were reportedly able to re-register, with the latter having to halt all activities in order to prevent churches being seized.

[elcid1970]

Russian Orthodoxy has been described as Christianity’s dark side.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Ping - but isn’t this (see above story) taking things too far?

[Pelham]

“Ping - but isn’t this (see above story) taking things too far?”

I suppose, if you have tunnel vision and are oblivious to what’s going on in that part of Ukraine.

These are Russian rebels holding onto a Ukrainian province. Meaning it’s a war zone and they are an occupying force. And like any other occupiers they don’t want the locals to have the chance to meet together and organize against them.