Russia Declares 4 Evangelical Groups ‘Undesirable’, Why Can’t America Declare All Evangelical Groups Undesirable?

“Russia’s justice ministry has put four Evangelical organizations from Latvia and Ukraine on its list of undesirable non-government organizations.The ministry’s list of undesirable non-government organizations contains 46 organizations.The activities of the four organizations were deemed undesirable by the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office on August 23 as threatening Russia’s constitutional order and security.

”TASS Russian News Agency

I lament the lack of religious freedom in Russia, and I cherish the freedom to worship that’s enshrined in our Constitution, but a small part of me wishes most of the evangelical organizations in America were declared undesirable non-government agencies.

The Russian government contends that the New Generation International Christian Movement, the New Generation Evangelical Christian Church, the New Generation Spiritual Directorate of the Evangelist Christians, and the New Generation International Biblical College pose a threat to Russia’s constitutional order and security.

The Russian government’s designation of “an undesirable non-government agency” means that these evangelical entities must close up their existing offices or face criminal penalties.My guess is that the only threat these evangelical organizations pose is to Putin’s totalitarian rule, but America’s evangelical organizations pose an existential threat to our constitutional order and security.

Most white evangelical churches pose a serious threat to the safety and security of Americans, because they refuse to mask up, socially distance and get vaccinated. They pose a real threat to our environmental health by denying the science of climate change. They pose an existential threat to our democracy by supporting the authoritarian Donald Trump and by advocating that he be restored to power by a military coup or an insurrection.

I don’t think the leaders of evangelical ministries should be imprisoned or face criminal penalties, but their tax-exempt status should be lifted and they should be treated like the enemies of true Christianity and democracy.