THE GREAT COMMISSION IN RUSSIAN CONTEXT

Abstract

Political, economic and spiritual changes from 2005-2010 have challenged former normative models of evangelism in Russia. The Russian government has increased control over all spheres of social and religious life. Yet, ironically, one of the means for accomplishing this task was through the establishment of the Russian Orthodox Church as the only legitimate religious entity in the country. Russian evangelicals have increasingly found themselves in a marginal position in society. The Orthodox Church and the governing local administrations have begun to use mass media to an even greater extent to castigate evangelicals as totalitarian, destructive sects. These political changes have created a climate rendering it virtually impossible to conduct mass evangelism campaigns in most parts of the country. Door-to-door visitation evangelism, street evangelism, open-air revival meetings, and even public invitations to church services in order to hear the gospel, have all become increasingly difficult as a result of suspicion toward anyone who is disloyal to the Russian Orthodox Church. Personal relationship-based evangelism, however, has not been affected much by the political changes. Evangelical believers are still able to talk about spiritual issues privately with their relatives, friends, colleagues, classmates, neighbors, and coworkers without much backlash. In fact, the politicization of religion in Russia has ironically created more opportunities for personal evangelism, making the gospel message a “forbidden fruit.” Discussing spiritual matters has become appealing to some for the simple reason that it is a taboo subject. Like all things forbidden, the gospel has become more desirable in spite of its political marginalization.