Recent "anti-terrorism" laws passed in Russia include restrictions on churches and missionaries. Now, evangelizing and speaking of the Gospel are banned outside of government-registered churches. Churches run out of houses would be illegal, and all religious activity must remain inside the walls of a church. President of Russia, Vladimir Putin recently signed off on these laws in order to prevent radical ideas that could cause terrorism from spreading in Russia. But this extreme censorship of every religious person in the country puts religious freedom in danger and goes against Christian teachings.
According to Russia's Baptist Council of Churches, “Any person who mentions their religious view or reflections out loud or puts them in writing, without the relevant documents, could be accused of ‘illegal missionary activity.’" Simply talking about your religion and what you believe and you can be fined.
But what Putin and many may not understand is that the Church can not be confined to a building. Not once in the Bible is the church referred to as a building, instead it is the community of believers who aim to make disciples of Christ. Although Christianity has evolved to church buildings all over the world, the real meaning of the Church cannot be defined as only a building to worship in. Banning any public talk or sharing of beliefs goes directly against so many fundamental Christian teachings. If Jesus told people to disciple others and share his message and love, how can we put restrictions on sharing the Gospel? We must pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Russia who are being restricted because the laws of their country are directly going against the law of God.
"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" Matthew 28:18-20
