A Christian Glimpse of Russia Tomorrow

The cascading trauma ignited by Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine has been unfolding in real time before our eyes for almost a month.  The shocking savagery on display has rightly prompted Christians around the world to pray for their Christian brothers and sisters in Ukraine. In addition to opening their hearts to the Christians of Ukraine, many believers opened their checkbooks to donate desperately needed resources to believers in Ukraine. 

This helped the Ukrainian Church to stand up under pressure and offer hope and aid to the desperate around them.  The Christian Emergency Alliance, along with several other ministries, helped facilitate these infusions.  All of this is right and proper.  “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10.  And it will need to continue for some time.  Even if the war ended today, the sheer scale of destruction will require years to dig out of.  A Christian response —rooted in biblical, evangelical Truth—will be required in Ukraine for the foreseeable future.

But what about the biblical Christians in Russia? Yes, some global leaders have wisely spurred prayer for Russia’s believers, as they too are suffering terribly in these days. Russian Christians played no role in their regime’s decision to invade a sovereign nation. Yet the body bags are returning to their communities. Like the smoldering skyline of Kyiv, their economy has collapsed into a smoking ruin. Civil liberties in Russia are being squeezed even further. The evangelical church in Russia, already marginalized and dismissed as a minority sect, is now being saddled with these additional burdens. Nevertheless, they are called to reflect the light of Christ to those in despair around them. But that is the situation in Russia today. Tomorrow looks even bleaker.

Starting immediately, Christians around the world should begin intentionally praying for the believing Christians of Russia. May the Gospel be boldly proclaimed. May the Spirit move powerfully, ushering many who are lost into salvation. May the lukewarm become white hot for Christ. May pastors truly rise to their calling as shepherds and discern the coming storm. May they effectively disciple and prepare their flocks. And may God spur more to join the pastoral ranks and facilitate biblical training. May His Word be read, proclaimed and cherished.

Pray for spiritual revival—reformation even—for the storm clouds descending on Russia are dark. It almost does not matter how things play out strategically in the near term. The results in Russia will almost certainly be horrible. Let’s game it out as we consider what tomorrow looks like for Russia’s Christians.

With all the turmoil roiling Russia’s society today, some observers speculate that Putin may lose his grip on power. Perhaps he would be deposed or forced into exile. Or maybe he is violently overthrown and even killed. Regardless, if Putin is no longer at the helm, violence in Russian streets would likely be unavoidable. The jockeying for power, the competing partisan camps, the pent-up fury—all these comprise the ingredients for a vicious civil war.

The plight of Russia’s evangelicals in such a scenario would largely mirror the situation endured by Ukraine’s believers today. Russian Christians would suffer on a shocking scale. And when that storm fully hits, they will require massive intercession and support, especially as they strive to support one another, and also serve as the arms and feet of Christ to the hopeless around them.

But put a pin in that for the moment. Let’s say Putin retains power. For him to accomplish that feat will likely require brute force and an iron will. Russia is not an empty slate when it comes to such dynamics. The Communist leaders of the Soviet Union had no qualms when it came to crushing dissent. They helped write the modern playbook on how to suppress, punish and control. Putin cut his teeth in the Soviet bureaucracy and knew this book well. Should he blow the dust off its cover, crack open the moldy pages and compel his minions to resuscitate the old tactics, the results will not be pretty. Full, unfiltered authoritarianism will resume its former station. And the believers of Russia will fall squarely in its crosshairs, just like the believers under the Soviet Union. A Stalinesque shadow will again blanket the land in barbarism. Purges, prisons, camps and carnage will litter the landscape.

The bottom line: it does not matter whether Putin stays in office or not. The evil unleashed by the Russian leader seems destined to boomerang on him.  And when it does, the fallout will descend like a demonic dove on all Russians, the church included. 

Now is the time.  Now is the time to pray and prepare.  The global church has a responsibility to prayerfully consider how we can bless the biblical fellowships of Russia right now.  We dare not collapse in despair or allow our Russian brothers and sisters to do likewise.  The Christian Emergency Alliance is committed to these ends.  God willing, it will play a small role in the larger Christian movement to shore up the Body where it is weak, infuse the hurting with nutrients, and draw out spiritual toxins. 

We must chart this course today for the trials in Russia tomorrow.  And we must do so while maintaining vigilant prayer and support for the church in Ukraine.  We in our power cannot do this.  But surrendered to the Triune God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – He can accomplish all of this and more.  His arm is not too short.  All of the glory is properly His.