Soviet Evangelicals Since World War II, Walter Sawatsky, 1981

lation- ship to other people. Fadiukhin declared that our relationship to the people around us could be guided by two laws: “The law of the state and the law of God.” He then cited Romans 13:1-4 and Titus 3:1, 2, which urge obedience to the laws of the state. As far as the law of God was concerned, he quoted Psalm 18:8 and James 1:25. Fadiukhin then concluded that for the Apostle Paul the supreme sign of sanctification had been “‘to strive mo 190 Soviet Evangelicals Since World War Il earnestly to live peaceably.” Fadiukhin underlined this emphasis on peace and quiet by quoting Isaiah 30:15: “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” This tendency toward quietism, toward regarding uncritical obedience to the state as a major sign of sanctification, remained the official position against the reformers’ challenge.”5 One looks in vain in the pages of Bratskii Vestnik for the statement by Peter and John, quoted in Acts 5, that “we ought to obey God rather than men.” Ironically, precisely during this time Mitskevich was writing a com- mentary on the Books of Acts. He dwelt at length on the story of Ananias and Sapphira and emphasized that the church could grow only if it was pu- rified.”6 If the church was not purified, then Paul’s reference in the letter to the Romans would apply to them: “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” (Romans 2:24, RSV). Mitskevich then skipped over the section describing the conflict Peter and John had with the au- thorities and moved to the election of deacons, which is discussed in Acts 6. The State-Reformers-AUCECB Triad If it were not for interference by the state authorities in this matter, if the state had not declared a war with new persecution, if it were not backing its planted men, the church itself would quickly, painlessly and without any complication re-establish the necessary internal church order by re- moving the unrepentant officials. By this it would break the essential link in the criminal chain binding church and state. In this way the illegal relationship would be liquidated without mentioning the state in so much as a word at the congress. All this could be attained painlessly,” This wishful declaration to Premier Khrushchev expressed the essential problem candidly. The state had launched a policy of liquidating the church but church officials were unable to acknowledge it publicly. In fact they were under tremendous pressure to assist in the liquidation and the only hope they saw was to give in so that at least some of the church could survive. But the bold opposition by the initiative group forced the state to show its hand. Those who resisted were threatened with prison and to achieve this, trials had to be held and charges established. Initsiativniki sup- porters managed to produce near verbatim transcripts of court trials and photocopies of the official