Soviet Evangelicals Since World War II, Walter Sawatsky, 1981

to Caesar. In an eloquent statement, the famed Russian writer Solzhe- nitsyn once remarked that the clear intention behind Jesus’ words was to in- dicate that “Caesar's concern is not with the most important thing in our lives.” He went on to warn that “when Caesar, having exacted what is Caesar’s, demands still more insistently that we render unto him what is God’s—that is a sacrifice we dare not make!” Karev’s paper, in contrast, seemed to indicate entirely uncritical sup- port for the state. Once again, where he listed great Soviet achievements as having been unequaled elsewhere, the revised version was more restrained. By simply inserting or omitting a phrase, AUCECB members affirmed a qualified loyalty to the motherland. The printed article even hinted that the Preaching and Peace 115 Pauline injunction to obedience (Romans 13) was obedience to the state in its action for good but that the Evangelical Christian-Baptists did not identify all the state’s actions as good. Karev had included the claim that in our dearly beloved country there are thousands of places where the gospel and the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ is preached unhin- dered.”’*6 That claim did not appear in the printed version! It is quite likely that Karev was forced to present a paper on this theme and it is quite likely that he will have preferred the published version with its more restrained “enlightened” patriotism, to use a word employed in one 4 suecirsr Even the published version, however, met with exten- sive criticism, including specific attacks from the Reform Bapti ion. Bratskii Listok (4/1975), their leaders charged that in avers allie nell love for the homeland in practice amounted to the necessity of observing the legislation on the cults.” For the Reform Baptists, patriotism included recognition and respect of the government, as well as loyalty toward the state but rejection of all its attempts to interfere in church affairs. Georgi Vins, general secretary of the Reform Baptists, was as eloquent as Karev in his patriotism. In February 1968 he wrote from a labor camp that “most of all I love my people—the soul of Russia! Your grim history, so full of suffer- ing, is close to my heart... . You need Christ, my homeland, and especially today. .. .”87 On another evening he wrote, All sleeps in peace. Only the sentry Stands on the watchtower guarding the camps. But I cannot sleep at the midnight hour; Iam thinking of my beloved Ukraine: As far as the Soviet government was concerned, Soviet evangelicals would prove how patriotic they were by serving in the armed forces President Zhidkov had stated the official AUCECB position back in 1945: Serving the motherland means,” he affirmed, “that the Christian honorably bears military service. In this question two opinions are impossi- ble. A Christian who loves his motherland must defend it with weapons in his hands,’ Evangelical Pacifism Pro-milit