Evangelicals in Uzbekistan: Hope and a Warning

https://evangelicalfocus.com/world/6240/something-is-changing-in-uzbekistan

Things are looking up for Christians in Uzbekistan. After the Cold War and the break-up of the USSR, the United States attempted to move into Central Asia, pursuing influence and control of the critical region and its resources.

But things fell apart in the early 2000's and the region seemed divided. Uzbekistan was one of the Central Asian nations that turned away from Washington and tentatively embraced Moscow. But in the early 2010's Uzbekistan began to pivot once more – warming up a bit toward Washington, maintaining the status quo with Moscow but also increasing its trade relationship with China. And in just the past few years Uzbekistan along with some of its neighbours have found a new friend in the European Union.

From a purely pragmatic standpoint Beijing and Brussels are probably the most appealing as they are least likely to entangle the nation in geopolitical struggles and military entanglements. While Brussels will put some 'liberalising' pressure on Tashkent, its approach will be more pragmatic and less hypocritical than the heavy hand of Washington.

When longtime president Islam Karimov died in 2016, everyone held their collective breath – waiting to see what direction the country would turn. It would seem that the new government is pursuing a centrist liberalising policy that's focused on opening up the economy.

For many years these Central Asian nations were faced with the threat of Islamist insurgency and while al Qaeda's influence has waned, there is still the threat of ISIS. And yet ISIS seems to be focused more on Afghanistan at present – fighting both the Kabul government and the Taliban.

The Uzbek government still advocates Islam but is opposed to Salafi extremism. This rather difficult-to-maintain position has seemingly become more relaxed in recent years and the state is apparently open to a small degree of pluralism – certainly something to celebrate.

Uzbek Christians have during this period been forced to operate underground. There's been a degree of low-level persecution as the state has tried to enforce Islam – but in a relatively mild form that eschews extremism. Churches have been able to form but they meet in quietly in homes and in general terms they face great pressure to conform to Islamic social norms in their daily lives. Proselytism has been touchy and risky at best.

And now suddenly the Tashkent government seems willing to relax some of these restrictions and allow society to open up a few notches.

And while I can rejoice in this freedom for Uzbek Christians I lament the Evangelical movements that seek to influence them. As can be expected there's a big push for socio-political or 'public' engagement and this is the Christianity that Uzbeks will be taught from the outside. Obviously the ability for Uzbek Christians to get involved let alone have any real influence is of course severely limited and that's unlikely to change any time soon.

But once again Western Dominionists seek to lead the Church astray and the Christians of Uzbekistan are not exempt from their efforts. Their politicking will create unnecessary enemies – enemies that will hate them not for the gospel but for their political activity, for the fact that they too vie for control of the state.

The story is a cause to rejoice as Central Asia has been notoriously restrictive for Christians but now with liberty comes danger both from within and without. Liberty means access to a wider range of influence and undoubtedly it will mean access to more money – both in terms of the domestic economy and Christian aid coming from the West. Both forms represent a serious threat to the character and integrity of the Uzbek Church and the larger Central Asian ecclesiastical community.

There's also a real problem with 'registering' – one of the requirements of state sanction. I realise congregations and denominations do so willingly in the United States in order to qualify for various tax breaks – but at what cost? Some have yet to truly reckon with this. For the Christians in places like Uzbekistan it means submission to the government, lists and other information that the Church really shouldn't give to any state entity. I hope some will resist this even at risk of pressure or danger. But more likely the hope and prospect of peace and open worship will lead many to embrace the registration as a harmless regulation – I'm not so certain of that. And they may come to regret it in the future.

But in the meantime I will pray that this window of opportunity is used and it results in a season of spiritual flourishing.