New Religious Legislation in Kyrgyzstan

https://eurasianet.org/kyrgyzstan-authorities-seek-expanded-powers-to-regulate-religious-affairs

This new set of laws is in keeping with everything we've come to expect with the authoritarian states of Central Asia which emerged with the fall of the Soviet Union. The Eurasianet article is incorrect. Kyrgyzstan is not a secular society at all, but rather one in which Islam is the officially favoured religion with other traditional groups (such as Eastern Orthodoxy) tolerated.

The state is supporting safe, stable, traditional, and institutional forms of religion that will not in any way foment dissent, create subcultures, or challenge the status quo. As such, these states are opposed to Western-style Evangelicalism, groups like the Watchtower, and they especially fear Salafist or other extreme forms of Islam. They want people to attend their local mosque and go about their business. They don't want militants nor proselytizers stirring the pot.

The anti-missionary, anti-home religion measures are against not just proselytism but the creation of subcultures and sects.

This term 'sect' generates some interesting discussions in the West among Evangelicals and Confessionalists though most of it misguided. Western bourgeois and Dominionist theologians are also hostile to the idea of sects and in particular of the Church as a sect. They want churches with steeples on the high street and Church leaders meeting with and among the movers and shakers in society. They do not want to see the Church meeting in back alleys and basements - operating as a separatist subculture vis-à-vis the larger society, i.e. a sect.

Unfortunately for the both the corrupt authoritarian rulers of Central Asia and the Constantine-inspired sacralists of the West - the New Testament model is that of the sect and a missionary one at that. It is an indictment of these Christian sacralist groups that a heterodox body such as the Watchtower follows (at this point) the New Testament example with greater accuracy than they do.

The Church actually flourishes in such environments even though this sentiment is denounced and mocked by the Rushdoony cult which (though somewhat marginalised) is still very influential. The Church in places like Bishkek can flourish but is also likely to suffer some persecution as they should refuse to register and continue meeting underground. They must be careful. Let us hope Church leaders do not listen to Western Evangelicals nor follow their example. They need to keep their focus on Christ and the role of the Church. Of course they are not distracted by Western myths of Christendom or a supposed Christian America. Studying the Scriptures and their own regional history, they would not be subject to such distractions. It's only when they come into contact with Western churches and 'ministries' will such seeds be planted as we've seen elsewhere.

If they keep on the straight and narrow the state may look the other way but given the supposedly 'Christian' character of American politics and in particular the Trumpite cult, this is unlikely. These states have been given every reason to view non-Eastern Orthodox or non-Roman Catholic groups as potentially subversive. The latter is a little on the 'iffy' side but certainly tolerable.

The state wants everything to stay within strict and moderate boundaries. Note that they are just as restrictive when it comes to hyper-conservative or extreme forms of Islam. They just want compliant citizens that don't make trouble and don't complain.

On one level the New Testament Church can accommodate this - but on another it cannot. The Church is not there to politically agitate and threaten extant rulers - however the Church will worship and evangelize and asks no permission to do so. And the state has no Divine mandate to grant such permission or deny it through forms of license, registration, or other regulation. That's an important if often overlooked aspect of what's happening with the spread of the gospel and worship - it's a declaration to the nations and in particular the thrones and dominions of the celestial realm which stand behind these earthly powers. The American Church of course sold out generations ago on this issue and voluntarily registered in order to receive tax exemptions and benefits.

At all costs the Christians in Central Asia should avoid collaboration with the likes of Forum 18 and other such politicised Western lobbyists and reporting entities. I say this knowing full well that such advice will be ignored.