Three Common Misconceptions Among Slavs About American Churches
In his article, Yuriy Stasyuk, a Slavic immigrant to the U.S., discusses the misconceptions held by Slavic Christian immigrants in North America regarding American Evangelical churches.
It is no secret that I grew up in the Slavic (Ukrainian/Russian) church. It is also no secret that I don’t entirely agree with its traditions, theology, or trajectories. That said, Slavs are a great people, not worse or better than any other people. Like with any other people group, some Slavs tend to be superstitious, religious, and culturally elitist. Some think they are better and more right than any other group. Fortunately, there are more Slavs who are humble and kind, and I am honored to know them or of them. That said, there are specific rumors that often rise in individual Slavic church communities. These rumors are regarding “American Churches.” Some Slavs don’t hold to such inaccurate perceptions, but there are enough that do.
This one, I heard in person many times. Once, a group of older people scolded a group of youths. They proceeded to vilify the fact that the young people visited an American church. In the midst of this, the older people pronounced that “those who go to American churches do it because they want an easy Christianity that allows sin.” Their argument continued after I left. I heard this same idea more times than I can count. Some people assume that anyone who leaves a Russian-speaking church for an American congregation will be at a place where it is “easier” to be a Christian. There, “more sins are permitted.” This idea exists because some Slavs have created a long list of cultural rules. As some people earnestly sacrifice much to “follow the rules,” they see others who don’t “follow the rules.” Thus, the idea is born that “our Christianity is harder and needs more sacrifices; therefore, it is holier than theirs.”
The primary issue is that “our Christianity” often reflects cultural norms rather than Biblical principles. For example, if some Slavic communities mandate that women wear skirts instead of trousers and judge women from other nationalities who do not follow this dress code, they may see these women as disobedient. While everyone has the freedom to make their own choices, criticizing another culture for not adhering to your own practices goes beyond the scope of Biblical Christianity.
In my experience, I have noticed that those who were criticized often had a stronger foundation in Biblical Christianity than those doing the judging. Additionally, I discovered that those who faced criticism found it “easier” because they embraced the Gospel, which teaches that Christ’s burden is indeed “easy” (Mat.11:28-30).
The world is undergoing a significant demographic change. As if the floodgates have broken, most societies are becoming very open to divorce. The world has changed from the pride of “maintaining family honor” to the selfishness of “following your feelings and desires.” In the past, even non-believers would not divorce due to social stigma. Today, even members of conservative Evangelical churches file for divorce.
I once spoke with a Slavic Christian gentleman who believed that all American churches were filled with divorced or separated people. I tried to use Mars Hill Church as a counterexample, but he claimed that “everyone” there was divorced. I pointed out the exaggeration in his statement, but ultimately, he admitted he had never even visited Mars Hill and still maintained that divorce was a widespread issue among American Christians. Many of my friends echo the same sentiment. This perception is partly fueled by media claims, such as “Fifty percent of Christians are divorced” or “More Christians than nonbelievers are divorced.” However, upon closer examination, we find that the divorce rate among conservative Christians is not as high as these statements suggest. Interestingly, Russia actually has a higher divorce rate than the United States, reportedly having the highest in the world as of 2012. [1]
I will admit that this perspective is less popular than the other two. As Slavic Christians, we observe that American churches differ significantly from our Slavic congregations. They may not adhere to our cultural customs regarding dress codes and certain worship practices. Many of us struggle to separate cultural traditions from Bible-based doctrines, leading us to view American Christians as “liberals and worldly.” In contrast, we feel that we have been “tested in spiritual battles” during the times of atheism and communism in Soviet Russia. Our parents and grandparents endured persecution during the Soviet era. As a result, we believe that, unlike American believers, we, Russians and Ukrainians, are better spiritually equipped to face adversity.
For a time, I shared similar concerns about the future of American Christianity. I believed that many American churches had a weak foundation and had succumbed to the materialistic culture of entertainment and secularism. As a result, I feared they would not withstand persecution if it arose. I failed to consider that even Jesus’s closest disciples fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane. Nevertheless, we still view the apostles as role models for our ministry and do not look down upon them.
My perspective on American churches shifted significantly when I began attending worship services and connecting with American Christians. Through our conversations over coffee, I discovered that my American Christian friends held strong biblical convictions. Their faith in Christ was built on a solid foundation, and their lives were filled with the fruits of the Spirit. This realization exposed my own “spiritual pride.” I recognized that I could not look down on other Christians simply because I was part of the Slavic church culture. My culture had provided me with a sense of safety, and I found myself seeking comfort in all things Slavic instead of in Christ.
Notes:
[1] “Divorce Rate.” http://www.divorcerate.org/ (29.01.2013).
Yuriy Stasyuk is a Slavic immigrant to the U.S. Author of articles in Christian Megapolis (XMegapolis).
Photo: Pixabay.
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