By Pamela Rae Schuffert presenting investigative journalism from a Biblical Christian perspective-
Americans have much to learn from what happened to FREEDOM OF THE PRESS under Communism in Russia, and how truth journalism continued to thrive even UNDERGROUND.
In 1979, I began a year of studies in the Slavic Gospel Association's "Institute of Slavic Studies" located in Wheaton, Illinois at that time. These studies served to open the fascinating door of greater understanding of life under communism in Russia.
For most Americans, life in communist Russian remains an enigma. Most Americans cannot realistically relate to what the Russian people suffered under oppressive Communism. Nor can the church in America really relate to the sufferings of the Christians in Russia under Communism. Spending much time living and working among Christians in the former Soviet Union, I learned much about life under Communism as it was related to me by the Russian people themselves.
Persecution beyond most American Christians' comprehension occurred on a regular basis in Communist Russia. Parents could not "legally" raise their children as Christians for the first 18 years of that child's life. Christian children were mocked and persecuted in schools across Russia. Open evangelism was forbidden by the Communists. Churches were often torn down or razed. Pastors and outspoken Christians were frequently arrested. Once imprisoned, they faced torture and cruelty and even martyrdom in the cruel Communist prison system and the brutal gulags of Siberia.
I can never forget what I learned about persecution under Communism, from my many Russian Christian friends that I enjoyed throughout the years.
But I also learned about journalism under Communism in Russia as well. Truth journalism was outlawed and forced underground by the Communists. But the truth could not be silenced by them. Courageous journalists continued to operate underground, through the underground press.
Underground journalism in Communist Russia was called "SAMIZDAT" and "TAMIZDAT." SAMIZDAT meant "self-published." TAMIZDAT literature was also written underground, but then published abroad. Christian publishers, including Bible publishers, were also forced underground. Bibles were made illegal in Russian.
But regardless of the level of persecution and oppression, the truth continued to be published by the resisters ("refusniki") of Communist terrorism and oppression in Russia.
I personally took care of one child of Russian dissidents, who dared to publish SAMIZDAT literature underground. They were political resisters of Communism in Russian. Her name was Anastasia Kovaleva.
You can read about the dissident family KOVALEV on the Internet, in fact. SERGEI and IVAN KOVELEV and families were active dissidents resisting Communism and publishing SAMIZDAT in Russia.
I can never forget taking care of precious Anastasia in our Russian Christian summer camp in Ashford, Connecticut one summer. She was only 5 years old then, but infinitely wise due to being raised by political dissident parents.
One day, she pulled me aside as the other children played outside. Looking in both directions to make sure no one else was listening, she smiled a conspiratorial smile and whispered, "Brezhnev...IDIOT! Lenin...IDIOT!" Then she laughed at her little joke, and joined the other children playing outdoors. Her dissident parents had trained her well. Even a small child could know that Communist leaders were exactly what the Bible refers to them as: FOOLS.
COMMUNISM teaches that there is no god. It is the embodiment of secular humanism. There is a saying in Russian, "BOGA NYET," or "GOD IS NOT." Communist posters all over Russia and the former Soviet Union contained these deceptive and soul-damning words.
The Bible states in PSALMS, "The FOOL has said in his heart, 'THERE IS NO GOD.'"
Under Communism in Russia, both the independent alternative news press and the Christians were forced underground, where in spite of persecution and hardships, they both continued to thrive and persist in their messages to their nation and the world.
I personally foresee the day in which the same thing will inevitably happen in North America and Canada. In fact, we can even see this happening incrementally on a daily basis in America today.
Christian freedoms in America are incrementally being taken away, year after year. Anti-Christian forces have worked ceaselessly throughout the years to take away prayer from the schools, GOD out of daily life, Christian religious celebrations out of society, freedom to worship in one's home or to teach one's children about God, on an ongoing basis.
Truth journalists who dare to expose the corruption in the US government today, are being heavily spied upon and monitored, just as journalists are in communist countries.
And it is becoming more and more apparent, that those who dare to cross the line with this administration, are now being targeted. Just like in Communist countries and other oppressive regimes who hate the truth worldwide.
Frankly, much of this persecution comes directly from the "progressive" Communists and their NWO agenda right here in America. Their message remains the same as ever. They HATE the God of the Bible, and the Christians who believe in God. They hate freedom of religion and freedom of the press.
And their supporters have been planted throughout high levels of the US government, intelligence community, military, the government controlled/censored press, and in fact every major power base of influence and control of America. Their anti-freedom, anti-truth agenda for our nation is becoming more clear daily.
Considering the pathos and drama involved in Michael Hasting's fiery death (dare I call it government-sponsored murder?) I personally believe that it was deliberately staged to inspire fear and horror in other would-be investigative journalists.
The clear message to the world of investigative journalism through Hastings' horrific death was quite clear. "DARE to expose US, and we will DESTROY YOU!" In other words, government intimidation of the alternative truth journalists through TERROR.
Oppressive regimes control the populace like this all the time. Lies through the news media, and continual oppression and murder of their opponents: these are the trademarks of every dictatorship, Communist or otherwise.
But both THE TRUTH and THE CHRISTIAN FAITH are indestructible, because they both proceed from an Almighty God, called the God of ALL truth. Therefore, they cannot be banished from the world through oppression and persecution. They can only be forced UNDERGROUND, where they will continue unabated and undeterred by the satanic forces of oppression and tyranny.
This is why both truth journalism and the Christian faith will survive in the coming times of both globalist (NWO communist) and jihadist persecution, intimidation and persecution.
Truth media has resurfaced in Russia today, and is stronger than ever, in spite of dramatic government assassinations of the more outspoken investigative journalists in Russia. And the Christian churches in Russia are resurfacing, to rebuild and emerge stronger than ever before. The truth and faith are indestructible.
To me, it is clear that the future of truth journalism in America will someday be the UNDERGROUND PRESS. And it is also clear to me that the future of the Christian faith will be THE UNDERGROUND CHURCH and house churches someday.
Because oppressive regimes worldwide always oppress the truth through the opposition news media, and also oppress the religious elements who dare to challenge their wicked ways.
The challenge to both truth journalists and the Church in America today is, to resist the temptation to cave in and capitulate to these forces of hell and oppression, and to dare to boldly continue with THE TRUTH.
Was the recent death of Michael Hastings both tragic and frightening? Yes.
In fact, I find myself involuntarily crying every single day at some time, just thinking about hisdeath murder. And I do not cry easily. If I were to live in the realms of human emotions, I would soon die of a broken heart from my journalism and what it has uncovered. I have learned to walk in the strength and power of the word of God, and to never yield to negative emotions which can ultimately destroy us should we yield to them.
With investigative research emerging pointing repeatedly to the fact that Hastings' death was an inside assassination job, the message to all of us in the world of alternative truth journalism is clear.
For this reason, I am thankful for the teachings embodied in the Bible and the words of Jesus Christ to His disciples. Jesus and His disciples were threatened by an oppressive regime, the pagan Roman Empire. And by religious bigots of that day who hated their message as well. He and his disciples faced persecution, intimidation, imprisonment and martyrdom continually.
However, they did not allow this to deter them from preaching the message of the Word of God unabated, or to prevent them from living the Christian life in a hostile pagan world.
Instead, the threat of persecution served to compel many to aspire to an even deeper and more meaningful walk with God through Jesus Christ. Persecution is known for driving Christians to their knees in deeper prayer, and to more closely examine the Word of God and their Christian faith.
Out of the fires of persecution and martyrdom have emerged some of the most influential and inspirational Christian witnesses and testimonies the world has ever known.
Personally, the persecutions and dangers I have faced throughout the years, both for my Christian outreach and also for my journalism, have only served to bring me into a greater and deeper relationship with Almighty God through Jesus Christ, and to forge a union with my Savior that has been birthed out of the fires of tribulation and suffering for His sake.
As my friends often say, "it is ALL good!" Both times of blessing, and times of tribulation can prove to be beneficial for us. For the genuine disciple of Christ, persecution and tribulation can serve to strengthen one's faith and perseverance in the faith.
But for the pseudo-Christian, into "religion" only for the hand-outs from a pseudo-god, or "a sugar-daddy in the sky who exists to please out every whim," persecution will only drive them away from God instead. They cannot withstand the the fires of persecution, who do not practice true discipleship in a genuine walk with Jesus Christ.
There is hope for the world of alternative investigative truth journalism, because of the very nature of THE TRUTH. It is like the sun relentlessly rising every single day for countless eons, brilliantly illuminating every corner of creation. That light simply cannot be destroyed.
TRUTH is like the waves of the ocean. It cannot be effectively held back. And every attempt to restrain or obliterate THE TRUTH will be met ultimately with utter defeat and failure.
And while the messengers of the truth can unfortunately die, that truth lives on forever. The enemies of THE TRUTH can take out the messenger, BUT THEY CANNOT TAKE OUT THE MESSAGE! Should one torch-bearer fall, there is always another to take up that torch of truth and liberty, and continue on in the quest of spreading the truth to all of mankind.
Jesus Christ promised, "You shall know the truth, and THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE." Jesus declared, "Father [God], Thy word IS TRUTH." Is God indestructible? Yes. Then His WORD, or truth, is also indestructible as well. For God IS HIS WORD!
Whether published and proclaimed openly or underground, the truth remains the indestructible truth.
Truth journalists will find an advocate with God Almighty. God Himself is against all liars, to the point where the Bible declares that ALL liars will have their part in eternal damnation IF not repented of. This is stated clearly in the final book of the New Testament, called REVELATION.
Samizdat
(Russian: самизда́т; IPA: [səmɨzˈdat]) was a key form of dissident activity across the Soviet bloc in which individuals reproduced censored publications by hand and passed the documents from reader to reader. This grassroots practice to evade officially imposed censorship was fraught with danger as harsh punishments were meted out to people caught possessing or copying censored materials.
Vladimir Bukovsky defined it as follows:
I myself create it,
edit it,censor it,publish it,distribute it, and ...get imprisoned for it.[1]
***********************************
Americans have much to learn from what happened to FREEDOM OF THE PRESS under Communism in Russia, and how truth journalism continued to thrive even UNDERGROUND.
In 1979, I began a year of studies in the Slavic Gospel Association's "Institute of Slavic Studies" located in Wheaton, Illinois at that time. These studies served to open the fascinating door of greater understanding of life under communism in Russia.
For most Americans, life in communist Russian remains an enigma. Most Americans cannot realistically relate to what the Russian people suffered under oppressive Communism. Nor can the church in America really relate to the sufferings of the Christians in Russia under Communism. Spending much time living and working among Christians in the former Soviet Union, I learned much about life under Communism as it was related to me by the Russian people themselves.
Persecution beyond most American Christians' comprehension occurred on a regular basis in Communist Russia. Parents could not "legally" raise their children as Christians for the first 18 years of that child's life. Christian children were mocked and persecuted in schools across Russia. Open evangelism was forbidden by the Communists. Churches were often torn down or razed. Pastors and outspoken Christians were frequently arrested. Once imprisoned, they faced torture and cruelty and even martyrdom in the cruel Communist prison system and the brutal gulags of Siberia.
I can never forget what I learned about persecution under Communism, from my many Russian Christian friends that I enjoyed throughout the years.
But I also learned about journalism under Communism in Russia as well. Truth journalism was outlawed and forced underground by the Communists. But the truth could not be silenced by them. Courageous journalists continued to operate underground, through the underground press.
Underground journalism in Communist Russia was called "SAMIZDAT" and "TAMIZDAT." SAMIZDAT meant "self-published." TAMIZDAT literature was also written underground, but then published abroad. Christian publishers, including Bible publishers, were also forced underground. Bibles were made illegal in Russian.
But regardless of the level of persecution and oppression, the truth continued to be published by the resisters ("refusniki") of Communist terrorism and oppression in Russia.
I personally took care of one child of Russian dissidents, who dared to publish SAMIZDAT literature underground. They were political resisters of Communism in Russian. Her name was Anastasia Kovaleva.
You can read about the dissident family KOVALEV on the Internet, in fact. SERGEI and IVAN KOVELEV and families were active dissidents resisting Communism and publishing SAMIZDAT in Russia.
I can never forget taking care of precious Anastasia in our Russian Christian summer camp in Ashford, Connecticut one summer. She was only 5 years old then, but infinitely wise due to being raised by political dissident parents.
One day, she pulled me aside as the other children played outside. Looking in both directions to make sure no one else was listening, she smiled a conspiratorial smile and whispered, "Brezhnev...IDIOT! Lenin...IDIOT!" Then she laughed at her little joke, and joined the other children playing outdoors. Her dissident parents had trained her well. Even a small child could know that Communist leaders were exactly what the Bible refers to them as: FOOLS.
COMMUNISM teaches that there is no god. It is the embodiment of secular humanism. There is a saying in Russian, "BOGA NYET," or "GOD IS NOT." Communist posters all over Russia and the former Soviet Union contained these deceptive and soul-damning words.
"Boga Nyet!" ("God is not" in Russian.)
The Bible states in PSALMS, "The FOOL has said in his heart, 'THERE IS NO GOD.'"
Under Communism in Russia, both the independent alternative news press and the Christians were forced underground, where in spite of persecution and hardships, they both continued to thrive and persist in their messages to their nation and the world.
I personally foresee the day in which the same thing will inevitably happen in North America and Canada. In fact, we can even see this happening incrementally on a daily basis in America today.
Christian freedoms in America are incrementally being taken away, year after year. Anti-Christian forces have worked ceaselessly throughout the years to take away prayer from the schools, GOD out of daily life, Christian religious celebrations out of society, freedom to worship in one's home or to teach one's children about God, on an ongoing basis.
Truth journalists who dare to expose the corruption in the US government today, are being heavily spied upon and monitored, just as journalists are in communist countries.
And it is becoming more and more apparent, that those who dare to cross the line with this administration, are now being targeted. Just like in Communist countries and other oppressive regimes who hate the truth worldwide.
Frankly, much of this persecution comes directly from the "progressive" Communists and their NWO agenda right here in America. Their message remains the same as ever. They HATE the God of the Bible, and the Christians who believe in God. They hate freedom of religion and freedom of the press.
And their supporters have been planted throughout high levels of the US government, intelligence community, military, the government controlled/censored press, and in fact every major power base of influence and control of America. Their anti-freedom, anti-truth agenda for our nation is becoming more clear daily.
Considering the pathos and drama involved in Michael Hasting's fiery death (dare I call it government-sponsored murder?) I personally believe that it was deliberately staged to inspire fear and horror in other would-be investigative journalists.
The clear message to the world of investigative journalism through Hastings' horrific death was quite clear. "DARE to expose US, and we will DESTROY YOU!" In other words, government intimidation of the alternative truth journalists through TERROR.
Oppressive regimes control the populace like this all the time. Lies through the news media, and continual oppression and murder of their opponents: these are the trademarks of every dictatorship, Communist or otherwise.
But both THE TRUTH and THE CHRISTIAN FAITH are indestructible, because they both proceed from an Almighty God, called the God of ALL truth. Therefore, they cannot be banished from the world through oppression and persecution. They can only be forced UNDERGROUND, where they will continue unabated and undeterred by the satanic forces of oppression and tyranny.
This is why both truth journalism and the Christian faith will survive in the coming times of both globalist (NWO communist) and jihadist persecution, intimidation and persecution.
Truth media has resurfaced in Russia today, and is stronger than ever, in spite of dramatic government assassinations of the more outspoken investigative journalists in Russia. And the Christian churches in Russia are resurfacing, to rebuild and emerge stronger than ever before. The truth and faith are indestructible.
To me, it is clear that the future of truth journalism in America will someday be the UNDERGROUND PRESS. And it is also clear to me that the future of the Christian faith will be THE UNDERGROUND CHURCH and house churches someday.
Because oppressive regimes worldwide always oppress the truth through the opposition news media, and also oppress the religious elements who dare to challenge their wicked ways.
The challenge to both truth journalists and the Church in America today is, to resist the temptation to cave in and capitulate to these forces of hell and oppression, and to dare to boldly continue with THE TRUTH.
Was the recent death of Michael Hastings both tragic and frightening? Yes.
In fact, I find myself involuntarily crying every single day at some time, just thinking about his
With investigative research emerging pointing repeatedly to the fact that Hastings' death was an inside assassination job, the message to all of us in the world of alternative truth journalism is clear.
For this reason, I am thankful for the teachings embodied in the Bible and the words of Jesus Christ to His disciples. Jesus and His disciples were threatened by an oppressive regime, the pagan Roman Empire. And by religious bigots of that day who hated their message as well. He and his disciples faced persecution, intimidation, imprisonment and martyrdom continually.
However, they did not allow this to deter them from preaching the message of the Word of God unabated, or to prevent them from living the Christian life in a hostile pagan world.
Instead, the threat of persecution served to compel many to aspire to an even deeper and more meaningful walk with God through Jesus Christ. Persecution is known for driving Christians to their knees in deeper prayer, and to more closely examine the Word of God and their Christian faith.
Out of the fires of persecution and martyrdom have emerged some of the most influential and inspirational Christian witnesses and testimonies the world has ever known.
Personally, the persecutions and dangers I have faced throughout the years, both for my Christian outreach and also for my journalism, have only served to bring me into a greater and deeper relationship with Almighty God through Jesus Christ, and to forge a union with my Savior that has been birthed out of the fires of tribulation and suffering for His sake.
As my friends often say, "it is ALL good!" Both times of blessing, and times of tribulation can prove to be beneficial for us. For the genuine disciple of Christ, persecution and tribulation can serve to strengthen one's faith and perseverance in the faith.
But for the pseudo-Christian, into "religion" only for the hand-outs from a pseudo-god, or "a sugar-daddy in the sky who exists to please out every whim," persecution will only drive them away from God instead. They cannot withstand the the fires of persecution, who do not practice true discipleship in a genuine walk with Jesus Christ.
There is hope for the world of alternative investigative truth journalism, because of the very nature of THE TRUTH. It is like the sun relentlessly rising every single day for countless eons, brilliantly illuminating every corner of creation. That light simply cannot be destroyed.
TRUTH is like the waves of the ocean. It cannot be effectively held back. And every attempt to restrain or obliterate THE TRUTH will be met ultimately with utter defeat and failure.
And while the messengers of the truth can unfortunately die, that truth lives on forever. The enemies of THE TRUTH can take out the messenger, BUT THEY CANNOT TAKE OUT THE MESSAGE! Should one torch-bearer fall, there is always another to take up that torch of truth and liberty, and continue on in the quest of spreading the truth to all of mankind.
Jesus Christ promised, "You shall know the truth, and THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE." Jesus declared, "Father [God], Thy word IS TRUTH." Is God indestructible? Yes. Then His WORD, or truth, is also indestructible as well. For God IS HIS WORD!
Whether published and proclaimed openly or underground, the truth remains the indestructible truth.
Truth journalists will find an advocate with God Almighty. God Himself is against all liars, to the point where the Bible declares that ALL liars will have their part in eternal damnation IF not repented of. This is stated clearly in the final book of the New Testament, called REVELATION.
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
~Revelation 21:8~
God bless and protect the fearless and
honest journalists everywhere!
Keep battling for truth and for freedom,
for the two are inseparable.
You cannot have real freedom
in any nation,
without the truth being made known.
God's Word remains the ULTIMATE TRUTH.
"You shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free."
~The promise of Jesus Christ~
**************************
-Pamela Rae Schuffert-
Your support enables this important work to continue on in a world that is increasingly becoming hostile to the truth.
Christian freedoms are becoming threatened continually in America.
Freedom of the press and the right of the American people to know the truth
is also being threatened.
Please choose to stand with those of us on the front lines
for FREEDOM and THE TRUTH
to continue throughout America today.
This vital work has cost me everything.
I have no family, and no home to go home to.
I live on the road, to do this work FOR YOU.
I cannot make it alone.
Thank you for your help.
Your support enables this important work to continue on in a world that is increasingly becoming hostile to the truth.
Christian freedoms are becoming threatened continually in America.
Freedom of the press and the right of the American people to know the truth
is also being threatened.
Please choose to stand with those of us on the front lines
for FREEDOM and THE TRUTH
to continue throughout America today.
This vital work has cost me everything.
I have no family, and no home to go home to.
I live on the road, to do this work FOR YOU.
I cannot make it alone.
Thank you for your help.
Posts
underground journalism, nice idea and very helpful information. best regards from Indonesian.
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