Serbia: An empty Christian tradition

Written by Linda Digby 03 Jul 2015
Serbia: An empty Christian tradition

Captured sixty times and destroyed thirty-eight times, Serbia’s beautiful capital city Belgrade exemplifies the war and civil unrest that the Balkan Peninsula has undergone over the past two millennia. Ethnicity and religion go hand-in-hand. Over half see their faith as cultural and as their ethnic identity, leading to rampant nominalism. The Serbian Orthodox Church has suppressed other churches, often in totalitarian fashion. Non-Serbian Orthodox churches are increasingly attacked, Muslim/Christian relations remain tense. Protestantism has had a history of influence on Hungarian and Slovak minorities, but its impact on Serbs is minimal. But despite deep divisions within the faith community and difficult cultural hurdles, a tiny but growing body of evangelical believers is attempting to overcome ethnic division and are worshipping together in unity.

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  • Pray: for revival that frees churches from empty tradition and establishes a powerful witness. Pray for healing from centuries-long ethno-religious hatred. (Ps.133:1)