In an era where the rhetoric of “freedom” and “democracy” is bandied about like a political football, the ground realities often tell a different story. What does freedom look like in Ukraine, for example—a country that the Biden administration and current Congress fervently back as a “free country.” What they conveniently forget to mention is that Ukraine is actually not free at all—just this week, it has passed legislation to completely ban the Orthodox Church within its borders. That’s right, a country we are told we MUST support because it embodies our shared values of “freedom” and “democracy” has banned an entire religion.

The worrisome part? Recent reports by the “trustworthy” FBI on Russian intelligence agents allegedly attempting to infiltrate Orthodox Churches in America will likely be used as a convenient pretext for the U.S. government to walk down the dangerous path Ukraine has paved—curtailing religious freedoms under the guise of “national security.” This move would not only be unconstitutional but would also expose the glaring hypocrisy in the stance taken by the current U.S. administration.

But why should anyone be surprised? The Biden administration has shown an unprecedented willingness to sidestep the Constitution through a litany of executive orders, particularly in areas that conflict with conservative, traditionalist values. So, using “national security” as an excuse to potentially ban or limit the activities of the Orthodox Church in America seems par for the course for an administration that has already demonstrated its hostility toward conservative Christianity.

Let’s not forget the Constitution here—the foundation of what was once American “freedom and democracy.” The First Amendment clearly stipulates that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Yet, if the government were to take actions similar to Ukraine, it would constitute a blatant disregard for this foundational principle. That’s not just an attack on the Orthodox Church—that’s an attack on the very fabric of America.

This isn’t meant to be a defense of the Orthodox Church. Much like the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church is filled with idolatry and false worship. The issue here isn’t the Orthodox Church—our concern should be with the true Church. If the government of Ukraine can ban the Orthodox Church in the name of “freedom” and “democracy” and “national security” and stuff, why couldn’t they ban the Baptist Church? Or the Presbyterian Church? Or any expression? And if our ally of “freedom and democracy,” Ukraine does it, why couldn’t the U.S.? After all, the common denominator in all these churches is their allegiance to an authority greater than the government.

The term “national security” has often been weaponized to infringe upon the freedoms and liberties that define the United States. In the context of these so-called “infiltrations” of the Orthodox Church—which remain speculative and based on hearsay—the term could very well become the Trojan Horse that allows the government to undermine the Constitution and restrict religious freedom.

Ironically, the same administration and Congress that hold up Ukraine as a shining tower of freedom seem to turn a blind eye to its religious repression. How can one argue that we support Ukraine because it’s a “free country” when it bans an entire religion simply because of its opposition to the current party’s policies? Sound familiar? What kind of freedom is that? And if we’re not careful, that ill-conceived notion of “freedom” could very well become an American reality, sacrificing constitutional liberties on the altar of political expedience.

To believe that the government would not capitalize on vague and unconfirmed reports to limit religious freedoms is to ignore the clear pattern of constitutional evasions we’ve witnessed so far. We must remain vigilant, questioning the motives behind any actions taken under the catch-all phrase of “national security,” especially when those actions threaten to erode the foundations of our free society. If Ukraine’s actions serve as a blueprint for what could happen here, then we’re staring at a grim future—one where the government picks and chooses which religions are “acceptable” and which are not. I’m not a Christian Nationalist, by any means. But such a possibility does make the thought of Christian Nationalism enticing.