STEVE KOZAR AND DANIEL LONG'S DERANGED RESPONSE TO RUSLAN CRITICISM

When "Discernment" is Dishonest: Is Ruslan KD Really "Evil?"

A question for Steve Kozar: What is an ad hominem attack?

Ad hominem: A criticism directed against a person rather than against what that person says.

To my knowledge, none of Ruslan KD’s critics have engaged in ad hominem attacks. The concerns have been directed at his relentless pursuit of money—identified in scripture as greed and love of money—which Ruslan himself has articulated in the most disgusting terms. (Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:10; Luke 12:15). Chris LaSala notes: "Ruslan KD has always planned to make merchandise of his followers. He has tried to monetize everything from prayer journals, Christian concerts, t shirts, therapy sessions, upper tier Patreon subscriptions, and more. This man is not a Christian, he is a lover of money and he is a friend of the world. He also promotes cigar smoking, tattoos, carnal hip hop artists, and he green lights women wearing yoga pants. He is also a free gracer disguised as a repentance preacher."1 

Kozar and Long have responded by attacking Michael Grant, Sean Christie (Revealing Truth), Jordan Riley, and others, asserting that Ruslan’s critics are "lying and taking him out of context". That is an exceptionally strong allegation and is demonstrably false. 

Ruslan's damage control: "When I came onto YouTube the objective was not to be a public Christian."2 

Anyone who chooses to operate on YouTube is functioning in a public arena. Ruslan’s claim that he was a full‑time musician who was “a rapper who was Christian, not a Christian rapper” is a distinction without substance. 

The monetisation‑focused statements now circulating online originate from Ruslan’s own recorded material, largely between 2018 and 2021, during the period in which he was advising aspiring Christian creatives on building financially viable platforms. In a recent interview he accused his critics of participating in “cancel culture” and claimed that his intent was merely to motivate Christian artists, not to address ordinary believers. The difficulty with that defence is obvious: at what point does a Christian supposedly remove the “Christian” hat and replace it with an “artist” hat? What framework of values is he communicating to Christians who identify as artists? Scripture does not permit compartmentalising the Christian life. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.. (Colossians 3:23).

Kozar and Long's claim that Ruslan has "repented" is absurd. Ruslan has recently reaffirmed his own monetisation‑focused statements: "But we went back and particularly looked at 'how do I monetize people' and 'stop pussy footing around, you want to build a business around your art  and not a ministry'. And I stand by those 100%."

Ruslan > I want.. I want.. I want .. 

"I want to be free so I got zero overhead.. I don't want no bill.. I don't got to pay mortgage.. I want to be part of a church plant and be able to give and help.. I want to live in southern California, I have to.. I am going to live in Southern California. I have to figure out how to get into a million dollar home and pay it off.. I need seven figures.. I would love to be in a position someday where I just have F.U. money." His manner of speaking aside, the substance is clear: he wants to participate in ministry while exempting himself from the ordinary responsibilities and obligations that other people must carry. He has expressed a desire for income levels far beyond what most people will ever attain. 

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.(1 Corinthians 5:11 cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:6; Romans 16:16-17).

Only blatant deceivers and narcissists would consider charging people for “meet and greet” access to so‑called "celebrity preachers". The pricing for Ruslan’s March 2026 Bless God Summit — including a $75 meet‑and‑greet ticket — speaks for itself. The broader pattern is even more egregious offering an additional $450 for a celebrity meet‑and‑greet, and children being charged $422 to meet a “celebrity preacher.” This commercialisation of alleged religious figures is indefensible.  All Christians are obligated to uphold consistent Christian values and to serve as public witnesses to Christ. No believer should even mention or be speaking about "F.U. money"  and "monetizing people" in any context. 

Ruslan's financial compromises alone warrants rejecting this ministry outright. But the wider problem is structural: the entire Bless God Summit genre is theologically unsound, commercially driven, and ecumenical in substance. It is not Christian ministry in any meaningful doctrinal sense.

Although Ruslan disputes Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox structures and practices, he still treats both traditions as doctrinally aligned with the gospel and draws no substantive line between their teaching and what he considers biblical truth. He refers to "Our respective streams of Christianity.. I love my Eastern Orthodox and Catholic brothers and sisters.. We (Protestants) believe that you have a valid church and a valid communion."4

The heart of the ecumenical heresy is soteriological. Bible believers who trust that we are saved by grace through faith alone are at complete odds with Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. The Roman Catholic/Eastern Orthodox premise is that we are saved by faith plus works. Although they share our vocabulary, they load those terms with different theological content. Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy diverge from one another in various aspects, yet they stand together in treating the sacraments as efficacious channels of grace and as necessary components of salvation. This is another gospel and is anathema biblically. (Galatians 1:8-9).

A further critical concern is that Ruslan promotes of some of the worst false teachers in the church today, including Carl Lentz, TD Jakes, Gabe Poirot, and "demon slayers" Mike Signorelli, Isaiah Salvidar, "Apostle" Alexander Pagani and Vlad Savchuck.  

I can only describe Steve Kozar and Daniel Long's response to Ruslan's critics as deranged. They fail to articulate even the most basic definitions, and the claim that Ruslan has “repented” is demonstrably false. Ruslan’s own recorded statements are sufficient to indict him without further analysis. Their reaction warrants serious scrutiny: at minimum, their discernment should be questioned, and the motives behind issuing blatantly false claims of this nature should be examined. These two self-appointed "discerners"  are already in serious error due to their Lutheran commitment to baptismal regeneration—a significant deviation from sound biblical soteriology—the pattern is predictable. (Isaiah 5:20).

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:17-21).

1. Demonic Merchandiser Ruslan KD Claims His Followers Are Not As Important To Him As His Bank Account
2. Ruslan Exposed: Addressing the "Allegations"
3. (386) THIS Famous "Christian" YouTuber Must Be AVOIDED | Ruslan KD Exposed - YouTube
4. The Real Reason I Won't Convert to Orthodox or Catholic Christianity