A Persecuted Gospel: An Iranian Pastor sentenced to death for his faith

I am not normally one to keep up with the news. Most of the time it is either because I do not think about it, or because I just do not have enough time. However, this morning, I went to check out foxnews.com, and I was faced, front and center, with a picture of an Iranian pastor. He is a husband and father of two children. This pastor has been in jail since October 2009 for disputing children reading only from the Koran in school, he was sentenced to death in September 2010 for apostasy when reading writings from Iranian clerics, and he has been asked four times to recant his faith. Each time, he has declined the request. This type of story tends to breaks my heart, and I want to scream, “OUTRAGE!” Granted, I know things like this go on throughout our world on a daily basis. I also grant that we, as Americans, have virtually no comprehension of this whatsoever. Yet, despite these things, there are clear teachings in Scripture that I want to take a look at.

First, circumstances such as these should not surprise us. Indeed, Christ promised as much. In John 15:18–21 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.” Jesus promised that we would face trials and tribulations. The world hates us because the world does not know Jesus Christ. Persecution is not a fun idea. Americans have a very limited perspective, especially in the realm of physical persecution (i.e. imprisonments, beatings, etc.). I have often wondered what I would do in the face of such persecution. In an effort to continue to support and care for my family, would I recant? I pray not. In fact, I believe if I love my family, I would not recant. Indeed, what kind of example would that set for my child? I have never been faced with that dilemma. Perhaps I never will, but what about my child? I pray I raise her in such a way that if she was to come to a point where she was asked to recant and live, or else die, that she would not recant, and would continue to hold on to Jesus.

However, what about my mental reaction? How would I feel if I was being persecuted? Would I be angry and defensive? Would I display a calm demeanor, knowing that God is in control? Would verbally react in such a way that would destroy my witness? Matthew 5:43-45 says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you , love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” As I read this passage in light of the article from Fox News, I am reminded that this man is a brother in Christ, and a proclaimer of the Gospel. And I find this story heartbreaking for me as a pastor. Yet, I know the God who this man serves. So, I am moved, as Jesus commanded, to pray for our enemies. We should be the ones setting the example, as Jesus goes on to say in verses 46-48, “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore, you are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” So I am challenged to truly live out my faith, especially in a scenario such as this.

Now, loving my enemies? Wow. That I have a harder time with. I can pray for them all day long, but I do not want to love my enemies; that goes against everything my mind says. But what my enemies do to me is not the point. Even though I just see a tiny glimpse of what is going on in my world, God sees the grand picture. The point, then, is to set the standard for the those who see us. Christ set the bar high and He expects nothing less. Hence, when He says, “Therefore, you are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” So, despite what my nature may want to say in response, the Godly, Christ-centered response will be to focus on the other person, regardless if they are friend or foe. After all, God knows what is going on; nothing slips past him, thus judging and condemning is His call, not ours.

I pray for him and his family. I pray that the Lord does not allow the government to execute him. I pray that Pastor Nadarkhani will continue to have strength and determination, hold fast to Jesus, continue to lift Him up as Lord and not recant. Even though I am an outsider looking in, I pray that my attitude will reflect the attitude which Jesus commanded in Matthew. I pray the church’s response would likewise exhibit an attitude of prayer, and that it would illicit a physical response, to go and reach a lost world (at the expense of death) for Jesus. For those who, for whatever the reason, do not go we should be challenged as Paul challenged the Colossian and Thessalonian believers. Colossians 4:2–4: “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1–2: Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.

Finally, in the article it says, “When asked to repent, Nadarkhani stated: ‘Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?’ ‘To the religion of your ancestors, Islam,’ the judge replied, according to the American Center for Law & Justice. ‘I cannot,’ Nadarkhani said.” If this man responded as coolly and even tempered as this article, in black and white, spells out, then this can only be the power of the Holy Spirit providing peace in His life. Especially during this tumultuous time. Also, this man knows Who his soul finds rest in. Jesus promised in Matthew 5:9-12,

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for you reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Moreover, Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:14, “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” I wonder as this man is facing death for the sake of righteousness, what is going through His mind? Does he remember the promise of 1 Peter 4:14? Does He feel the presence of the Holy Spirit resting on him? Is he thinking of the promises of Scripture? Perhaps he is thinking of the instance when Peter goes on to give this blessed promise in 1 Peter 5:10-11, “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, conform, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.”