Remember Iranian Christians

Iran sentences American pastor Saeed Abedini to 8 years in prison Fox News #tcot #iranelections (Photo credit: Robert Reed Daly)

A couple of weeks ago I saw a news story highlighting an Iranian pastor, who was apparently arrested and has received an eight-year gaol sentence for nothing more than being a Christian.

13 years ago Saeed Abedini converted from Islam to Christianity. Since then he’s left the country and has been living in the US, but has returned to Iran regularly to visit his parents. He’s been arrested about ten times, and this most recent time has been particularly hard for his family and other supporters because the Iranian government have been lying to them.

This is what’s known as persecution. A few months ago I saw a comment about the lady at BA who had been asked to remove the cross jewellery, saying ‘persecution’s coming to England!’ Well, perhaps it is, but hold your horses. In Iran, and elsewhere, Christians are being arrested, tortured and killed for their faith.

Let’s pray for Saeed and his family, and the many others like him who don’t have the chance for CNN to do a story on them. Come, Lord Jesus.

Related articles

• American pastor sentenced to 8 years in Iranian prison (muslims4jesus.wordpress.com)
• Latest News on Imprisoned American Pastor Saeed Abedini (voiceofthepersecuted.wordpress.com)
• U.S. condemns sentencing of American pastor in Iran (news.yahoo.com)

Getting it half right

Jews praying in the Synagogue on Yom Kippur. (1878 painting by Maurycy Gottlieb) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Jesus said some pretty direct stuff. Right at the beginning of his most famous sermon he said something that came as a bit of a punch in the face to his listeners.

He’d got pretty famous by this stage in his ministry; he’d travelled around teaching and healing, and was being followed by big crowds, most of whom were Jews. Now the Jewish leaders were a bit anxious about all of this, as you can expect. They believed in the God of Israel and didn’t want their people being led astray by some guy who happened to be a good public speaker.

So Jesus clarified things:

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.

Oh, phew! This Jesus guy is on our side after all – maybe I ought to invite him to the next Jewish speakers’ conference.

I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.

Hang on, wait. Before today I could just tell people that you were a cult leader because I thought you disagreed with me. Then a moment ago I thought you were on my side, and now you’re saying that everything I believe is only right providing it’s all about you?

That made things pretty difficult for Jews in the first century, because Jesus was suddenly claiming to be the leader of the only true Jews.

A little thought. Maybe the best way to talk to people of other faiths that ultimately started in Israel (e.g. Judaism, Islam, Mormonism) is to clarify what we agree with before we bring the kidney punch that the only way to understand it all properly is in Jesus?

Why we do anything at all

Image via Wikipedia

I was out with one of my friends recently getting something to eat, and she said she wouldn’t eat a particular dish because it had pork in it, and her religion (Islam) didn’t allow her to eat pork.

Aside from just feeling sorry for her (sausage rolls, scotch eggs, toad in the hole, pigs in blankets, spare ribs, sausages and mash, pork chops, YUMMY!) I was genuinely interested in why she wouldn’t allow herself the pleasure of a lovely bacon roll. Her response: ‘It’s my religion.’

‘Well,’ I said, ‘I know that, but why is it in your religion?’

Turns out she didn’t know, all she knew was that God would judge her if she ate pork. Seemed a bit weird.

Now, I’m pretty certain that Muslims in general do have a reason why they won’t eat pork, but I think I’d need to be convinced to intentionally avoid something that would be a nice experience. I don’t think I do anything just because ‘it’s my religion.’

Then again, I reckon this could be misused; I’m meant to start work at 9:30am each day but I don’t think anyone’s ever sat me down and explained why I must. I think I could produce the same quality of work if I took a shorter lunch break and started at 10am instead…but just because I don’t understand the reason why doesn’t mean I shouldn’t simply obey in this context.

Hmm…any thoughts?

Islam: a cult?

Let me start by saying this: if you’re a Muslim, I have a great deal of respect for you. Seriously. The logic behind a lot of your thinking is very different to mine, but it doesn’t mean it’s wrong (even though I think your conclusions are wrong). This is just the output of a conversation I’ve had with a number of different Muslims over the years. Please feel free to comment and correct me.

I think that if something is true, it will stand up to questioning, however tough the questions are. Whenever I’ve asked Muslims why they believe in God, however, I’ve been met with the same answer: there is no evidence, there is only faith, and it’s important that it is that way.

So, I have tried to understand what Muslims believe. They believe that Jews had it right but that the prophet Jesus came to correct and supercede that which had come before. Then, the prophet Muhammad came and corrected and superceded everything that had come before, including Jesus’ ministry. Fair enough.

So I’ve asked the question, when will the next correction come? The answer: there cannot be another correction. One of the things Muhammad corrected was stating that he was to have the last word.

Oh yes, and when I pointed out a couple of mistakes in the Koran my Muslim friends have all refused to look into them, because the worst possible sin is to question Muhammad.

Ok…

So I’ve asked the question, what in particular did Muhammad correct? And the answer: everything in the Bible (containing both Jewish and Christian holy books) has become corrupt and changed over time, so nothing in them can be relied upon.

So…

We’re in a situation where one man has:

1. proclaimed himself to be a prophet
2. declared that everything everyone else said is wrong
3. warned that questioning him is punishable by an eternity in hell
4. underlined that nothing anyone else ever says can override what he says

Without wanting to sound unnecessarily skeptical, if I said any of those things I’d probably declare myself a wannabe cult leader!

If…if…Islam is a false religion, it would be Satan’s perfect plan, wouldn’t it?

And if…if…it’s true, surely it would withstand questioning anyway?

Jesus said: I am the way, the truth, and the life.

An interesting contrast between Muhammad and Jesus Christ

There’s a blog I read every so often which posted this up last week – I just thought it was interesting:

One time, there was brought to Muhammad a woman who had committed adultery. They asked him, “What shall we do with her?” Muhammad said, “Go away. Bring her back after the baby is born.”

So they brought her back after the baby was born, and Muhammad said, “Let her go and nurse the child. Bring her back when the child is two years old.”

So they brought her back and Muhammad said, “Take the baby from her and kill her.” And that is what they did.

Now let us compare Muhammad to Jesus. There was a time when people brought a woman to Jesus who had been caught in adultery. “Shall we stone her?” the people said. Jesus replied, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” Everybody went away. There was nobody left to stone her because they all knew they had sinned. Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”

I’m not here to bash Muhammad, or Muslims, or anyone. But I wonder what society would make of Muhammad’s response, and what they’d make of Jesus’. At the time, Muhammad was given status almost like that of a god, whereas Jesus was given a false trial and given the death penalty.

It was Jesus’ grace which caused him to die, and it was Jesus’ grace which was provided for us as he died. Thank God that we have received his grace, just as the adulteress did.

Which None Can Shut by Reema Goode

This book is a collection of true stories experienced by Mike & Teenage Goode as they have preached the gospel in the Muslim world.

If you want your faith lifted, look no further. The accounts in this book are wonderful testimonies to what God is doing in the 10/40 window and will be sure to stir you to prayer and action.

The writing style is perhaps a little simplistic at times and the text is pretty large so it feels a bit like you’re reading a children’s book at times but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I loved reading this book and the personal feel nearly moved me to both tears and laughter.

The only down side about this book was that the version I received wasn’t printed that well – there were printer lines on several pages, and the pages were different sizes, it looked a bit amateurish! That’s not to say the entire print run is like that, and it certainly didn’t hurt my high opinion of this book, but it could have been a little more nicely presented.

If you’re involved in ministry to Muslims I’m sure you’ll especially love this book, and if you’re not it will give you a window into the persecution and progress in these nations.

I got this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers. I’m not required to give a positive review.

Loving Muslims during Ramadan

Here’s the way to do it properly – at this website and using this booklet.

Beyond Opinion by Ravi Zacharias (ed)

A collection of the finest and most respected apologists on the planet combined their skill and knowledge to bring this work to my bookshelf. By looking at a vast range of situations and audiences the book aims to inspire the reader to take apologetics beyond opinion to changed lives based on truth.

The key message for this book is that it’s not an apologetics book itself. I expected it to be full of convincing arguments to build my faith, but that’s not its purpose so if that’s what you’re looking for you’ll be disappointed, despite the list of authors!

In my opinion the last chapter is the best, in which Zacharias pushes home the importance of a radically changed life, the church community, and the development of apologetics into more than a debate. If I’d read this chapter first, the rest of the book would have made much more sense.

On the whole the book’s very strong. The authors are knowledgeable and give a good background about all of the topics covered. But there’s a problem in the wide range of topics – covering all Eastern and New Age religions in one short chapter doesn’t really do them justice and just leaves you asking more questions than you started with.

If you’re into apologetics I’d encourage you to read this book because it will get your priorities right, but don’t expect to receive a bunch of new arguments because it doesn’t do that.

I got this book for free from BookSneeze. I’m not required to give a positive review.

The Islamic doctrine of Takkiya

I’m sure this isn’t politically correct but I read it in a book a bit ago and thought it would be interesting to start a discussion on it. I don’t think I’ve ever blogged anything about Islam before so this may be an absolute flop, or may attract attention. Time will tell.

So anyway, there is an Islamic doctrine called Takkiya. It’s taken from the Qur’an, Sura 16:106:

Anyone who after accepting faith in Allah utters Unbelief except under compulsion, his heart remaining firm in faith but such as open their breast to unbelief, on them is wrath from Allah.

This verse was given after one of Muhammad’s followers, Ammar bin Yasir, was forced to worship idols, encouraging him that you can deny your faith outwardly while still remaining a guilt-free Muslim.

In fact, Muhammad said that Allah would not hold a Muslim accountable for lying in three situations: (1) when in war, espionage, concealment, or in weakness, (2) with a spouse, and (3) when reconciling and maintaining peace. This is added to by the Qur’an when it allows Muslims to take oaths yet still lie in Sura 2:225:

Allah will not call you to account for thoughtlessness in your oaths, but for the intention in your hearts.

As a result it is very difficult to debate with a Muslim about matters of faith, as Sam Soloman explained:

The Takkiya is very effectively used in apologetics, so a Muslim debater will hide or deny certain parts of the Qur’an to justify and advance the cause of Islam. Always outmanoeuvring his Christian opponents, the debater does this with no guilt as it is divinely sanctioned. I personally practiced this prior to coming to the Lord [Jesus Christ].

Islamic prostitution in the name of legalism

I don’t normally do this but I found this almost unbelievable. Before you read it, please don’t think I’m transposing this onto all Muslims! It’s just one occurence in one heavily Islamic nation.

In the name of legalism, the following document (which can be found here at planet-iran.com in its original form) justifies prostitution of girls as young as 12:

In the name of Allah who is most gracious and merciful

Temporary Marriage (Marriage is among the traditions of the Prophet Mohammad)

In order to elevate the spiritual atmosphere, create proper psychological conditions and tranquility of mind, the Province of the Quds’eh-Razavi of Khorassan has created centers for temporary marriage (just next door to the shrine) for those brothers who are on pilgrimage to the shrine of eighth Imam, Imam Reza, and who are far away from their spouses.

To that end, we call on all our sisters who are virgins, who are between the ages of 12 and 35 to cooperate with us. Each of our sisters who signs up will be bound by a two-year contract with th province of the Quds’eh-Razavi of Khorassan and will be required to spend at least 25 days of each month temporarily married to those brothers who are on pilgrimage. The period of the contract be considered as a part of the employment experience of the applicant. The period of each temporary marriage can be anywhere between 5 hours to 10 days. The prices are as follows:

· 5 hour temporary marriage — 50,000 Tomans ($50 US)
· One day temporary marriage — 75,000 Tomans ($75 US)
· Two day temporary marriage — 100,000 Tomans ($100 US)
· Three day temporary marriage — 150,000 Tomans ($150 US)
· Between 4 and 10 day temporary marriage — 300,000 Tomans ($300 US)

Our sisters who are virgins will receive a bonus of 100,000 Tomans ($100 US) for the removal of their hymen.

After the expiration of the two-year contract, should our sisters still be under 35 years of age and should they be so inclined, they can be added to the waiting list of those who are seeking long-term temporary marriage. The employed sisters are obligated to donate 5% of their earnings to the Shrine of Imam Reza. We ask that all the sisters who are interested in applying, to furnish two full-length photographs (fully hijabed and properly veiled), their academic diplomas, proof of their virginity and a certificate of good physical and psychological health which they can obtain through the health human services of the township of their residence. Please forward all compiled material and sen the below address by the 31st of the month of Ordibehesht, 1389 (May 21st, 2010).

Attention: For sisters who are below 14 years of age, a written consent from their fathers or male guardian is required.

I’m sorry, but surely adultery is sin no matter how you word it?