Iran and Christian Death Sentences

Sunday was the 1,000th day since Iranian security forces incarcerated Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani for practicing Christianity. He was subsequently sentenced to death.

The American Center for Law & Justice, Nadarkhani’s primary advocate, noted that the pastor is slated to appear in an Iranian court on September 8.

The purpose of the hearing is unclear. Optimists have expressed the hope that Nadarkhani will be resentenced with a punishment less severe than death.

But realists have pointed out that until Iran’s mullahs act, any rumors to the contrary, the death sentence remains in place. At most, the Islamic Republic will repackage the charges so they do not smack of religious persecution. Iranian judges might decide to find the pastor guilty of espionage or some other trumped-up offense to make the death sentence more palatable locally and in international forums.

Nadarkhani is hardly an isolated case of Muslim persecution of Christians in the Middle East. As Egypt, Syria, Tunisia and other countries in the region are in the throes of what might turn out to be Iran-like Islamist revolutions – albeit of the Sunni variety – the situation of Christians in these countries is increasingly precarious.

Continue reading at www.jpost.com

« Previous Article

Posting Policy

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, vulgarity, profanity, all caps, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain a courteous and useful public environment where we can engage in reasonable discourse. Read more.

Despeville

The fascist nature of Iranian regime is unquestionable but all should understand that Nadarkhani who has a right to live and believe and practice his religion under the law of man is not a Christian but of unitarian sect denying One Triune God.
- lambsev
  
  Cite your source please?
  - Despeville
    
    I did in the past and also to your question too… :)
    But here it is again from Mohabat News Agency: http://bit.ly/zCX5lN
  - Tim Miller
    
    I would like to know that source to lambsev.
    - Despeville
      
      It has been posted above your inquiry over an hour ago…
      - lambsev
        
        could you be a dear and repost it?
      - lambsev
        
        oh i see it now ty
- Timothy Miller
  
  Since when should he be hanged for practicing his faith. What ever it is.
Evermyrtle

I have such admiration for people like Youcef and the stand he takes for GOD. I wonder if I would have that much courage to stand to the death. I know if I put it into GOD'S hands I could do it. These are the people who are truly HIS people. All of the twelve disciple stood just where this man stands before GOD, willing to die for HIM if necessary.
They were all persecuted and died a martyrs death except for John.They made an attempt to kill him but he survived and exiled to the Isle of Patmos
- Timothy Miller
  
  And we will see more of it to. This is the end of age. And the bible says we christians will be persecuted. He has only his faith to depend on. And I'am sure he is. I agree 100% with Evermyrtle.
Mexseiko

The Crusades are viewed as religious wars resulting in massacres against innocent Muslim people.

There's not a lot said about the spreading of Islam by he sword, which has been modernized by use of suicide bombings and terrorism.

Today's political atmosphere precludes another Christian vs Islam religious war, especially at the shadow of the ethnic cleansing at Kosovo. Yet the world must know and understand that these day's conflicts and wars are directly fueled by religion, especifically with the impetus of Islamic push to take over the world.
- lambsev
  
  precludes? how so?
- sbk
  
  The Crusades STOPPED the violent spread of Islam into Europe! They were not massacres of innocent Muslim people!
  - Despeville
    
    Really? So you do not know what happened on September 11Th 1683? (yes, this date plays into the other September 11Th 318 years later…)
  - http://twitter.com/lambsev11 @lambsev11
    
    Yes, but are you saying this kind of war will not recur, between christians and muslims?
lambsev

Those who protest Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani will surely be praying for him, (yes?) that he not be executed surely, even if he never see the "error" of not believing the trinitarian doctrine of protesting (Protestant) christians. God IS one, the Bible is clear. But to be personal to mankind, God reveals Himself as Father, Son and Spirit. . Echad (as you know Despeville) indicates God is One. I believe Him to be "triune" at least, and perhaps more as the scriptures speaks of the Seven Spirits of God. At the least He has give us revelation of Christ who never refused worship, was without a human father and rose from the dear and ascended into the clouds. This is someOne to be heeded regarding His claims about His Father and the Holy Ghost which they send.

Revelation 5:6
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Is God seven?

It is I think, no sin to place the oneness of God above the "trinity," because Jesus and the scriptures never call God a trinity, not even triune! But they do call Him ONE and that word one is ECHAD in the Hebrew. I would be very very surprised to find that Pastor Nadarkhani does not believe and follow Jesus, believe and follow His Father, and also believe and follow God the Holy Spirit.

It is a shame to challenge this man who has come to faith in a land where christians are not allowed to teach and preach openly the doctrines of God, and the doctrines they believe about God, and is now being challenged to hold true and fast to all that he has managed to learn in that hostile environment. And think of this if you will: Perhaps the christians making the accusations against this man are envious of his martyrdom? I think they may well be.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexic…
- Despeville
  
  It is I think, no sin to place the oneness of God above the "trinity," because Jesus and the scriptures never call God a trinity, not even triune! "
  
  So now you deny or question the true nature of God… That figures. You are a heretic Sir and you have fallen away.
  - http://twitter.com/lambsev11 @lambsev11
    
    having a hard time posting my reply.
  - http://twitter.com/lambsev11 @lambsev11
    
    Must God be three only? Or can He not also be one? We see God as three in one/one in three for this single reason, that Jesus, whom we believe IS God, spoke of His Father and of the Holy Spirit. I am not disputing the obvious "triune" implications of Jesus words. But I am saying that this facet of God's nature is but a part of the limited view we have of Him. More important than anything else about the true and divine nature of God is that He IS LOVE. If we will pursue love and God who IS Love we will know the Lord Jesus, we will know His Father (as ours too) and the Holy Spirit as our great Comforter (especially in the present time of our lives).
    
    The doctrine of the Bible does not hang on the trinitarian doctrines of men. All the law (the teachings) and the prophets hang on the two great commandments of God, which are Love and love, God and neighbor.
    
    Men get so stuck on creeds, confessions, catechisms and Institutes that they forget to love God and their neighbors even those who they may see as heretics. I have called people heretics before and am at the point now where God should judge them not me. The wheat and the tares must grow together until the end comes, and it may be a painful growth all around, but that is how God has planned things for us! Personally I think the reformed view of baptism a travesty and a tragedy. I also think women teachers and especially women pastors to be complete ignorance of the scriptures. But I also believe that women can preach, pray and prophecy, but i also believe they ought to cover their heads. Why? Because the scriptures are not able to have any interpretation if they have no literal interpretation. Or at least that is how I see things.
    - Despeville
      
      You are a heretic conjuring up your smorgasbord religion in your bedroom on the basis of "me and my Bible".
      - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
        
        Shocking
  - http://twitter.com/lambsev11 @lambsev11
    
    Part 2
    
    So while I understand the doctrine of the trinity in a very simple way, I am not offended by someone who says God is one. He is one. And to look at the Hebrew word "one" or "echad" is a very good meditation, if you are seeking how to know God and Love Him, the one who "who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth."
    
    Jeremiah 9:23-24
    King James Version (KJV)
    23 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
    24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.
    
    Jeremiah 9:23-24
    English Standard Version (ESV)
    23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
    - Despeville
      
      None of those quotes support your smorgasbord heresy.
      - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
        
        What a surprise. Humpty disagrees with other Christians.
      - Despeville
        
        Dodo if he denies Triune God then he is not a Christian not that you would understand that nor is that any help for your dumb rhetoric.
      - Guest
        
        Are you Desp's minion?
msjallen

Doctrine of the Trinity
1. Not found in the Bible – it is a Theological word describing a Biblical concept.
2. It describes One God in Three Persons who are revealed as God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit
3. While God is one in essence, they are co-equal, co-eternal, and co-existence with identical essence.
4. The Trinity is three persons in one God-head. Gal 3:20, James 2:19, Col 2:9, Acts 5:3-4, I Cor 3:16
5. There is only one Divine Nature or Being and this Divine Being is Tri-personal involving distinctions between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
6. These three persons are joint partakers of the same nature and majesty of God
7. The same in consistence and continuing in existence.
Continued…
- http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
  
  Not found in the bible? Then how was it revealed?
  
  They are co-equal? The following scriptural references support the claim that Jesus Christ is a lesser being than the Father: Jesus referred to the Father as “my God” (John 20:17) and Paul states that “God is the head of Christ”. Jesus also says:
  YOU heard that I said to YOU, I am going away and I am coming [back] to YOU. If YOU loved me, YOU would rejoice that I am going my way to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am. ( John 14:28)
  
  Odd how a co-equal godhead refers to one part as being greater than him.
  - msjallen
    
    Jeff, "Odd how a co-equal godhead refers to one part as being greater than him." means in His humanity. Look up the Doctrine of Kenosis.
    - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
      
      In Christian theology, kenosis is the concept of the 'self-emptying' of one's own will and becoming entirely receptive to God and the divine will.
      
      Yep, totally equal. lol
      - Despeville
        
        Hahahaha as evidenced in your neophytism Wikipedia is actually a dangerous thing.
      - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
        
        Are you attempting to be a charter member of the maniacal laughter club? You are doing a fantastic job of it, Humpty.
      - msjallen
        
        Doctrine of Kenosis – Jesus gave up the independent use of His Divine attributes so that in this world He could become the savior. God can't die but Jesus in His humanity did die for our sins. Jesus Christ did not sustain His own deity while here on earth – the Holy Spirit sustained Him and provisions from God the Father.
        Isaiah 11:2-3
        The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him,
        The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
        The spirit of counsel and strength,
        The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
        And He will delight in the fear of the LORD,
        And He will not judge by what His eyes see,
        Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;
      - Despeville
        
        'God can't die but Jesus in His humanity did die for our sins.'
        
        Indeed and besides death is not a cessation of existence. It is a change of it.
      - msjallen
        
        Yes, Des, we go from life through death to eternity with Him. It will be a wonderful change.
      - msjallen
        
        Jeff: Continued with the Doctrine of Kenosis
        Holy Spirit given to Jesus Christ by God the Father during His earthly ministry – Isaiah 11:2-3
        Holy Spirit related to the baptism of our Lord – Mt 3:16
        Holy Spirit related to the ministry of Jesus Christ — Mt 12:18, Luke 4:18
        Holy Spirit maintained or sustained Jesus Christ while He was taking our sins on Him on the cross – Hebrews 9:14
        Holy Spirit resurrection of the Lord – I Pet 3:18
        Holy Spirit in sustaining our Lord as part of our heritage by glorifying Jesus Christ
        Jesus spoke from His humanity while here on earth as the God/man – He is deity and He is true humanity. This includes His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.
      - msjallen
        
        Phil 2:7 if He deprived Himself of the proper function of Deity, taking the form of a bond-servant, when He had been born in the likeness of mankind. The perfect God became a servant so that we can have eternal life.
  - Despeville
    
    Dodo you are a buffoon continually making a complete fool of yourself by attempting to judge things that you have no clue about.
    - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
      
      I am sure you must believe that Humpty. But as usual, your views are water off a ducks back to me.
      - Despeville
        
        dodo you are not sure of anything and that is the only consistency of your crazy dream you are trapped in.
      - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
        
        I am sure you are a pompous blowhard. That is evident to all.
msjallen

Continued…
8. The Trinity is a true Doctrine but undiscoverable by natural reason. [It is a Spiritual phenomenon]
9. The Trinity is described as one but they are different in persons. Eph 4:4-6
10. 2 Cor 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. I Pet 1:2
11.When the Divine Essence of God is mentioned the Trinity is One, when Divine Persons are mentioned there is distinction between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
- http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
  
  So, your all powerful, all knowing god requires three persons to make him complete? Do you understand the concept of all powerful? I suspect you really do not.
  - msjallen
    
    Jeff, apparently you can't read or if you could you would not understand spiritual things since you are not a believer. Why bother reading God's truth? Do you really think people on this site are going to believe your way of thinking? You are in the realm of relativism and humanism but the Word of God is in the realm of absolutes that you can't stand want everyone else to be as miserable as you are with nothing to look forward to after death. As believers in Jesus Christ be have peace and joy and can live life to the fullest; as atheist, you can only live to yourself and die to eternal damnation. I would rather take my chance with God than with nothing in your way of thinking. Get a life; eternal life through Jesus Christ.
    - Despeville
      
      He is completely irrational and his mind is given over that is why he acts like a complete schizophrenic he is.
  - Despeville
    
    Dodo do you understand how utterly stupid your assertion really is?
EruditeMan

As each day passes & news articles such as this come my way I think of Biblical passages & prophecy that refer to persecution to come before God's return to Earth. I'm not Islamic or Muslim but in an effort to be more informed read a fair number of passages of the Qur'an. From my western viewpoint think the Qu'ran may have been orchestrated by Satan since it espouses violent actions to take in the name of Allah. Israel is nearly surrounded by armies & the Arab spring's made Israel's existence more tenuous. With death sentence issued to someone, for no reason other than choosing Christianity instead of Islam I think we're near end of the age & about to experience worldwide turmoil as the Antichrist establishes himself before the battle where God banishes him & Jesus returns.