Yousef Nadarkhani was arrested in 2009 and given the death sentence late last year. The only way he can have his sentenced suspended is to renounce his faith.
Nadarkhani, from Rasht, on the Caspian Sea, converted to Christianity when he was a teenager. Apparently, and from all accounts, he has been an effective witness and pastor in the area where he is serving. His church is believed to have about four hundred people. But Iran is a Muslim country. It’s ancient roots Armenian and Assyrian. As far as the Evangelical Church of Iran, it is a relatively new church—a product of the legacy of Anglican missionaries who were in Iran in the last two centuries. Although Iran has fairly tolerated the Armenian and Assyrian orders, they have not been tolerant of evangelical conversions. The Armenian and Assyrian orders date back to the days of Jesus Christ.
Firouz Khandjani, a spokesman for the evangelical Church of Iran, lives in exile in Eastern Europe. After fleeing from Iran to Turkey for security reasons, even his new homeland is not safe. As far as Iranian officials are concerned, he could be targeted by Iranian agents in Turkey.
Khandjani says a sort of “soft persecution” began after the Islamic Revolution, with Christians generally losing many civil rights, including access to top jobs in the country. However, since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took office as President in 2005, those civil rights have dwindled even more so.
Those who know Yousef Nadarkhani say he is not likely to recant or renounce his faith in Jesus Christ. Had Yousef been the type of man to give up Christianity, he would have done it years ago.
When the early church started after Jesus’ resurrection and subsequent ascension, there arose such a strong believer as Yousef. Acts 7 records for us the first and only sermon that Stephen ever preached. He speaks of how God had chosen His people through the covenant that He made with Abraham. Stephen reminded his accusers of how Moses led God’s people out of Egypt after Pharaoh began to persecute them all the more. The Lord had used Moses to lead His people out of bondage and Moses performed many signs and miracles before the people.
Then the Israel rejected God and began to worship other idols. But the people rejected Moses’ teachings and the giving of the Law. They turned their backs on the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Read how Stephen equated the Pharisees to those in the wilderness: You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit; as your forefathers did, so do you. which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They even killed those who announced beforehand the betrayers and murderers you have now become. You received the law under the direction of angels and yet have not kept it (Acts 7:51-53). These words enraged those who heard Stephen. They threw him out of the city and there they stoned him. Stephen never recanted or renounced his faith. He stood firm on the promises of God that he would be saved. His last words were: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! (Acts 7:59)
My prayers are with Yousef Nadarkhani. Whether in life or death, may he stand firm upon the same promises that Stephen did. And may we do the same.
