Iranian Christians Arrested

At Christmastime Iranian government officials arrested approximately 70 Christians. While believers were still asleep on Christmas morning, authorities broke into their homes and took them into custody. Some Christians eluded arrest because they were not in their homes at the time of the raid. The government is still hunting for more to arrest. Those imprisoned are converts from Islam or believers who were known to share the Gospel with Muslims.

The governor of Tehran strongly denounced the Christians. He described them as “deviant” and an “enemy cultural invasion.” He said, “The leaders of this movement have been arrested in Tehran province and more will be arrested in the near future. Just like the Taliban, who have inserted themselves into Islam like a parasite, [evangelicals] have crafted a movement with Britain’s baking in the name of Christianity. But their conspiracy was unveiled quickly and the first blows were delivered to them.” His words echo those of Iran’s supreme leader back in October when he called churches dangerous and portrayed Christians as enemies of the country.

Deviant. Parasite. Conspiracy. Dangerous. Enemy. How could someone use such violent language about people who are sharing the love of Jesus?

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know Him who sent me.” –John 15:18-21