IN AN ARTICLE BY HUDSON.ORG TITLED “GOD NEWS FROM IRAN: A MILLION NEW CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS” AS A COMMENTARY WRITTEN JUNE 15. 2023 BY LELA GILBERT, CHRISTIANITY IS RAPIDLY GROWING IN IRAN .TODAY, THROUGH THIS ARTICLE, I AM GOING TO SHOW YOU THAT CHRISTIANITY IS NOT DEAD BUT ONLY CHANGING GEOGRAPHICALLY TO THE EAST-AND THAT AS MY MENTOR DR. NORMAN GEISLER USED TO SAY, “CHRISTIANS ARE TEA-THE BEST FLAVORS COME OUT WHEN THE WATER IS THE HOTTEST. LET’S GET STARTED.
There’s an explosive number of conversions to Christianity taking place in Iran where an Islamist government has ruled since 1979: To the surprise of many, Christianity is flourishing. The implications are potentially profound.
“Consider some testimonials: David Yeghnazar of Elam Ministries stated in 2018 that ‘Iranians have become the most open people to the gospel.’ The Christian Broadcasting Network found, also in 2018, that ‘Christianity is growing faster in the Islamic Republic of Iran than in any other country.’
WHY IS CHRISTIANITY GROWING SO RAPIDLY IN IRAN?
“This trend results from the extreme form of Shi’ite Islam imposed by the theocratic regime. An Iranian church leader explained in 2019:
“What if I told you the mosques are empty inside Iran? What if I told you no one follows Islam inside of Iran? ...What if I told you the best evangelist for Jesus was the Ayatollah Khomeini [founder of the Islamic Republic]?”’
Confirming these statements, a significant survey taken in 2020 by Gamaan, a secular Netherlands-based research group, reported that there are far greater numbers of Christian believers in Iran than ever before — more than a million. In fact, those involved with the “house church” movement in Iran are convinced that there are likely several million Christian believers there.
Evangelism is alive and well-but done more quietly in Iran. New Christians’ witness to others in and through quiet conversations, encouraged by low-profile online Bible studies, and affirmed by visions, dreams, and miraculously answered prayers. Due to their risky circumstances, recent Christian converts are enthusiastically communicating about their changed lives with friends and loved ones — but quietly and carefully. However, their discreet but persistent witness accounts for the extraordinary number of new Iranian believers, who meet in small house churches.
These house churches are usually comprised of no more than 10 to 15 believers. On a given day, they arrive, one by one, at a small apartment or some other nondescript location. After the last one enters, the door closes and locks, and they all take a deep breath and relax, greeting each other warmly.
To be HONEST with you-I’m jealous of the authentic Christian faith and sincere fellowship through their Persian brand of hospitality. A few minutes later, the little gathering begins to sing — very softly, accompanied by a quietly strummed guitar. They are cautious of course, not wanting their voices to be heard beyond the apartment’s thin walls. But soon, with closed eyes and hands lifted heavenward, they are lost in praise and worship music. Later a teaching from a biblical passage is offered and a communion service takes place. And finally, after more conversation they leave, one by one.
THE RISK IS HIGH
And some house churches have continued for years without intrusion by government authorities while others have been discovered and experience devastating consequences. Sudden invasions by state authorities can happen at any time. Everyone knows about Christian gatherings in which, without warning, a dozen or more officials have burst into a small meeting and roughly arrested everyone there. Typically, these authorities also literally tear apart the residence, searching for laptops, phones, evangelistic publications including Bibles and other books, DVDs, and videos.
WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR?
They’re looking for anything they can confiscate and they label as “evidence” against the Christians. Arrests are made based on accusations such as “insulting Islam,” or conducting “deviant activity” that “contradicts or interferes with the sacred law of Islam.”
The house church participants in Iran, including recent converts, know very well that the aftermath of such raids can also be perilous and can include continued threats of violence, lost employment, expulsion from school or university, confiscated cash, and even the endangerment of other family members. And everyone knows that sexual violence against a mother, wife, girlfriend, or daughter is likely to follow. Still, with all this in mind, Iranian house church Christians are extraordinarily courageous. And sometimes the price they pay for their boldness is exceptionally painful.
Prominent organizations who report on Iran’s abuse of Christian believers, including the Vatican and several Protestant groups, declare that the regime has recently increased its abuses, including surveillance, arrests, and imprisonment of house church leaders, including those who worship in their homes.
Sadly, true justice seldom follows. The ministry “Open Doors” acknowledged that their watchdog organization is “appalled by the testimonies of violations of due process that took place in the court rooms, including humiliating remarks from the judge, the court’s unconcealed favor for the prosecutor’s side, the defendants’ occasional lack of access to a lawyer, and verdicts issued in less than 10 days — clearly — without sufficient consideration of evidence.”
IRAN IS NOW SENDING OUT EVANGELISTS TO AFGHANISTAN
Neighboring Afghanistan rivals Iran as the fastest-growing church–influenced by non-other than Iranian Christians whose similar language and cultural connections have built bridges for the spread of the gospel.
God used the Armenian, Chaldean, and Assyrian churches as a source of light, especially in the early years after the revolution, for Iranians who became disillusioned with the Islamic Republic and were searching for answers. Though these communities’ numbers inside the country have dwindled to only around 100,000, the number of new Iranian coverts has surpassed it as much as perhaps 10 times the number!
Christianity is growing in Iran through believers simply telling their friends and family about their new-found faith. House church movements have begun all over Iran as we stated, providing deep fellowship that has helped many Iranian believers to remain firm in their faith amid great persecution.
These converts come from all sectors of society–from street vendors and taxi drivers to intellectuals, artists, and public servants. House churches, online media gospel programs, and person-to-person connections continue to be conduits of the spread of the gospel all over the country. While persecution has threatened to eliminate Christianity from Iran, the opposite happened in that persecution only seemed to spur the growth of the church. Remember, Christians are like tea-the best flavors come out when the water is the hottest. In other words-Christianity ATROPHIES and declines in the GOOD-EASY TIMES, but grows in DIFFICULT and TIMES OF PERSECUTION.
SO WHAT? THE LESSON OR EXAMPLE FOR YOU AND I TODAY
Is that despite abuses suffered by our sisters and brothers in Iran, we should be awestruck by their faith, courage and boldness — and by the remarkable results of their steadfast faith-Evident by the fact that there are more than a million new converts — called Muslim Background Believers or (MBB’s). These “MBB’s” are reading the Bible for the first time, praying, gathering in small groups, and sharing their new faith with friends and family, despite the risks. Their faith is amazing, encouraging, and inspiring.
HOW WE SEE IRAN OUGHT TO BE DIFFERENT THAN THE MEDIA HEADLINES
Today, when we see “Iran” in the headlines, we are wise to be concerned. Let’s pray for God’s intervention into the regime’s deadly intentions. But let’s also remember our little-known but rapidly growing Christian family inside Iran’s borders. Their bold example of courage in the face of persecution shines brightly amid the ever-increasing darkness in the Middle East.
IN CONCLUSION: I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO REJOICE IN THAT THE CHURCH IS GROWING THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. While the state of the Church in America is failing in great part, God will not be stopped. Christianity never grows in the good times but through persecution. It’s similar to history of America. When immigrants come to America, historically, they work long and hard, understanding the value of the opportunity to make money and live in a free country. In most cases, family businesses last no more than three generations and the wealth that is passed on due to the fact that the value of that wealth becomes an assumed benefit, similar to unfettered welfare.
Our Christian faith is no different in that Christians in the West, especially the United States have come to see their church and Christian faith as a social event, networking venue, and cultural norm due for the simple fact that it doesn’t cost them anything. And when something costs nothing-the value of that thing goes doesn’t. Our Christian faith is no exception. We need to be praying for our brothers and sisters in Iran and the Middle East. As Christians we should also be jealous of them, because their faith is real, valuable, vibrant and joyful.
So as we read the headlines, don’t despair, but be joyful. WHY? Because great news is that THAT CHRISTIANITY IS NOT DEAD IN THE WORLD-BUT ONLY CHANGING GEOGRAPHICALLY TO THE EAST. AND REMEMBER THE WORLDS OF MY DEAR FRIEND AND MENTOR, THE LATE DR. NORMAN GEISLER-“CHRISTIANS ARE TEA-THE BEST FLAVORS COME OUT WHEN THE WATER IS THE HOTTEST.
