CNN News reports that an Iranian pastor has been sentenced to death for doing what pastors are expected to do: believing in Jesus and telling others about Him.
The official charging document, CNN says, contains this accusation: “Mr. Youcef Nadarkhani, son of Byrom, 32-years old, married, born in Rasht in the state of Gilan is convicted of turning his back on Islam, the greatest religion, the prophesy of Mohammad, at the age of 19.”
The New Statesman quotes at length the court decision which convicted and sentenced Pastor Nadarkhani: “He has frequently denied the prophethood of the great prophet of Islam and the rule of the sacred religion of Islam. And he has proven his apostasy by organizing evangelistic meetings and inviting others to Christianity, establishing a house church, baptizing people, expressing his faith to others and, denying Islamic values. [T]he above-mentioned person as an apostate will be executed by being hung until somehow his soul is taken from him.”
His attorney, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, told the International Campaign for Human Rights that, “The Judge kept asking my client to say, ‘I have renounced Christianity and I recognize Islam as rescinder of all other religions,’ and he kept saying ‘I won’t say that.’ Nadarkhani was brought to court to repent for three days. He denied repentance on all three days.”
On Sept. 29, 2011, The White House issued this statement on his conviction: “The United States condemns the conviction of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. Pastor Nadarkhani has done nothing more than maintain his devout faith, which is a universal right for all people. That the Iranian authorities would try to force him to renounce that faith violates the religious values they claim to defend, crosses all bounds of decency, and breaches Iran’s own international obligations.”
Back on April 19, 2011, Pres. Obama had presented the Gospel at the Easter Prayer Breakfast assembly in The White House:
[T]here’s something about the resurrection — something about the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ, that puts everything else in perspective. …
And we’re reminded that in that moment, he took on the sins of the world — past, present and future — and he extended to us that unfathomable gift of grace and salvation through his death and resurrection.
In the words of the book of Isaiah: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
This magnificent grace, this expansive grace, this “Amazing Grace” calls me to reflect. And it calls me to pray. It calls me to ask God for forgiveness for the times that I’ve not shown grace to others, those times that I’ve fallen short. It calls me to praise God for the gift of his Son and our Savior.
[I]n the middle of our busy lives, we must always make sure that we are keeping things in perspective. Children help do that. A strong spouse helps do that. But nothing beats Scripture and the reminder of the eternal.
Even those of us who vehemently disagree with his political philosophies need to acknowledge and appreciate President Obama’s public proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
But consider this: if Barack Obama had been a private citizen in Iran and had made that same statement to any gathering there, he would be in a jail cell contemplating being hanged by the neck alongside Pastor Nadarkhani.
It is a sobering thought and it is one that absolutely compels a person to say in as sincere a manner as possible, “God, bless America and protect Pastor Nadarkhani!”
Sharman’s column runs every Tuesday. He lives in Madison.
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