Jan
22
2012
Is Evangelical Christianity the New KGB?
The Story: Step aside CIA, KGB, MI6. The most powerful intelligence agencies in the world today---at least according to some Iranian leaders---are groups like TGC, SBC, PCA. . .
According to the Iranian Christian news agency, Mohabat News,
A Revolutionary Guard backed news agency named Fars quoted a pro-regime Islamic cleric who was introduced as an outstanding scholar in denominations, as saying "evangelical Christianity is the most horrifying intelligence and security organization in the world!"
The Background: Iranian religious authorities are growing increasingly concerned about the spread of Christianity in their country. In 2011, more than 130 Iranian Christians were arrested and interrogated. More recently, Iranian Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi announced a new series of actions to counteract the spread of Christianity and house churches across the country.
Why It Matters: "Presently, Christianity in Iran is spreading like never before," says Aidan Clay of International Christian Concern. "Suppressed and disheartened by a tyrannical, incompetent and corrupt Islamic regime, many Muslims are encountering Jesus Christ."
The increasing growth of Christianity in Iran is viewed as a threat to Iran's regime, whose strategy is to eliminate any potential challenge to its sovereignty, Clay told TGC. However, their approach appears to be having opposite effect. An Iranian pastor recently told International Christian Concern that rather than fighting persecution, "Iranian church leaders have accepted it and are using it to their advantage. In fact, the church is thriving under persecution."
(Via: eChurch Blog)
[Note: If you find a story our community should know about, please send the link to joe.carter *at* thegospelcoalition.org.]