Iran’s Church Seeks God amid Protests

On September 16, 2022, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman visited the Iranian capital, Tehran, where she was arrested by “morality police” for not having a proper hijab. They claimed she violated a law requiring women to cover their hair completely. She was beaten and later died while in custody.

Iranians have protested against the current regime on multiple occasions over the last 15 years, but Mahsa Amini’s death caused a mass protest across the country. The protest is the most significant since the 1979 revolution. Protestors of a variety of ages have taken to the streets with unprecedently bold demands for change.

Everything indicates the Iranian people have learned how to be united in what they want. Young and old want life and freedom and to be treated with dignity. Based on this desire, the most popular slogan for this protest is “Woman, Life, Freedom.”

It’s said that Iranian women are leading this protest and are bravely standing against the cruelty and oppression of this government regime. They’re protesting the injustice toward the Iranian people over the last four decades, especially toward women.

The Islamic regime has not only suppressed a nation—it has caused destruction. Iran’s economy isn’t only not growing but is actually going backward because the country’s resources are often badly managed or used by the people in power.

All the regime’s promises of Iran’s flourishing have proven to be false, and it seems that Iranians have finally had enough of the regime and are close to another revolution.

Rise of Persecution

Iran wasn’t always this way.

I was born two years after the Iranian Revolution of 1979. I never lived in Shah’s time, the so-called golden times of Iran. My generation has heard a lot about the Pahlavi dynasty. It was the last Iranian royal dynasty, ruling for almost 54 years between 1925 and 1979. We have heard many stories about how free and modern Iran was in that time.

Soon after the revolution, the Islamic government began persecuting Christians in Iran. Missionaries were asked to leave and many converts were arrested, questioned, and threatened.

Soon after the 1979 revolution, the Islamic government began persecuting Christians in Iran. Missionaries were asked to leave and many converts were arrested, questioned, and threatened.

During the 1990s, around 10 key leaders and bishops were killed and many others were asked to stop preaching. By 2005, almost all church buildings were shut down. In response, the Christians formed house churches. To this day, the government targets these house churches, and every year they arrest and imprison many members.

Iranians are patriotic and love their history, which goes back to Cyrus the Great and the Persian Empire. Iranians, however, are now living in deep regret and agony, witnessing their country being destroyed by the Islamic extremists and mullahs. The country once was shining in almost every aspect, but now it’s destroyed and has lost its respect in the world.

Most Iranians believe they have lost their true identity as Persians since they’re forced to be called Muslims and to live in ways that are against their will.

How Are Christians Responding?

As we enter the second month of protests, Christians are divided into two camps.

One group of Christians thinks we should join the protestors in the street to overthrow the government. They believe we should participate without joining the calls for the death of people in power and without joining in violence against the police and other government forces. These Christians believe we should support the Iranian people to achieve what they want: justice, freedom, and a regime change.

The other group believes Christians shouldn’t participate in any form of protest or rioting to overthrow any government since “there is no authority except that which God has established” (Rom. 13:1, NIV). This group believes God is sovereign to bring about his will when the time is right, and since we don’t know the will of God for this situation, we can’t seek to overthrow a government that was established by God in the first place.

As we enter the second month of protests, Christians are divided into two camps.

All Iranian Christians would support justice and voting for a better government. But the current situation is challenging for Iranian Christians because Iran doesn’t have a system where people can vote for justice or have their voices lawfully heard. It often seems the only way to seek justice is through protest.

Christians are scared, worried, and angry. They grieve and mourn for the many people who have been killed. They cry out to God for an end to this evil and for a better government.

They’re not always sure what to do.

Trusting God in Turmoil

The story of Iran is a sad story, but God’s sovereignty is comforting. We believe that God appoints and removes kings and rulers. There is no authority except that which God has established (Rom. 13:1). God is in full control of history.

Iran’s story is a sad story from a human perspective, but we trust that God has good purposes for his people in Iran. If the revolution hadn’t happened, perhaps Iran wouldn’t have the fastest-growing church today.

We trust God during this time and seek to be faithful and pray like the psalmist: “Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long” (Ps. 25:4–5, NIV).