Iran (MNN) — The interplay between the U.S. and Iran is always one step forward, two steps back. Iran stated last week that it is open to indirect talks with the U.S. Yet both countries have threatened to take military action — the U.S. if a new nuclear deal is not reached within two months, and Iran if the U.S. were to strike Iran.
In tensions like these, Lana Silk with Transform Iran says, “In terms of how we think about countries—particularly countries that we would consider enemies of our state—as Christians, we have a responsibility to see things from the filter of a ‘God lens.’ You know, God loves these people.”
“As Christians, we have a responsibility to see things from the filter of a ‘God lens.’” (Photo courtesy of Paul Skorupskas via Unsplash)
Part of using that lens is remembering these are spiritual battles, as Ephesians 6:12 says.
“Our enemy is never people, even the worst people,” Silk says. “Our enemy is a spiritual darkness — a real spiritual enemy, the devil — who is poisoning minds, deceiving minds, and is out to steal, kill, and destroy. He is using people for [his] evil agenda.
“For sure, no one’s condoning the behavior of the worst perpetrators,” she clarifies, “but as Christians, our duty is to pray. I mean, isn’t that the direct commandment to love those who persecute us and pray for our enemies? The more we are tempted to fear and hate people, those are the very people we should be driven to our knees to be praying for.”
Praying for gospel change in Iran is logical, not only spiritual. Silk says on a practical level, Iran is one of the most powerful players in the world today, with far-reaching impact across countries in the Middle East and beyond, such as Sudan and Russia among others.
“Iran is very strategic and careful in making alliances with countries who also have issues or grudges against Western powers,” Silk says. “If and when God really intervenes and changes the course of Iran, all of this is affected — and right down to the price of our eggs, it changes our everyday life.”
She says it’s essential the West sees the bigger picture of what God is doing in Iran.
(Graphic courtesy of Transform Iran)
“From the Western perspective, I’m concerned about [us] not knowing all the facts, and as a result, not engaging, lack of empathy, lack of prayer, lack of financial support in what is happening in countries like Iran,” Silk says.
As one step to stay engaged, Silk invites you to sign up for Transform Iran’s monthly email newsletter.
“Then you can really pray informed, because you’ll get into the weeds with us. We’ll tell you what the different areas of [our] ministry are battling, what the specific needs are,” she says.
Learn more about Transform Iran’s work here.
Header photo of Tehran, Iran courtesy of Amir Housseini/Unsplash.
