A Call to Prayer

This man is Abdur Rahman. You might have heard of him. He is the Afghan who was arrested and faced possible execution for converting from Islam to Christianity. The basic story is that his family turned him in for being a Christian. He converted to Christianity 16 years ago after working with a Christian organization. He was arrested and many Islamic clerics and fundamentalists wanted the Afghan government to follow Sharia Law in handling the case… that meant killing him (by hanging) for apostasy (leaving Islam). Recently, Afghan officials have said there isn’t sufficient evidence for Rahman’s trial and plan to release him. But to what?
An angry mob?
A country full of people who at the least will scorn him and persecute him?
When asked if he would leave the country Rahman said, "Perhaps, but if I flee again that would mean my country hasn't changed. It would mean that they have won, our enemies. Without human rights, without respect for all religions, the Taliban have won." But it’s more than the Taliban winning. It’s more than another victory in the name of human or religious rights. It’s more than crushing Satan under foot.
It is Jesus Christ receiving the glory and honor His Name deserves.

Honestly, I don’t know if Abdur Rahman will live or die, stay or go. I don’t have the right answers to whether or not release, imprisonment or execution is the right answer.

“Wait! Jason, are you saying that it might be right for them to kill Abdur Rahman?!”
Before I answer that, let’s take a look at 4 historic events:

1 Kings 18 tells the story of Elijah vs. the prophets of Baal. In this account, Elijah has confronted the king Ahab of Israel and 450 prophets of Baal. Elijah’s life is on the line; if God fails to answer Elijah’s prayer, he could be killed. But God does answer Elijah’s prayer and sends down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice and altar. When all the people [of Israel] saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, ‘The LORD- he is God! The LORD- he is God.’” (1 Kings 18:39) Elijah tells the people to seized the prophets of Ball and to slaughter them.

Daniel and the lions’ den is a familiar story. Daniel is caught praying to the LORD after King Darius had decreed that anyone caught praying or worshiping anyone other than himself would be executed. Daniel being faithful to God, is caught praying and Darius reluctantly throws his advisor Daniel to the lions. The next day, Daniel is lifted from the lions’ den unharmed. The king this issues another decree: “in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end…” (Daniel 6:26)

Peter was the leader of the early church and he was no stranger to being arrested for his faith in Jesus Christ. Acts 4 tells about when Peter and John were arrested for preaching about Jesus, told not to preach anymore about Jesus and then released. In Acts 5, Peter is arrested again. After a miraculous release by an angel, Peter is arrested again while speaking in the temple courts the next morning. Peter challenges the Pharisees (Jewish leaders and scribes) and says that he will follow God and not man. He then accuses them of murdering Jesus. They are upset and many are ready to kill him, but a respected teacher of the law named, Gamaliel gives them some wise advice: “Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39) Peter is released after being flogged, but leaves rejoicing for being “counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” The believers continue to “proclaim the good news of that Jesus is the Christ.” (v. 41)

Finally, we look at Stephen. The Bible says that he was “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 6:5) Like Peter, he upset the Pharisees and appeared before the Sanhedrin to face accusations of blasphemy. In his defense, Stephen recounts the history of Israel from Abraham to Jesus. He then accuses the Jews of killing God’s prophets and ultimately Jesus. The Jews are furious. “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55) They drag him away and stone him.

To recap: Elijah relied on God and the Israelites proclaimed that the LORD is God; Daniel trusted the LORD and was saved, then Darius recognized the LORD’s everlasting sovereignty. Peter followed God not men, was beaten and the Gospel spread; and Stephen honored Jesus and was killed, but saw the glory of God and his blood were the seeds of Paul’s conversion.

So let’s revisit the question: “Jason, are you saying that it might be right for them to kill Abdur Rahman?!”
What I’m saying is that the important thing is that Abdur stand firm in his faith that God might be glorified. Whether he lives or dies is the LORD’s will, but the important thing is that the One True God is recognized as the Almighty, Sovereign Creator and King. God can take Rahman’s life, imprisonment or death and turn it for good. He can use it to change lives, nations and this world.

Thus, I ask you to pray for Abdur Rahman. Pray that he would understand and obey God’s will and that God would get all the glory from this situation. Pray that Jesus Christ’s Name would be made known to the nations, especially the people of Afghanistan.

(Photo: Reuters TV)