I’m writing on Saturday evening and as things stand, reports are coming in that the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameni is dead. However, we await official confirmation and are alert to the possibility of body doubles among his security .
If true however, this is a significant development. How should Christians respond, what can we expect next and what should we pray for?
First of all, there will be questions about whether the military action is just and legal. I set out in this video an argument for why it is.
Now, this does not mean that the action is the best and wisest. Nor does it mean that Trump and Netanyahu’s motives are purely altruistic. There will, I’m sure, be an eye on opinion polls.
However, this is where we are, however each of us might personally feel about it. In terms of what will happen now, that’s impossible to predict. Possibilities include that the people manage to rise up and overthrow the regime, perhaps with the support of the normal military turning on the IRG. It is possible though that a military coup will follow and a new authoritarian regime will take over. Equally possible is that the country descends into civil war. Finally it is sadly possible that the regime will find a way to survive these attacks and a more brutal repression will follow
What should we hope for? Well the best place to start is by asking Iranians what they want to see. The clear answer I’ve been hearing is that they want this evil, brutal regime gone. They want their country back.
I always say to Christians that when it comes to prayer, we should simply ask God, our heavenly Father for what we want. That’s what children do. We then trust him to give what he needs. So, I’m praying that God will answer their prayers and that there will be a swift and just end to this war, that the regime will fall and that there will be a peaceful and orderly transition to something better.
No government will be perfect and I suspect the days ahead will be challenging. So I also pray for Iranian brothers and sisters that they will know God’s presence and peace. I pray they will be bold and share the good news of the Gospel. I pray that at this time, many more Iranians will turn to Christ, the only true and living hope.
Faithroots 