Maryam and Marzieh

I promised a year ago to write about persecuted Christians in 2009 but have failed to do so. There is just time to mention Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh who were released from prison in November 2009. For almost nine months these two Iranian Christian women had been held in Evin prison in Tehran for refusing to deny their faith.

Originally arrested on 5 March 2009, Maryam and Marzieh were charged with anti-government activities. However, it became clear that apostasy (conversion from Islam to Christianity) was the reason for their arrest. Taken before a Revolutionary Court hearing on 9 August, Maryam and Marzieh were commanded to recant their faith in return for freedom, but refused to deny their Lord.

(Acknowledgements to Open Doors USA and Graham Weeks)

Evangelism in Birmingham

I can add little to the chorus of (justified) condemnation of the West Midlands PCSO who abused two evangelists handing out tracts in Birmingham last week. Nonetheless, I would wish to call into question the concept of a “Muslim area” which apparently has formed in some quarters.

The United Kingdom is just that. Its laws apply equally in all parts of the kingdom, unless those laws provide otherwise. In particular, the Bill of Rights 1689 which refers to “this Protestant kingdom” has not been revoked. One may practice any religion in this kingdom, but the state itself is Protestant.

The Christian faith is a missionary faith. Our Lord has commanded us “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost…” (Matt 28:19). Those who decry proselytization are not obedient to this last command Our Lord uttered before His ascension.