Are the Majority of Iranians Fed Up with Islam?
As you watch the news, it’s common and easy to develop the belief that we’re at war with Iran and they hate us.
The truth is, Iranians love America.
Are you shocked? It’s true. Iranians love American culture, music and movies. They envy our democracy and respect our nation’s flag—probably more than some Americans do.
The hate-filled sentiments toward America are spewed from Iran’s government, not its citizens. Most Iranians are fed up with Islam. It didn’t bring the promised utopia that they were dreaming about at the time of the Islamic Revolution, 40 years ago. Today, millions of Iranians are rejecting Islam and becoming open to accepting Christ for the first time.
The God who has opened the hearts of Iranian Muslims to the truth of the Gospel has also changed their hearts toward Americans. Therefore, Americans have a God-given responsibility to do their part to transform Iran into a Christian nation.
Rejection of Islam
In Jeremiah 49:38, God promises to make Iran a Christian nation. Today, a perfect storm brews in Iran. Iran is run by Islamic clergy and is the only country that has been enforcing Islam for over forty years in all areas of society: the laws, media, education and the arts. However, much to the clergy’s dismay, Iran’s post-revolution generation has rejected Islam, despite all the efforts to brainwash and control them.
In 1979, Iran’s people wanted Islam. God allowed them to have an Islamic government, knowing that this would reveal the true face of Islam. He knew that Islam would bring people to a point where they would want His son, Jesus. This had to happen so that His prophecy in Jeremiah 49:38 would be fulfilled.
Today, Iran is stepping away from Islam—permanently. The rejection of Islam didn’t happen overnight. It stemmed from decades of observing and questioning the Islamic government and Islam itself. It took the people more than 40 years to conclude, “Islam is not our solution; it’s our problem.”
There’s a growing militancy against Islam among Iranians who are Muslim by birth only. Protests have become common to many Iranian cities and they’re increasing in frequency and size. Once, people protested only about economic problems. Today, they protest the government, the Ayatollah and Islam itself. They persist, even in the face of imprisonment, torture and death.
The spirit of Islam, which is the spirit of violence, fear and deception, is losing its grip on the souls of Iranians. It’s as if a veil was lifted from their minds.
Iran’s Great Awakening
History is in God’s hands, but everything that happens is not in His will. He wants no one to perish (2 Pet. 3:9), but He can use all things to accomplish His goal, which is bringing His lost sons and daughters back to His presence.
From a human perspective, a gloomy storm has plagued Iran since the 1979 revolution. That storm has been destroying the good in Iran and in many ways, things are getting worse. However, from a spiritual standpoint, there is no storm. It’s not even cloudy. Heaven is open and the Son is shining brightly.
It’s said that desperation is the seedbed of revival. The Lord has allowed this perfect storm to linger over Iran so that the people will become so hopeless that they will call upon Him and He will save them (Ps. 50:15). Today, Iranians are desperate for truth, love, joy, peace, salvation and the new life that can only be found in Jesus. This is opening the door for many of them to explore the Word of God and pursue a better understanding of Christianity.
A revival is sweeping through Iran. When you picture revival, do you see large evangelistic meetings in stadiums? Or do you see a large number of Christians recommitting their lives to Christ and filling up churches? This is the picture of revival in the West’s free countries. In a closed country like Iran, where Christian gatherings are illegal, revival looks different. Yet, God’s kingdom is progressively and rapidly being established in the hearts of Iranians.
How can we support what God is doing? First, we must pray! Whether or not you ever enter the physical borders of Iran, you can engage in spiritual warfare, praying for the entire country and region.
Also, through our support of ministries, churches and people who are dedicated to discipling Iranian Muslims, we can increase their reach and impact.
Something big, eternal and historic is happening in Iran. We can all be a part of it by aligning our hearts with God’s and asking Him to guide and direct establish our steps. {eoa}
Dr. Hormoz Shariat is the founder of Iran Alive Ministries, which utilizes Satellite TV to reach the millions of lost and broken people in Iran and the rest of the Middle East. Today, they broadcast the Gospel 24/7 from their studio in Dallas to Iran and the Middle East, trusting the Lord to use them to transform an Islamic nation, which is responding to the Gospel unlike any other time in history. Dr. Shariat firmly believes that Iran will be the first Islamic nation that turns to Christ. He is the author of the book “Iran’s Great Awakening,” which is the No. 1 source of information about what is happening in Iran today, and how the Bible prophecies align with the current events.
