British-Iranian Pastor, Pooyan Mehrshahi, shares the reality of what is truly going on with Iran. In this article, he writes about the lack of real evidence for the claims of Iranian Christian growth. He says many Iranian asylum seekers who come to the West are simply looking for economic gain. He shares his concerns about Christian ministries promoting charismatic experiences doctrinal error. But he also tells us about the encouraging work of the Parsa Trust, which advocates patient discipleship and biblical teaching over and above sensationalised numbers.
One million Iranian Christians? The fastest-growing church in the world? Tens of thousands of mosques closed? These claims are repeated in missionary conferences, Christian broadcasting and fundraising appeals until they sound like established facts. But who has verified them? What exactly is being counted? And where is the fruit?
There is no reliable census of converts in Iran. The figures vary enormously, and reports of closed mosques cannot establish the number of Christians. Yet some organisations speak with astonishing certainty, while Western churches applaud and open their wallets.
Before giving money or repeating a claim, ask for evidence. What constitutes a conversion? A television viewer? A downloaded Bible? A response to a telephone appeal? Or someone who has repented, believed and continues in the fellowship and discipline of a biblical church? A profession is not regeneration. Not everything that glitters is gold.
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