American Pastor Saeed Abedini: ‘They Beat Me Very Badly’

An American pastor who was imprisoned in Iran for over three years is now speaking about his time behind bars, acknowledging that he and others were beaten by Iranian authorities.

"In interrogation, once they beat me very badly,” Saeed Abedini told Fox’s Greta Van Susteren on Monday, "because they wanted me to write something [to admit guilt], which I didn’t do that.”

"It actually was in a courtroom where the judge closed the door and the interrogators started beating me, which in that time, I had stomach bleeding,” he said.

"They beat you with their fist?” Van Susteren asked. ...

read more: http://christiannews.net/2016/01/26/american-pastor-saeed-abedini-speaks-of-his-imprisonment-in-iran-they-beat-me-very-badly/

I have not heard of this.

Just found this article, we must pray for them:

Wife of U.S. pastor freed by Iran files for legal separation
http://news.yahoo.com/wife-u-pastor-freed-iran-says-husband-threatened-173659033.html

My Brothers and Sisters,

Before we judge this situation plesse let us remember that our brother Saeed suffered for his faith in Jesus. He endured 3 1/2 years of persecution and suffering for the Lord Jesus Christ. Many times he was tempted to deny his faith by Iranian authorities. But our brother stood firm.

But indeed let's keep the Abdini family in our prayers. For the enemy despises those who stand firm for Jesus. What this family is enduring is of Satan. Let us pray that the enemy will not have ground in this marriage. Indeed let us pray that the victory of Christ will be seen in the grace of Jesus prevailing over this sad situation.

Also let us remember our brothers and sisters who are suffering in the shadow of the cross. Let us remember them in our prayers.

Posted by Blaine Scogin

Oracio one cannot suffer the the way Saeed did and be labeled a false convert. Or needing deep repentance. If anything 1 Peter 4:1 says he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. There is a purifying aspect of persecution that tends to conform one more to the likeness of Jesus Christ.

In watching the interview with Saeed by Greta Van Susteren you see a man who is humble before the Lord. A man who has gone through suffering for Christ. A man that Satan has tried to destroy. But who through the grace of God endured much for Christ.

I hardly doubt the suffering Saeed went through were from a false faith. It would have been far easier for him to deny Christ and gain his freedom early then to endure the sufferings he did.

Suffering for the Lord Jesus Christ will either confirm or deny our faith in Christ. If you have a knife at your throat by a jihadist and you are told to either deny Jesus or die. Your faith is put on the line right there. Or if you spend years in prison, one that is literally a hell hole, and endure the things that Saeed did your faith is put on the line.

So Oratio, this brother's faith is not false. But his faith is more real than either you or I or anybody else in this forum put together.

Respectfully posted.

Blaine

John the allegations against Saeed have not been proven. When the allegations came forth. The brother was in prison and could not defend himself.

Also has anybody considered that the charges being levelef again Saeed are coming from the enemy. We know the enemy hates those who stand for Christ when they advance His kingdom. The enemy could not destroy Saeed when he suffered for Christ in Iran. The enemy is seeking to destroy him here in America. Seeking to destroy his character.

All the more reason to keep the Abedini family in our prayers.

Blaine

Brethren I was reminded in this forum when Yosef Nardakhani's faith was called into question. He was an Iranian brother who was slated to be executed for his faith in Christ. But questions arose as to his belief in the Triniry. Yet his confession was Jesus Christ. And salvation was in Christ alone. Yet there were those in this forum who suggested he was a false convert.

And there have been those in this forum who have called into question the faith of Brother Yun and his suffering for Christ. Some have called into question the miracles that were recorded in his book did not happen.

And there have been those in this forum that have called into question the faith of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Did he truly suffer for Christ? Was he truly a martyr for Christ?

It is easy for us to sit behind our keyboards in the relative comfort and safety of our homes and make these judgments. And call into question the faith of the saints that have gone through persecution. I suggest before we start making Pontifical judgments. Let us walk in the shoes of the persecuted. Let us walk in the shoes of those who truly suffer for Christ.

My thoughts.

Blaine

Tim your words are wise. Indeed let us pray for the Abidinis. For the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Blaine

Brothers and sisters,

Franklin Graham has been instrumental in the lives of both Nagneh and Saeed Abedini. If you do Facebook check out his facebook post regarding the sadness in the Abidini family. His counsel is very wise. Basically he is calling that we pray for this family. And pray that their marriage will be healed and restored.

Many saints around the world prayed for the release of this brother. The prayer call I moderate, Persecution Watch, invested 24 hours of straight prayer crying out for this brother's release. We all rejoiced when we saw the release of our dear brother. Now only to have to pray fervently for the healing and restoration of his marriage.

My brothers and sisters I ask that you please keep the Abidini family in your prayers. Pray that God will restore their marriage. Pray that Satan will not have the victory. But that the risen Christ will be pre-eminent in this situation.

I do not believe that God has answered our prayers to bring Saeed out of prison only to see his marriage destroyed. So please join me in prayer as we lift you up the Abidini family. And pray for the restoration and healing of their marriage.

Your brother in Christ,

Blaine

Oracio I feel you are making judgments about a situation you do not have the facts on. Check out the Franklin Graham post on Facebook. I think our brother has a wise perspective regarding the Abidinis. Basically his call is to pray for the family. I agree with that call.

Blaine

I'm not making judgments, but just an observation. In the Yahoo article, this does not sound like the enemy.

""I love my husband, but as some might understand, there are times when love must stop enabling something that has become a growing cancer," she wrote.

Naghmeh Abedini on Facebook apologized to her followers for not disclosing the abuse sooner.

"I sincerely had hoped that this horrible situation Saeed has had to go through would bring about the spiritual change needed in both of us to bring healing to our marriage," she said. "Tragically, the opposite has occurred."

In an interview at her parent’s home in Boise last week, Naghmeh Abedini had told Reuters that rebuilding their marriage after her husband's imprisonment would take time.""

She even alludes to rebuilding the marriage, although she makes the point that she is tired of being an "enabler".

This whole thing reminds me of Tom White and Voice of the Martyrs which to this day is so tragic.

VOM is another organization that spent a lot of money that was donated to them for an "opulent" headquarters.
http://www.wurmbrandmichael.com/

From Michael:
"Just take a moment and look at this miserable refugee camp in the Philippines picture published by VOM ( http://michaelwurmbrand.com/philippinescamp.pdf ) and compare it with the $28,000,000+ opulent headquarters built by VOM in Bartlesville, OK out of your sincere donations ( http://mcanawconstruction.com/gallery?id=24 ) AND ASK YOURSELF, "Where do my donations really go?" How can I allow the hoax of making donors think their undesignated donations raised by using the name of the Wurmbrand family are destined to persecuted widows and orphans while going in fact to support opulent constructions in the United States?"

Julius the Reuters article said that they could not independently confirm the allegations made against Saeed. Also I do not think you can compare Tom White and Saeed Abidini. I'm sure that Tom White was drawing a nice salary from VOM them. Probably had a nice office in the VOM facilites. And Tom White did not come out of an Iranian prison suffering from internal injuries from beatings he had sustained for his faith in Christ.

On the other hand Saeed has nothing. He has suffered for his faith in Christ. He does not have a nice salary. He does not have a gleaming office. And short of a miracle of God. He may not have his wife and children.

But he does have the Lord Jesus Christ. If God sustain him while he was in prison in Iran. Then the Lord will sustain him through this trial.

I keep saying again. We need to pray for the albanyny family.

Blaine

John 8:7

He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.

Brethren even if the allegations against Saeed are true. And only God knows if they are. My question is who among us is without sin that we can cast the first stone of Saeed? Can any brother in this forum tell me that they have not struggled with the issue of pornography or sexual sin? I doubt it very seriously.

Before we go judging the situation. Let us look at ourselves and judge ourselves.

My thoughts.

Blaine

I don't know about Reuters, only what I read came out of his wife's mouth.

I agree with you that they both need prayer.