Iranian Hostage Crisis - 35th Anniversary

Last week, on January16^th,  four of the five  U.S. citizens who were being held captive in Iran were released  as part of a prisoner exchange. Among those freed was American Pastor Saeed Abedini who had been jailed there for over three years while working on an orphan project in the country. It was obvious that the pastor was detained and severely abused primarily based on his Christian faith and witness. Amazingly, he was released on what was National Religious Freedom Day. But interestingly, January 20^th marked the 35-year anniversary of the release of over 60 Americans in what will forever be known as simply ‘The Iran Hostage Crisis’. That was one that history will never forget!

Back on November 4, 1979, a group of Iranian students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran over the action of President Jimmy Carter’s decision to allow Iran’s deposed pro-Western Shah  to come to the United States for cancer treatment. But the hostage-taking was  more about the students declaring an end to what they saw as American interference in their nation's affairs.

It was a rugged time in America on many levels and this long ordeal was as symbolic of the nation’s stress at the time as any. Few alive back then will ever forgot Americans being paraded around like cattle with hoods covering the heads and faces. But finally the students set their hostages free on January 20, 1981. It was 444 days after the crisis began and just hours after President Ronald Reagan delivered his inaugural address. Many historians believe that hostage crisis cost Jimmy Carter a second term as president.

So taking Americans hostage in this rouge nation is nothing new and will likely not end even with the recent and controversial nuclear deal between Iran and the U.S.  The hatred for the West, and for Christianity in general, will certainly fuel more evil and terror as time goes by.

Most likely, there are many still alive who were a part of that most infamous mass kidnapping so long ago. They have been physically free now for over 35 years. They were liberated decades ago and today live in a land of liberty. But some state that they still have literal nightmares about the stress they endured there.

I sometimes wonder what occurred behind closed doors back in those long horrific months some three and a half decades ago? I’m not thinking only about the physical or mental abuse, but also the spiritual climate. I wonder how many captives and how there faith stood up to this difficult dilemma? I wonder if some of these took the opportunity to share their faith with their fellow prisoners? I wonder if they ever thought about the Apostle Paul who was often in jail and even wrote some of his great epistles in that setting? And I wonder if there were some who became Christians in, of all places, one of the worst places on earth to be a believer in Jesus Christ?

Pastor Saeed Abedini was detained more than twice as long as those 60+ Americans long ago. And from what we know, he may have been physically abused far more than most of that group. But while this one man was in terrible physical bondage, we know that he was at least free where it matters most. Again, I have no idea of the overall spiritual standing of that prior group, but we do know that this one man had a vital relationship with Christ. That meant that he fully understood the words seen in John 8:31-32. "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

And what was this specific truth was the Savior speaking about?  He answered that a few chapters later in response to a question by one of His followers. In John 14:5 He replied to Thomas who had asked, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way? The Lord gave His profound answer in the following verse. "Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” 

And exactly how does this all work? How does someone come to the Father for spiritual life, forgiveness of sin, a heavenly home and the strength to face any adversity that life may dish out?  I could attempt to explain it myself. By why do that when the Scriptures have done it already and directly from the mind of God? In Romans 5:1-5 we find the truth about of spiritual freedom that accompanies saving faith.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

In this life there exists a blessed physical freedom. But of far greater value, is the truth that there is an eternal spiritual freedom found only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. (1 John 5:12)

Bill Breckenridge