Desiring A Noble Task Series

Asked by an American interlocutor about the persecution, one believer answered, “Sister, we are not persecuted. Oh, to be worthy of such an honour for our Lord and Saviour!” She continued, noting, “This is just the normal way of life for those who choose … to follow Jesus.” [5]

The case of Pastor Saeed Abedini, a thirty-three-year-old Iranian-American pastor sentenced to eight years in the notorious Evin Prison because of his faith is too well-known to ignore. [6] Another Iranian pastor was first sentenced to death for apostasy, though sentence has not been executed to date. He continues to sit in a 40 x 40 foot cell with thirty-four other men, mostly drug dealers and convicted murderers. [7] I will mention but one other pastor charged with “apostasy,” facing the death penalty in Iran. Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was arrested for having questioned Islamic education in schools. [8] In spite of such persecution, it is estimated that at least one hundred thousand believers are now worshipping in Iran. In 1979, the estimate was that there were only five hundred believers in that darkened, Islamic nation.

Opposition to the Faith appears to grow even here in North America. Individuals opposed to the preaching of the Word are increasingly insistent that believers may not declare the Faith outside of their own church buildings. These opponents of the Faith have powerful and vocal advocates in federal, state and provincial governments, both in Canada and in the United States. One need not be a prophet to see a storm gathering on the horizon. Should the Master delay His return, it is a virtual certainty that persecution will come to North America. Though the injury arising from persecution will be great, it will cause a distinction to be seen between those who serve because God has appointed them and those who serve for lesser motives.

Under such conditions, I can only wonder how many of my brother preachers would choose to become an elder. I question whether I could embrace the life of an overseer should such persecution mark the life of a pastor in our nation. Facing persecution, it would be necessary that the prospective elder have a burning desire to serve. Without such desire, an individual is immediately disqualified from pastoral oversight. I have often advised young men question whether they should go into the ministry, “If you can do anything else, don’t become an elder.” By that, I mean that if it is not a consuming desire, they will not likely stay at the task.

When the people of God are considering those who will shepherd the flock, they should be assured in their own mind that the individual under consideration is committed to his call. Lacking a burning desire to herald the Faith and to oversee the work of the Lord, the individual is immediately disqualified. Even in time of peace, the elder must have a consuming desire to serve as pastor for the flock, or he will not long continue at the task. Failure to aspire to the task assures that the individual will flee at the first sign of danger.