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.

but equal sorrow has come from tue words of condemnation I have seen here. He is still our brother. He now, more than ever, needs our prayers. God is not done with him. His ministry may fall apart and I'm okay with that, if that is the Lords will, but I am not okay from us turning our backs on him because his sin has been exposed. Now is the time for prayer for both of these men.

Fully agree with you brother that we must be in prayer over this entire situation something does not seem right how she said these things and made it public. Franklin Graham or another leader brother could have been counselling before anything would have gone public in this manner. May God have mercy on both of them and also may this not continue to shame the Name of Christ in anyway.

Brethren has anyone read the Franklin Graham post yesterday? I would copy and paste it here but I do not know how to do that. Brother Franklin has said that many of the things being reported by the media are not true regarding Saeed. He has spoken into the lives of both Saeed and Nagmeh. He has been one instrumental and praying in bringing about the release of our brother Saeed. I have no doubt that Franklin Graham has far more understanding in this situation than we in this forum do. Is this forum prepared to challenge the credibility of Franklin Graham?

I remind this forum again Brother Saeed has suffered for his faith in Christ. Who in this forum has spent 3 1/2 years in sn Iranian prison hell hole undergoing the tortures that Saeed did?

From the things I have read in the sources I use to track the persecuted church. Saeed was beaten to within an inch of his life. Those who torture are taught to beat prisoners to where they lose consciousness. Then the prisoner is revived and beaten sgain. These constant beatings have resulted in internal injuries where Saeed may require surgery. Saeed was also tasered. This result being pain in his heart.

In addition to the physical tortures there are the psychological and spiritual tortures. The brother was required to watch Sunni Muslims being hung for their faith. Iran is Shia Muslim. Thus they have a hatred for Sunni Muslims. So the prisoners would be paraded out to the courtyard. There they were forced to watch the hanging of political and religious prisoners. Those who were abiut yo be hung would cry. Many would wet themselves I can only imagine the scars that this will leave on our brother.

Also there was a constant danger of ISIS threats against his life while in prison. Plus the fact that he was beaten by other prisoners.
It was recorded to his parents that he woke up one morning with a knife at his throat. The person who had the knife at his throat wanted to steal his toiletries.

Add to this fact the Iranian authorities consistently tried to get him to deny his faith in Christ. The psychological and spiritual torture that came from this one can only imagine.

I share this. Because I wonder in the hell that Saeed went through. How? And I asked how? Can one say that his mind was set on pornography? It would seem the brother would be more concerned trying to stay alive. And keep his faith constant in Christ.

Perhaps in American prisons access to pornography is available. But in the worst prison in Iran where Saeed was imprisoned. I have to wonder how the brother could have access to pornography???

Also the verses in 1st Peter 4:1 tell us that he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. Is anybody in this forum prepared to say the Saeed has not suffered in the flesh?

It has been asked why is Saeed being silent in these allegations? Some would say that this is an admission of guilt. But remember Jesus was silent in the face of his accusers. I remember reading a devotion which addressed this matter. That is the silence of Jesus in the face of his accusers. The author of the devotional said Jesus was silent because he was not the one on trial.

But as I said in a previous post. Even if these allegations are true. And only God knows. Who in this forum? I ask again who in this forum? Is prepared to cast a stone of judgement against Saeed and say that they are without sin?

I ask my brothers. Have you ever been tempted by pornography? Have you ever been tempted by sexual sin? I doubt very seriously that you can answer in the negative. I have had struggles with pornography and sexual sin. It was a brother in this forum who directed me to a Bible course that set me free from this.

I only share this to say that I do not have the right the cast judgement at Saeed. Even if these allegations are true. And right now I am prone to go with our brother Franklin Graham and say that they are not. But even if I am proved wrong. I do not have the right the cast a stone of judgement against my brother.

Those at the Church of Wells may say they are without sin. But I challenge anybody in this forum to say that they have never sinned in the areas of pornography and sexual sin. Again let he that is without sin cast the first stone.

Brethren I had hoped this issue would not come up in the forum. As one sister said. This brother is being thrown under the bus. I feel compelled the stand by our brother. For this brother has suffered for his faith in Christ. I believe what is happening is a continual attack by the enemy the silence this brother. What the devil could not do on Iran. He is seeking to destroy our brother in America.

My plea again is we lift this family up in prayer. I'm not lift him up and judgment.

Blaine

As per Blaine's request here is Franklin Grahams facebook post:

I was one of millions of people around the world praying for the release of Saeed Abedini, the American pastor imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith. It was an honor to finally be able to meet him last week. This young man has spent 3 ½ years of his life in jail for his faith, where he was beaten and tortured.
While we rejoice at his new freedom, we now lift him and his wife Naghmeh to the Lord for healing in their marriage. Other than God, no one knows the details and the truth of what has happened between Saeed and Naghmeh except them. There’s an old saying that there are at least two sides to every story. I can tell one thing for sure””not everything that has been reported in the media is true.
As a minister of the Gospel, I have tried to be a friend to both and to assist them in getting Saeed home and in getting access to any help that they may need. Clearly, there is a great need for prayer for their relationship and their family. God has answered prayer by bringing about Saeed’s release from prison, and now, Satan would like nothing more than to continue to destroy their lives. It is my prayer that this will not happen.

from: https://goo.gl/icZRn6

Oratio what is the relevance of the sister's church background when she pleads for grace regarding Saeed. I have been urging the same thing in this forum. I am not a Roman Catholic.

Believing where sin increased but grace abounded all the more. That is simply being a follower of Jesus.

Blaine

I would urge all to read the post by Franklin Graham that Greg posted. Much wisdom in our brother Franklin Graham. And Franklin Graham is not a Roman Catholic :)

Blaine

Plus, I don't see anyone condemning the dear brother.

Let's stick to facts everyone:

Go to YouTube & you can see a recent CBN interview with Nagmeh. She didn't intend to "make his sins public". She shared in confidence with "a close friend" who then shared this elsewhere & made it public. She is now dealing with it. It does appear that she has made public statements that he was abusive with her at times, has struggled with pornography, & is yet seemingly unrepentant (she said she wanted to reconcile & heal, but filed for legal separation just after his reuniting to the family, which certainly seems to indicate either he isn't truly repentant, humble & willing to work through these issues with counseling, or she has bitterness/unforgiveness inside because of it, or most likely some variable combination of both).

While I too have prayed for the brother too & hoped desperately for his release & rejoice in it, & I AM CERTAINLY NOT "ATTACKING HIM", the truth (laid out in scripture) is still true: "if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." I used to preach & evangelize everywhere I went. I stood on street corners all night every weekend pleading with the lost to come to Christ & live. I was only threatened to be beat up a few times because of it, but if I would have arrested & beaten for it, I still wouldn't have denied Christ!

However, at the same time back in those days, although I have never laid a hand on my wife (or any woman) & she was far from perfect, I was not truly loving her in every way the way Christ commands husbands to do. So did my service nullify 1 Corinthians 13, Ephesians 5 & so much of the rest of scripture? By no means. And while I am in no way "casting stones", the fact still remains that Saaed needs to repent (unless Nagmeh made all this up, which I highly doubt, especially if he has gone to court over it), that she needs to be willing to forgive, they need to heal, but that will hingent on Saeed's willingness to humble himself, repent, & work through this honoring his wife & forgetting about his public image.

And I'm going off of words straight out of Nagmeh's mouth which she would gain nothing positive by strong publicly (but shame/embarrassment). So yes, even if he was persecuted & beaten & stood strong & didn't deny Christ, but IF (& that's a big if because we don't know everything & need to be careful what we assume) he now refuses to humble himself & repent to his wife, he is not to be treated "exempt" from the whole of scripture on the matter. So I'm neither "exalting/exhonerating" him if he doesn't love his wife as Christ loved the church, nor "attacking/accusing/maligning" him if he is repentant. He is held to No higher or lower standard than any other brother in the world. And I LOVE & consider, pray for & support & promote the persecuted church worldwide often & regularly, but that's not a rubber stamp on every area of ones walk/life. Ghandi was beaten, maligned & absurd for his Buddhism & beliefs. But that didn't make him right with God. One can do well in area of His walk & horrible in another & God doesn't ignore rebellion, pride & obstinance because of something else. 1 Corinthians 13 puts a superior premium on our love above everything else. First for God, & "the second is like it, 'love your neighbor as yourself"

Let's definitely pray for them both!

No Oracio. Definitely not. If that turned out to be the case, he would definitely need to be called to repentance. And that should be done by those closest & most intimately involved with them both. The process & details are a private matter (again, Nagmeh's friend betrayed her confidence), but the end result (& these things take time) will eventually be public. Hopefully Franklin Graham or some other pastoral counselor in their life is working to help shepherd this. But these things don't happen "overnight" either, so everyone on the internet shouldn't be rushing to judgement or quick to make final analysis either. We should pray, be hopeful, & give it time. But if months from now we find out Saeed refused to repent, humble himself & work through this, I wouldn't invite him to speak on persecution in our home fellowship. Not with these unresolved weightier matters in his life. Lord willing we will see as great a miracle in their marriage's restoration (& his ultimate freedom from pornography/anger) as we did from his Iranian release. God had to use my eventual fearing to admit/confess falling to pornography to my wife & see the hurt it caused her to help me finally totally break 100% free from it. If Saeed is indifferent to this, there are problems greater even than being in Iranian prison or internal bleeding. I say that with love, but without a second's hesitation.

It's not even the idea "of MAKONG THIS WHOLE THING up". I have no doubt there's some truth to it (the man was arrested, probated by a court, & has made no public statements denying it), but there's always 2 sides to every story. Room must be given/allowed for that. I had a problem at one time, but my wife had problems too. Bitterness, unforgiveness, lack of submissiveness, lack of love & care on a wife's part DOES NOT CAUSE a man to commit lust/porn sins, but are also accountable to God & certainly don't help resolve it either. These things are deep in a relationship & require private "1-on-1, 2-on-2" type counseling. So we don't know all the details. Only way we would is if they eventually do work through all this, everyone loves & repents where necessary, God heals & restores, & one day they can share openly in praiseworthy testimony of what God miraculously did putting them back together from the inside out individually & then collectively. That's what I'm praying for! God did it in my marriage & He is certainly no respector of persons, nor does He show partiality! He resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble! 😊🙏🏻☝️💪🏻

I certainly do not disagree with you whatsoever and thought I was clear about that in the last post. However, there are some who want some public statement made right now, and I don't think that's fair or reasonable and that appropriate time for counseling, repentance, healing, and restoration should be given rather however, there are some who want some public statement made right now, and I don't think that's fair or reasonable and that appropriate time for counseling, repentance, healing, and restoration should be given rather than demanding something public right this minute. And as I said previously, I wouldn't be inviting him to speak at my fellowship at this time knowing that there are unresolved matters that need to be dealt with first. And as I said previously, I wouldn't be inviting him to speak at my fellowship at this time knowing that there are unresolved matters that need to be dealt with first. You tend to see to extreme ends of responses on things like this what you're both incorrect in my opinion, or at least incomplete and unwise: you see those that want to demand exact perfect for second repentance or pretty much consider them anathema, or you see those who just want to sweep it under the rug and let it be a non-issue altogether. The fact is I was of these approaches would be foolish, unwise and unscriptural when you take the Bible speaks of InContext as a whole on these matters. Sit back and wait and pray and expect the Lord to work and for there to be some work done in the name of Jesus for the sake of their own individual lives, their marriage, family, whatever ministry the Lord may have for them still, and the sake of the name as public ministers of the gospel. But don't just turned a blind eye to all this like it isn't an issue and not expect something to be said or done over the course of the next several months. I think that is a good solid biblical Wise foundation for out of church should view this type of thing. We should be leaving room for God to work, while not forgetting or neglecting what the Scriptures demand for anyone as a believer, & especially anyone in any place of leadership in the church.

Sorry for all the typos and the wrong wording that was inserted. Siri is still not very good at text speak interpreting what's left of my Texas accent apparently! 😊

by jeffmar1130 on 2016/1/29 12:38:41

Sorry for all the typos and the wrong wording that was inserted. Siri is still not very good at text speak interpreting what's left of my Texas accent apparently!

Yep, we need a good ole Texas Siri.

Brethren and you might want to consider again this statement in the post by Franklin Graham.......Not everything being reported in the media is true....... There must have been a reason that Franklin made that statement. Since he has been speaking into the lives of both Nagneh and Saeed, he probably has more insight and discernment as to what has happened then we in this forum do.

Brethren we do not know what the facts are. You cannot draw a conclusion based on the allegations from one party. There's a proverb that says one who pleads his case seems reasonable until he is cross examined by his peers.

Before we rush the judge in this situation. I would suggest we wait and see what the facts are if they are revealed.

Also before we rush and judge Saeed. I remind you brothers we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Again I challenge any brother to come forth and say that he has not had issues with pornography and sexual sin. That is assuming the allegations against Saeed are true. In other words. Brothers let he that is without sin cast the first stone.

If God has delivered you from pornography and sexual sin as He is delivering me. Then who am I to judge a brother that may be caught up in this. And again I say that is assuming the allegations are true. And right now the facts are simply not clear.

Again brothers before you judge Saeed. Look to your own hearts and see where God has delivered you from. If God has extended mercy and grace to you and your sin. Then should you not do the same to Saeed?

Reasonably and respectfully posted.

Blaine

Proverbs 18 17 in the New American Standard

The first to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and examines him.

Brethren so far we've only heard one side of the story. The story coming from Nagmeh. We have yet to hear Saeed's side of the story.

Blaine

Saints,

The original post was made to really curry prayer and a realization that there is a major problem that really could bring shame to the Name of our Lord.

May we commit in prayer as Blaine shared we will know more of the true facts over time.

This thread is locked now.