A CHRISTIAN WITH THE COURAGE NOT TO RECANT; A PRESIDENT WITH NO COURAGE TO AVOW

I am very disappointed, yes, even angry, that President Obama tours around the world, on my "dime", apologizing for America and bowing to dictators and yet remains silent as Christian churches are burned and Christ followers persecuted all over the Middle East. <br /> <br /> ****************************************<br /> <br /> Many Christians and some very concerned non-Christians have been extremely burdened by the sentence of death by hanging that thirty-four year old Iranian Christ follower and pastor, Youcef Nadarkhani, has received from the Iranian highest court.<br /> <br /> What is even more burdensome to me is that we have a president who doesn't have the courage to avow the courage of this Christian.<br /> <br /> Here we have a portrait of great courage in Youcef Nadardhani and a portrait of great weakness in the president of the strongest nation on planet earth. How shameful!<br /> <br /> Youcef Nadarkhani was arrested in October 2009 on charges of apostasy for converting from Islam to Christianity. He was found guilty of apostasy and sentenced to death by hanging.<br /> <br /> An Iranian lower court gave him three chances to recant his faith in Jesus Christ; he refused to deny his faith in Jesus! Based upon his refusal to recant the Iranian highest court upheld the lower court's ruling of guilty and the sentence of death by hanging.<br /> <br /> Does this sound like a peaceful, kind and tolerant religion that only seeks to live alongside Christians and Jews? That is what our President tells us.<br /> <br /> Moreover, keep in mind, the Iranian treatment of Nadarkhani also coincides with Sharia law which some American judges have refused to dismiss as potentially having standing in our courts.<br /> <br /> This case and the deafening silence by millions of Muslims affirm that Islam is a false religion, worshipping a false god, written about by a false prophet.<br /> <br /> Many claim that Christianity is the most intolerant religion in the world because we believe that only those who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will be saved. Keep in mind it is not Christianity that sends people to court and puts them under the death penalty for turning away from Christian faith.<br /> <br /> Islam is the intolerant and hateful faith because it does take legal action, including imprisonment, fines, property confiscation, and even death against those that turn away from Islam.<br /> <br /> While it is true that a growing number of nations, members of Congress, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been calling for Nadarkhani's release, I want to SHOUT, "Where is our President?"<br /> <br /> I am very disappointed, yes, even angry, that President Obama tours around the world, on my "dime", apologizing for America and bowing to dictators and yet remains silent as Christian churches are burned and Christ followers persecuted all over the Middle East.<br /> <br /> Call me crazy, but given how Muslims are given more accommodations in America, along with the support that Sharia law receives, not to mention the support Muslims continually receive from the Obama administration, PLUS the speed at which Christians are losing rights, it may only be a few more years down the road that we will see cases like Nadarkhani's here in our own country.<br /> <br /> How far the office of President has regressed? More than ever we need a LEADER with Courage.<br /> <br /> Dr. Tom Smiley is a pastor, author, speaker, blogger, husband, grand dad, and Christ-follower. He is a regional radio talk show host with WDUN and Jacobs Media. He is the founder of Life with Smiles Ministry. His Sunday messages are broadcast on WDUN 550, and his "blog" entries and thoughts on God, Christian faith, current events, politics and Islam are available at http://tomsmiley.wordpress.com/<br /> <br /> His books: Runaway Lives: Overcoming Emotional Undercurrents, Angels all Around, and Uncommon Common Sense can be ordered at his Life with Smiles website (www.lifewithsmiles.com). Dr. Smiley is available for speaking engagements and discussion forums and can be contacted at [email protected] or by calling 770.532.6307.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/2/246105