Iran: Would regime change be enough?

Iranian people have lived in fear for many years under a regime which has mismanaged the country and brutalised its people. It’s obvious that Iran needs freedom from such evil oppression.

The democratically elected leaders of the US and Israel have decided to go to war with Iran.

In the past, the stated goal of wars like this was to usher in democracy. No such bold claims have been made this time.

The absence of any objective outcome may be due to dwindling confidence in Western governance and a dawning on the West that belief in "democracy" by free and fair elections is not enough for a nation to thrive.

Libya is a case in point, but so too, it seems, in a different way, are the failing states of the UK and USA.

In order for democracy to work...

As confidence in democracy wanes, it might be time to ask what made democracy work the way it did in the USA and Europe. Free and fair elections are necessary; the integrity of the electoral process is vital for the building of trust, but at least two more ingredients are necessary if a democracy is going to work.

• Those in power must be seen to exercise power for the common good. They must uphold justice, both in the administration of the law and in their care for the poor.
• The voters must agree to abide by the results of the vote. The minorities who lose the vote must be willing to submit to the will of the majority.

To secular Western thinkers, all three beliefs about democracy seem natural or instinctive. They are not.

The instinct for electoral integrity, rule by consent, and proper justice is not universal. These come from the teaching and example of Jesus Christ.

If democracy is to flourish around the world, everyone needs to listen to Jesus.

Looking to Scripture

The exercise of power for the common good is not a natural human instinct. When Jesus’ disciples asked to sit next to Him in positions of authority, Jesus asked them if they were willing to make the same sacrifice as He would make.

Jesus then says: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20v25-28)

Jesus’ teaching assumes that His followers would become leaders. Christian leaders are always to be servant leaders, self-sacrificing public servants who follow the teaching and example of Jesus as they put the needs of others first.

Iran needs more than regime change

Iran not only needs regime change, it needs a substitute for the teachings and example of Mohammed.

The ultimate motivation for such a change is not temporal but eternal. Jesus said to the leaders of His day, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes'? Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." (Matthew 21v42-44)

To fall on Jesus means to be humbled by Him and devoted to Him such that good fruit flourishes. He gave His life to save sinners from hell. There is no other way to escape the judgement of God. So, for anyone who refuses to fall on Jesus, to be humbled by Him and to serve with Him, Jesus will crush them like a fly on the windscreen in His perfect, righteous justice.

All people, both leaders and citizens, need to be humble before Jesus.

The willingness to allow governments to govern is not a human instinct. Regardless of who is in government, Christian citizens of nations are to recognise the legitimacy of the government, as Paul writes to the Christians in Rome and in Crete: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong." (Romans 13v1-3)

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good." (Titus 3v1)

Jesus himself said: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s." (Matthew 22v21)

Governments can change. Ideologies can be displaced. It takes patient evangelism, teaching, prayer and practice for Jesus to rule the nations.

To conclude

The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has failed; it may yet fall. No one knows what sort of government would take its place.

Iranian Christian leaders and church members have been patiently spreading the word of Christ in Iran. The church is growing quickly both in Iran and through the Iranian diaspora. There is hope for Iranian people. That hope is Jesus.

In the UK, the Lord may use the situation in Iran to cause Western minds to reconsider what is needed for a thriving democracy. The secular government of the UK is failing. Political leaders and parties are a grim offer. The UK needs Jesus.

Imagine choosing to vote between different Christian candidates in a broadly Christian culture according to humble character, knowledge of the Scriptures, competence and courage to follow Christ. To see that day, UK Christians must continue to be patient in evangelism, teaching the Word, prayer and practice, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea." (Habakkuk 2v14)