Iran recently declared two people enemies of God and executed them. While executions are nothing new in Iran (or anywhere else for that matter), using this sort of justification is apparently a change in Iran.
On the face of it, this sort of charge is absurd. After all, since God is all powerful and all knowing, then He knows who His enemies are and can take any action He deems appropriate against them. Of course, God’s enemies cannot do a damn thing to Him (He is, after all, all powerful) so they are hardly any threat to God. As such, God would really have no justification in harming such people. He cannot, after all, claim self defense.
But, if God does exist and has real enemies, then He would certainly smite them. After all, the old testament features numerous cases of God smiting people. So, it is reasonable to infer that God’s failure to smite His enemies shows that either these folks are not His enemies or that God does not exist (and so cannot smite anyone).
However, the charge does have a certain logic to it. According to the official line, Iran is an Islamic Republic and is supposed to be following the laws of God. Therefore, anyone who breaks the law is breaking God’s law. Going a bit more extreme, the rulers might cast themselves as God’s agents and hence those who oppose the regime would be enemies of God’s agents and thus of God. This, of course, assumes a great deal about God’s relation to the rulers and laws of Iran. I see no evidence that God is on their side, but perhaps they know things that I do not.
My main thought is that this will be used as a terror tool against people opposing the regime. After all, many folks in Iran are religious and being officially declared an enemy of God might have more threat value than mere secular threats. Also, the state executes enemies of God, so it can also be seen as a way of saying “we are going to kill you” with a theological twist.
This sort of thing reveals a great deal about what is going on in Iran. First, the folks who use this justification are either using it as a tool or are functionally insane (or both). Since they are close to being a nuclear power, this is rather worrisome. I am inclined to think that the folks in Iran are as sincerely religious as other political rulers-that is, not at all. Second, these folks seem to be desperate-when people resort to such extremes, that is a good sign they are afraid. Third, the opposition is strong enough (or seen as strong enough) to merit such threats.
Of course, this could also be mere rhetoric-something we see from politicians around the world (including our own).
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God has an infinite number of tools at his disposal. The tools don’t have to be people we agree with. Or objects we recognize as tools of God. All of us may be his tools at one or another stage in our lives.In this case one of those tools -the Iranian Govt- smote his two enemies dead. Sounds to me like His justice was done.
Last I heard God fights his own battles and doesn’t need anybody “protecting” him.
I believe God can do pretty much what He pleases.Including utilizing an individual or state to carry out parts of his plan. Sometimes those states or individuals might not be ones we like. But He created those people like us. With free will. He’s got a bigger plan, Stan. Like most people I don’t believe we can know God’s plan. For example we know we shouldn’t grieve forever over the loss of a loved one. God has his reasons for that. Knowing there’s a reason gives us comfort. Anyway how’s He gonna achieve His plan if He doesn’t use man? Why have man here at all if He can achieve His plan without him? ‘All the world’s a stage and the people merely players’. Much of the script is written in our genes. Some in our environment. Some in the delicate interchange between those two. And among the genes and environments of ourselves and others. It’s an astounding machine. But to think that God doesn’t control it?
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”~Jeremiah 17:9
I believe Iran’s leadership is exactly what it says it is: Religiously zealous, though of course people are willing to make minor adjustments to their own belief systems in order to accomodate their actions.
Fortunately for Iran, very little adjustment is needed fo Islam to accomodate their actions. Repression of all kinds are the order of the day.
And you think the US Tax Code is complicated.
http://ecclesia.org/truth/chosen.html
Thank God there’s an H&R Block equivalent to identify God’s Chosen People.
I should like to quote from a correspondance course study guide I’m using for a class I’m taking: Southwest Asia–it’s history, politics and military capabilities.
“The Ayatollah then appointed a Prime Minister to form a new government and at the end of March, voters overwhelmingly approved formation of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
(2) On 1 April 1979 an Islamic republic was formed; the government, under Ayatollah Khomeini’s autocratic rule, has since been characterized by indiscriminate arrest, torture, execution of opponents, and economic disorder. Political development has been marred by factional fighting, confusion, and continual crises. These crises include the seizure (and eventual release) of 52 members of the US Embassy staff, an undeclared war with Iraq, internal power struggles and unrest between the major minority groups, and support of Shia terrorist groups in the Middle East.
(3) In September 1980 Iraq initiated military action against Iran. This conflict, in varying intensity, continued through August 1988 when a cease fire was agreed to.”
https://atiam.train.army.mil/soldierPortal/atia/adlsc/view/public/11750-1/accp/is3008/lsn1.htm