Islamic Leader Recognizes Christian God Answers Prayer

In a recent  interview with Ann Curry the Iranian leader Ahmadinejad recognizes that the Christian God really does answer prayer.  MSNBC posts the entire speech transcript on their website.  I pulled my copy from Joel Rosenbergs blog site. 

Here is the portion of the speech he gave that I want to focus on.

Curry: In your speeches, you pray for God to hasten the arrival of the hidden Imam, the Muslim messiah. Would you tell us, as I know you will speak about this at the general assembly, as well.  What is your relationship with the hidden Imam, and how soon do you think before the second coming?

Ahmadinejad: Yes, that’s true.  I prayed for the arrival of the 12th Imam. The owner of the age, as we call him.  Because the owner of the age is the symbol of the – justice and brotherly love prevailing around the world.  When the Imam arrives, all of these problems will be resolved.  And a prayer for the owner of the age is nothing but a wish for justice and brotherly love to prevail around the world. And it’s an obligation a person takes upon himself to always think about brotherly love. And also to treating others as equals.

All people can establish such a connection with the Imam of the age. It’s roughly the same as the relationship which exists between Christians and the Christ.  They speak with Jesus Christ and they are sure that Christ hears them.  And responds.  Therefore, this is not limited to us only.  Any person can talk with the Imam.  

Curry: You’ve said that you believe that his arrival, the apocalypse, would happen in your own lifetime. What do you believe that you should do to hasten his arrival?

Ahmadinejad: I have never said such a thing.

Curry: Ah, forgive me.

Ahmadinejad: I – I – I was talking about peace.

Curry: Forgive me.

Ahmadinejad: What is being said about an apocalyptic war and – global war, things of that nature.  This is what the Zionists are claiming.  Imam…will come with logic, with culture, with science.  He will come so that there is no more war. No more enmity, hatred.  No more conflict.  He will call on everyone to enter a brotherly love. Of course, he will return with Jesus Christ.  The two will come back together.  And working together, they would fill this world with love.  The stories that have been disseminated around the world about extensive war, apocalyptic wars, so on and so forth, these are false.

 The inference in the very first question Curry asks him is found in the second paragraph of his first answer.  He compares the 12 Imam to Jesus Christ and the Christian faith.   In reference to the issue on prayer Ahmadinejad says Christians believe the Jesus Christ and hears them and responds.  Then he says that any person can talk to the Imam.  I think the inference is clear. 

While Islamic believers claim a knowledge of Jesus Christ they do not believe in the deity of Christ.  This reference is clear in that Ahmadinejad knows the power of the Christian faith.  If “Christ” hears and responds in similar fashion as does the “12th Imam” then two things are clear. 

First, our God answers prayer.  He hears us and he responds.  We don’t necessarily need Ahmadinejad preaching our gospel but its nice to know he can.  Second, there is a spiritual force surrounding the belief of the 12th Imam.  Is the 12th Imam the antichrist as some are claiming today?  Don’t really know – but its possible.   Are we engaged in spiritual warfare for the souls of men and women?  Absolutely and Ephesians six couldn’t be more approbriate here for discussion.

Ephesians six is often used for teaching the armament of the soldier or the weaponry of the soldier.  Fact is clear…we are engaged in warfare.  Fact is clear…we need to put on the full armor of God.  But Paul goes on to identify warfare as not just engaging in what I term “play ground scuffs”.   The real battle is for the ability for the church speak and proclaim boldly the word of the Lord. 

Never before have we stood at a crossroad where prayer is so vitally important.  Never before have we been faced with the opportunity to unite our voices in calling on God to give us boldness to speak the gospel.  It’s not about dodging fiery darts to and hearing demonically empowered spears passing by our heads.  It’s about the church praying for boldness to speak the word of God. While Paul speaks of himself in prison and makes his instruction subjective to his occasion and environment – he also notes he is an ambassador.   The position of an ambassador is not subjective to the prison.  

We have instructions to go and engage in warfare.  Spiritual warfare.  Not the super hype that is applauded in too many congregations today.   Unless we are praying for boldness in the fight for souls I am confident we are no where near spritual warfare that Paul the apostle intimated in Ephesians six.

What are your thoughts?