“Don’t Mention the Holy Spirit”—What These Iranian Women Were Told In American Churches (Ep 343)

Iranian Christian women, imprisoned for their faith, were urged by some American churches and publishers: “Please don’t speak about the Holy Spirit.” But for them, the Holy Spirit wasn’t a side note. He was central. He sustained them through persecution and gave them supernatural strength, guidance, and peace.

Why is much of the American Church hesitant, even resistant, to embrace the full-spectrum, present-day ministry of the Holy Spirit we see in the New Testament? Has a theological cognitive bias dulled our spiritual edge?

In this episode, we press into the tension between charismatic Christianity and the often rational, stripped-down theology of the West. And we ask: What can the persecuted church teach us about walking in the power of the Holy Spirit?

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See the full episode transcript below.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Not everyone in American churches knows and experiences true Christianity. That reality was driven home in a recent panel discussion featuring three Iranian women who endured prison for their faith in Christ. Their testimony is both sobering and inspiring.

They remind us that we must value our freedom as American Christians—and use it. Our freedom is not just for personal enjoyment but to be a voice for the persecuted church worldwide.

These women shared that the only thing that sustained them in prison was their faith and the present ministry of the Holy Spirit.

The panel, Stories from Religious Freedom and the Growth of the Underground Church, was hosted on the Family Research Council website (FRC.org). I’ll link to it on the show notes page at JesusSmart.com.

One of the women was arrested and detained in a men’s detention center in 2009. That same year, the other two were imprisoned for promoting Christianity. They spent 259 days in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. Although sentenced to death, they were eventually cleared and released under international pressure.

Their stories, however, are not unique. Open Doors USA ranks Iran as the ninth worst country in the world for Christian persecution. (I’ll link to their resource on the show notes page as well.)

A Message to the American Church

The Iranian women explained that when they moved to the United States, they assumed it was a Christian nation. But soon they realized that not everyone believes in Jesus—or even understands true Christianity.

They compared it to Iran, where most people are born Muslim but may never read the Quran or deeply know their faith. In the U.S., many are born into Christian culture without a personal relationship with Christ.

Their message to the American church is clear: appreciate the freedom you have. The ability to worship freely, sing loudly, and gather openly is a precious gift.

But freedom should not be hoarded. It must be used to advocate for those who have none.

As one woman said, persecution could one day come to free nations, and then we may find ourselves needing the prayers and support of others.

How Can the Holy Spirit Be Silenced?

One striking part of their story is how often they were asked—by churches and even a Christian publisher—to avoid talking about the Holy Spirit. They refused.

“The only thing that really helped us in prison to stand in our faith was the Holy Spirit,” one said. “How can we not talk about Him?”

Their testimony reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not optional. He is central to survival and victory in persecution, and in everyday life.

A Theological Bias Against the Full Ministry of the Holy Spirit Today?

I believe we are living in the era of the Holy Spirit since Christ. And yet, much of the American church resists embracing His full ministry.

There is what I call a theological cognitive bias against the Holy Spirit’s work. Some seem to teach that He has been largely inactive for the last 1,500 years, reduced only to helping us interpret Scripture.

But that view robs us of the fullness of Christ. As Paul wrote, “The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

The New Covenant is far more glorious than the Old. Why would we believe that we have been downgraded from the first-century church—or even from Old Testament saints who saw God’s power firsthand?

The Book of Acts is not just history; it is precedent and pattern for the church age. Jesus Himself said it was to our advantage that He return to the Father so that the Spirit could be sent.

We cannot be fully Christ-centered without being fully Spirit-filled.

Remembering the Persecuted

The Iranian women urged the international community to stand up for those who suffer for their faith. Their words echo Scripture:

• “Remember the prisoners as though in prison with them” (Hebrews 13.3).
• “When you did it to the least of these, you did it unto Me” (Matthew 25.40).

As Christ-followers, we’re called to pray, to advocate, and to use our freedom for those who don’t have it.

Living in the Light of Christ

Jesus is brilliant and full of light. When Saul of Tarsus encountered Him on the road to Damascus, the brilliance of His presence blinded him. I find myself praying, “Lord, blind me to my natural way of seeing. Flood me with Your light and intelligence.”

The future is bright—new heavens and a new earth are coming. But even now, we can live in the light of that horizon, carrying the power and authority of Christ and His Spirit into our world.