In 1909 American Presbyterian missionary to Iran Howard Baskerville resigned his teaching post in Tabriz to fight (and die) for Iranians warring against governmental troops during the Constitutional Revolution. His death proved impactful for Christianity in Iran and Iranian/American relations. In 1975, in a paper presented for the Bicentennial Celebrations of American Independence at Pahlavi University in Shiraz, politician Ali Pasha Saleh praised American missionaries and called the United States the hero of freedom in Iran. Saleh connected the Constitutional Revolution with the American Revolution and described Baskerville as the ‘Lafayette of Iran’. As late as 2005, in Tabriz, the Islamic Republic of Iran, with President Mohammed Khatami presiding, unveiled a bust of him.
Over 100 years and two regime changes later, Baskerville is still loved by Iranians. Baskerville serves as an example of a Christian who fought against the repressive and unbiblical policies of a government. Baskerville’s actions illuminate a question faced by many Christians: when is there the moral and ethical responsibility to participate in civil disobedience?
While Baskerville is admired by Iranians for his sacrifice – including by Iranian Muslims today – this paper will argue that while there is a biblical mandate for civil disobedience under certain circumstances, with regard to the current situation in Iran – and the governmental mandate for females to wear the manteau [knee length jacket] and rousari [headscarf] – Christians – including Iranian Christians and American missionaries to Iran – should not illegally protest or insight rebellion against the Iranian government. Rebelling against the Iranian government in this case is not only unwise, but also unbiblical. Christians have given up their rights for the cause of Christ. Furthermore, foreign interference will only damage Christianity in Iran.