Naghmeh Panahi: Overcoming the ‘Idol’ of Marriage
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- čas přidán 22. 06. 2024
- In 2016, Iranian-American Pastor Saeed Abedini became the poster-child for religious persecution and the focus of a worldwide #SaveSaeed movement. But according to his wife, then Naghmeh Panahi Abedini, Saeed was a fraud and a spiritually, emotionally, and physically abusive husband.
Yet because the Christian world idolized marriage, Naghmeh says Christians suppressed the truth. Most notably, well-known Christian leader and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, Franklin Graham, repeatedly urged Naghmeh to reconcile with Saeed, she says, and ignored Naghmeh’s pleas to deal with Saeed’s abuse.
In this video from a special dinner at the recent Restore Conference, Naghmeh Panahi shares her powerful story. She explains the reasons why she didn’t recognize Saeed’s abuse for so long. She also unveils the ways Christians pervert marriage-and instead of viewing it as an institution God created to protect the family, they use it to protect abusers.
Naghmeh Panahi shared her story at a special evening session of the Restore Conference on May 20, 2022 at Judson University in Elgin, Illinois.
Panahi has been previously featured on The Roys Report to tell her story in-depth, as a podcast and in an article with sources cited.
(Video Podcast) Ex-Wife Tells of Abuse & Betrayal Behind #SaveSaeed
julieroys.com/podcast/ex-wife...
(Video Podcast) Naghmeh’s Story: Abuse and Betrayal Behind #SaveSaeed, Part II
julieroys.com/podcast/naghmeh...
(Article) Naghmeh Panahi: Franklin Graham & Others Bullied Me to Salvage #SaveSaeed
julieroys.com/panahi-graham-b...
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I was an atheist who didn’t believe in any of it and I was attacked by demons/ghosts whatever you want to call it. It got so bad I had to admit it there was a spiritual realm. I didn’t know who to call for help because the attacks were getting very physical and not just me but my whole family who were in different parts of the world. I’m talking cell phones and land lines not working, ceiling fans that didn’t work turn on full force, water bottle flew, ect. I called my Christian brother and said “maybe your God can help us” so my brother prayed in the name of Jesus Christ. I had a super natural encounter with the most high God twice! He gave me His Holy Spirit and taught me not to join religious cults/buildings/groups. He taught me not to follow any human because we are all flawed but He is perfect. I still follow Him to this day, His Holy Spirit has changed me for the good. I testify Jesus Christ and His salvation. Get to know Him He is real💖
Just call on the name Jesus. He will respond to you
@@user-jd5px3rf5g I did, He saved me physically and spiritually. I praise God 🙌🏼🩵
AMEN! Oppression is over in Jesus' name. Share it!
My wife and I were blessed to be there and meet and hear her share that evening. She is a true servant of our Lord, and her courage to continue to expose darkness through her testimony, is needed today for others to be healed from past wounds.
Amen! Amen!
One thing I will say, this woman clearly understands what it means to be a Christian. Many recognized ‘Leaders’ in the Church don’t get it.
Marriage is such an important institution. But it's not to be idolized. Marriage is supposed to be a metaphor for the relationship between Christ and the church. And other people are called to singleness. If a man fails his marriage and is a fault for the mistreatment of one of his daughters, I don't want to be in his shoes during judgment. Marriage is supposed to inspire worship. Not be the center of worship.
We went for about 12 yrs to a Calvary where we served. It took us too long to realize what she said is true and more 🤦🏽♀️ But the Lord is bringing things to light and will restore his people!
Her story is so similar to mine. I was ground down daily to a robot. I could not have any emotions. Even being happy (which he claimed I never was) was punished. I was a prisoner in my own mind....but God was there with me ♥️ He gave me a way out~ and has blessed me since in mighty ways!
That was my childhood 😢
Wow. I loved reading that testimony- Thank you for sharing! So encouraging.
What a remarkable testimony, and such an inspirational reminder to focus on a genuine relationship with Jesus! She is so right when it comes to many now idolizing institutions instead of focusing on their original purpose. May her message and her example multiply resulting in the honor of Christ and our service to the least of these.
Thank you, precious sister. I also made an idol out of marriage, when I was being abused. The abuse extended to my mother. I left. His response was to divorce me. Still praying.
God is so proud of you and your reward will be great. He saw your tears.
God worked on me with my marriage for 10 years. Finally it was obvious that my husbands goal was for me to only worship him. Finally The Holy Spirit said to me "do you want to be married or have your anointing?" I instantly saw myself at 85 looking back on my life and I chose my anointing. Then God told me I had to lay down the idol of marriage. From there God led me out of the marriage. I am thankful she shared her story!
God leads us different ways. He also restores my value apart from an abusive husband.
Everything that happens - happens for a reason weather we realise/know/understand it or not. EVERYTHING I have literally discovered this woman - after Father's heart - tonight and I am absolutely blown away by what God did and can still do in todays day and age. Weather its amazing testimony of saving those who risk their lives for His name, or the conviction and calling out on hypocrisy and laziness in "the church". This will not hit the headlines because enemy will not allow it but it will hit those who need to be hit, including me. God bless this brave warrior of yours, keep her in Your loving hands and her children and when the time comes let her rejoice in the reap of what she had sown. For the glory of Your Holy Name! AMEN!
Dear Julie, an idea for a video I'd like to see - Overcoming the idol of "pastor".
Yes
Yes. I too fell into this as a young believer 😓😖
Yes. Please... this would be a wonderful topic to explore. Too many believe their pastors are "god"...!
Wow! What a great video.
Her testimony is inspiring but her character is even sweeter.
She's a warrior. What an amazing paradox, for she is sweet, thoughtful, and kind.
More than 20 yrs ago God showed me that we made an idol of the institution of marriage. Thank you. ❤❤❤
How can you make an idol of it ? God instituded it !
My favorite part is where she said that God cares more about us as people than the institutions that were created to support us. It gives me hope that God really does want me to write a book about how He wants us whole more than anything else!
When god confirmed it to you NOTHING can stop it. Pieces fall into place. Halleluja!
@susannabonke8552 thank you!
I Love this young Lady testimony, I'm blessed every time I heard or see one of her videos... Love this Sister in Jesus Christ 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
What an amazing woman! I thank God for her! Praise God for her strength!
Praise God for your courage and strength to say the truth. The love of the world is enemity with God. We Christians voluntarily forget that grieve the Holy Spirit. Your hardships remind me of David who ran away from king Saul and lived in the wilderness for so many years, even though he was anointed as King of Israel by prophet Samuel. There is purpose behind our pain and sufferings to mould and teach us to be a useful vessel for the Lord. That's why Apostle Paul says that "we boast in our sufferings". The Lord bless and use you dear sister. Be strong and don't be worried. The Lord God is with you.
A lesson to learn is don’t be attracted to charisma but to character.
@@wednesdaycherenkov2633 I’m not blaming the victim at all but she said herself he had charisma and. she saw problems early on, it’s a lesson others can learn from her
@@wednesdaycherenkov2633 A better example would be if a female walked down a alley at night by herself and got raped. Would it be her fault NO let me say it again NO it wouldn’t be her fault but she did make a mistake.
@@wednesdaycherenkov2633 What that husband did was his fault not hers. Stop trying to argue with something I didn’t say because that’s SIN!!!!!!!
@@NTJ891 Improve your writing skills so you are more clear; your original post lacks clarity and nuance. Blaming others for misunderstanding you when you write poorly would be sin, would it not?
@@wednesdaycherenkov2633 Learn to read. She said she her husband had charisma and she saw things early on. NOTHING in my comment blames her for her husband’s actions NOTHING!!!!! Understand? However a lesson can be learned but unfortunately I think it’s impossible for you to learn your just an argumentative person.
Amazing. Let God be praised.
There is humility in every sentence and I appreciate this so much.
““Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them. “ ‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.”
Ezekiel 34:2-4, 10-12, 15-16 NIV
Wow !!! Thanks
Amen!! Back to the Bible!!
Amen! Shepherds are held to a higher standard!
This meant so much to me, thank you. I went through something similar, and haven't been back to church since. This helps me because someone beautiful like you also experienced this from church folks. It made me feel like I was not good enough to be with God's other children. But this is a confirmation to me that the rejection and mistreatment was not approved by God. It was not His heart for me. They totally missed Him there. God still has a plan for me, I am His daughter, and He can use me too.Bless you Naghmeh. Thank you for sharing❤
The 'idol' of marriage is strong wording. It is there for some but not for others. Her story is raw as well as exposing. I gotta wonder if God is allowing these certain preachers and ministries to dig themselves into the ground for a greater condemnation? I would like to fellowship with Naghmeh.
So powerful testimony. !❤ I love listening to her and her relationship with God
Beautiful testimony my sister,true servant of Christ
Praise the Lord for this woman of God! We are blessed by the message. God bless her and her family!!!❤❤❤
I remember every bit of this, I was so moved by Naghmeh’s testimony & binged watched all of her CZcams videos. I had been praying for her, their children & Saeed.
I could not wrap my head around the abuse & why it came out when he was still imprisoned, I did not understand why she did not wait until he was released. For some reason I thought it was going to cost him his life, that the US would stop helping him. That is not what happened at all. Everyone had turned on Naghmeh, Franklin Graham put her & her children in danger. Saeed wanted to get the children, and Franklin Graham flew him to Boise, Idaho.
It was all so confusing. She clearly is such a sweet sister in Christ & when the rest of her story was revealed you really saw how evil he really is.
He was not the only one who was evil, he shared a story that I believed & later proved to be true. They were sitting on the runway in Iran, Saeed asked the pilot why they were waiting. In the middle of the night President Obama delivered over a billion dollars in cash, Iran has enough uranium to make at 8-10 nuclear bombs. Thanks to President Obama. He also pushed hard to bring in all of the “refugees” all military age men. No women or children. We have over 11.4 million illegal immigrants in our country, terrorist infiltrated through out our country. The next attack will be within the US mark this date I said it to be true. It is time to wake up. The only good thing Saeed did was call out Obama for the traitor he is.
Iran also funded Hamas to attack Israel.
Welcome to the “bubble” called America!
Israel funded Hanas initially.
You are right about it all.
Beautiful female pastor God has a great plan for you my sister❤❤❤
Her prayer at age 9, and the events that led to its fulfillment ! Even out of the tears, secrecy and silent suffering, the Lord beautifully fulfilled His purpose. His ways are awesome!!
A great message that she spoke about the true believers. God bless you dear sister, preach it..
Thanks for this message Nagmeh, I believe this is a very important testimony for people to hear, to break down the idols we form in our minds and set our hearts on The Lord. Im trying to appreciate how hard this message was for you to share but I know that I can't truly. I do want you to know though that I found it deeply inspiring, your testimony has moved my heart and increased my understanding. Be blessed forever.
The husband is a classic narcissist - so thank GOD she has been released from this marital prison.
I m blessed by this message..God s speaking to me through this thanks sis.Nagmeh you are beautiful in and out ❤
Your story is not only directly relatable and answered questions in my heart/walk. May our Lord bless you - thank youxxx
The Lord is gracious and works in mysterious ways. Dear sister, i believe He was preparing a platform from which you can address abuse from an empathetic point in the christian church. It is a festering evil that needs to be addressed .
Nagmeh's story is almost a replica of thousands of other's stories.
She gave the true mark of a real follower of Jesus
Matthew 7
@julieroys Thank you so much for your time and effort in helping us all to see and heal from these subtle sorts of abuse! Thanks also for sharing this wonderful message!
Nagmeh is so rare.
Wonderful
This is incredible and inspiring!!
I remember praying for your ex-husband when your story first came out. I unwittingly prayed for a monster to be freed. And where is that cowardly fake pastor now? I'd like to rebuke him and Franklin Graham to their faces.
haShem knew ur heart
There are many many more demoniacs that r going to unhidden soon
Such a good story. Thank you for sharing.
“Not a lot of Christian media wanted to touch it.” 🥺😢😭 21:44
Church, if you’re still asking why people are leaving the Church, here is your answer. 22:00 23:09 23:27 25:09
24:22 “The cries of many have reached Me.” !!!!!!! “Every time I share about abuse, I get attacked.” 24:45 “I walked through being mistreated by the Church. That’s my story.” 24:57 “When you talk about it, you’re treated as untouchable.” 25:52
26:10 “I’m protecting you from wolves. They’re not touching you now because you’re talking about abuse.” 26:38 “It was pretty shocking going from very touchable…(to untouchable).”
26:55 “…You’re silenced by saying you’re bitter, you’re angry, you’re unforgiving.”
“When an institution becomes oppressive, it’s not doing the function it was supposed to do… If an institution falls apart, if an organization falls apart, if a marriage falls apart, it’s okay.” 28:05
LORD JESÚS bless you my sister
Calvary Chapel has really fallen apart after Pastor Chuck Smith passed away
Do you not know PastorJack Hibbs of Chino Hills, California?
When God is finished, no idols of man will be left. “The Golden Calf”. We forget the side of the Lord that he is jealous for us!
Wasn’t Calvary Chapel a mess when Chuck Smith was alive as well?
@@Maya-ig9kxNot at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa where Pastor Chuck Smith was the Pastor.
Thank you so much for sharing!
Amazing
The courage my fellow Christians have in Muslim countries
Wow
We Americans need to pray and stand up for Jesus name
Thank you for sharing!
Now, this is a church I would love to attend and be part of the flock
Thank you for sharing .I know what you went through.
Many do.
Also pray always. Keep your focus on him and He'll light your path. Her story strengthened my faith. God kept her from a predator husband.
This is a great message, and I appreciate everything Naghmeh has to say. My question is, why does God choose to deliver some people from long-term abusive situations, but not others? Why does God answer the prayers of some people, but not others?
God loves each of us so much that he treats us as unique individuals with different callings. The Gospels show Jesus saying in many different ways that the greatest blessings are reserved for those who are rewarded not in this life but in the next. There will be startling reversals in the next life. The eternal Lord is a God of justice.
You do recognize that we all have our will too, most people who are in abuses are there because of lies of Satan, it's not God who is keeping them bound. Like how many women who are abused that can just walk away and go start over, but they don't believe they can, so it's not God who is keeping them there
@@thulani2640 Your response shows a lack of understanding of the many complex reasons people are stuck in abusive situations with no way out. I live with chronic health issues, and am stuck because I don't have the financial resources to get out. I've prayed for God to help me get out for years, and so it is hard for me to hear stories of how God has helped other people get out of seemingly impossible situations.
@@janeylynn5934I understand
@janeylynn5934 Satan uses lies to keep people in this situation, you might not see that all the excuses you just mentioned are lies, the truth is faith without works is dead, if you truly believe that God is your father, and that he will never leave you or forsake you, he said do not worry about Money, that he will take care of you. If you just act on God word, you are using excuses to stay in that situation, and those excuses are lies from Satan, meditate the word so you know the truth
I have often said that institutions will "circle the wagons" when one person has been hurt because there are so many people dependent on the institution for their employment or prestige.
The idea that we sail throughout our christian walk without trouble should be told more today. Jesus said that we will have trouble in this world but to look to him always. It's a hard road at times.
You are jewel in Jesus’s crown. What a blessing from God you are to the church of Jesus Christ and the lost.
According to scripture Matthew 5 , Luke 16, Nagmeh can’t get remarried because saeed is still alive even though he may have remarried and is an adulterer if in fact he got married after the divorce. However this biblical teaching is rejected by most churchgoers as divorced christians whose former spouse is still alive, they don’t try to reunite as is commanded otherwise the divorced spouse becomes defiled once remarriage takes place! I pray I never find myself in such a circumstance!!!
She was suffering abuse, and he committed adultery multiple times during their marriage, so it's Biblical grounds for divorce.
Adultery is grounds for divorce. However, you can never remarry if the ex spouse is still alive. What God puts together let no man put asunder. God hates divorce
@@dgiintl can you give the Bible verses where they can not remarry again? I would appreciate it.
@@jessahgase6919 LK 16:`18
@@jessahgase6919- 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 and 1 Corinthians 7:39 and Romans 7:2. read the words of Jesus on this in mark and Luke and Matt.
Paul and Jesus say same thing.
Only death breaks the marriage covenant.
God bless!
Thank you for exposing the wolves in sheep clothes!
Wolves
I understand this .
Luke 14:26 "if anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple".
Oh how I loved Naghmeh because she loved the Lord and I deeply admire her courage and early ministry, however, she wasn't willing to fulfill the conditions of this scripture as a disciple.
She loved her children and her life beyond the martyrdom of loosing them to a bad husband whose testimony of you both after the struggle should have brought uncountable souls to Christ even if you'll have to loose your earthly temporal life in the process in order to win Christ and make Him known to many whom God had graciously turned their hearts towards you.
The ministry of sharing an abusive relationship story across border is really not the ministry God intended for you my dear, you were targeted by satan to loose your original calling and to arouse resentment amongst women who should have patiently endured the persecution of bad marriage as long as it was God allowing them to go through it, but because you hadn't died to yourself and your reputation as a woman who needs love and human dignity, that ministry went down the drain.
I pray for your restoration early and the help of the Spirit.
We will change with peace Iran.I love Iran.
Cover each and every one who tolerates abuse by your blood Lord and by your compassion let us break free and know our purpose..Jesus has a plan!
Does anyone have her contact info?
There’s a lot about her on the internet and looks like she is on FB, instagram and X. I didn’t find an email or anything.
franklin graham....well, what can you say.........and 'celebrity pastors'....same.
He’s not a “celebrity pastor,” I think he underestimated the severity of the abuse. He meant well but I think he made a mistake here.
@@Nameless-pt6oj who? franklin? he is the beneficiary of billy's 'fortune' amassed.....he thinks we care who he 'endorses'.....the epitome of 'its gone to your head, frank'
@@Nameless-pt6ojHe knew all about the abuse. He deliberately ignored it.
Helo my guys good morning ❤❤
Actually when it comes to the church , the gates of hell will not prevail against it. God will take care of His church, not every brick and mortar church perhaps but His church will prevail by His strength and power, not ours.
To make things clear, marriage is not an “institution” but is a covenant. A covenant is very different from an institution. That being said, she was married to an unbelieving narcissist and rightly has moved on and is no longer in covenant with him
A biblical marriage is not what she experienced.
Luke 14:26 "if anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he 'cannot' be My disciple".
Oh how I loved Naghmeh because she loved the Lord and I deeply admire her courage and early ministry, however, she wasn't willing to fulfill the conditions of this scripture as a disciple.
She loved her children and her life beyond the martyrdom of loosing them to a bad husband whose testimony of you both after the struggle should have brought uncountable souls to Christ even if you'll have to loose your earthly temporal life in the process in order to win Christ and make Him known to many whom God had graciously turned their hearts towards you.
The ministry of sharing an abusive relationship story across border is really not the ministry God intended for you my dear, you were targeted by satan to loose your original calling and to arouse resentment amongst women who should have patiently endured the persecution of bad marriage as long as it was God allowing them to go through it, but because you hadn't died to yourself and your reputation as a woman who needs love and human dignity, that ministry went down the drain.
I pray for your restoration early and the help of the Spirit.
He was absolutely a gaslighter and Narcissist.
Iranian men have different standards.
@@susannabonke8552
gaslighting is not a standard, is an abuse! A Narcissist is an abuser, not a "Man"! Iranian or non-Iranian, doesn't matter.
Not knowing what mac arther did ?
They said he covered up abused in his church, for one of the pastors in his church, but that was years ago. I don't know if it's true or not, I don't want to spread lies, i am just sharing the accusations
Dearest Naghmeh check Lashonra against your husband
Share Yeshua and hear what He says everything you say must align with His Word that became flesh
This is a very confused teaching even though I can see she is sincere but the Bible says God hates divorce. We divorce because our heart is hard. She is confuse by her own experience. Our pride gets between the obedient to the Word of God and our own ideas. However, the Bible is clear that a Christian does not need to endure abuse in marriage.
She needs go stop doing that for her own mental health. May be she will do better preaching the God News of Christ to the lost.
So you "received" extra-biblical revelation, Naghmeh? I thought the canon of Scripture is already closed⁉ And the revelation that you received sounds different from what is in the Bible, such as 🔴Malachi 2:16 •“For I hate divorce,” says Yahweh, the God of Israel ...• and 🔵Matthew 19:4-8 •And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.”• By the way, have you ever read Proverbs 30:6? 👉 •Do not add to His words lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar.• I don't think that revelation was from Yahweh--the One True God. It seems to me that it was from the father of lies that Julie Roys has been serving (at least) for the past years. 🐍🐲
Wow! Triggered much? Your response reveals your heart is as hard as a rock! Review the fruits of the spirit. Didn’t see any of those evident in your comment. Most likely, you’re very religious but not saved.
The 👍 is just so you’d know you got a response. I tried a 👎 but it didn’t show up.
Seems like you've got the letter of the law down pat. Can't sense much of the Spirit though...
America has no concept of the religion of Islam. I recommend that person take a fun filled vacation or cruise to Iran.