Tortured for Christ, written by Richard Wurmbrand, is a thought-provoking book on the persecution of Christians in Romania under Communism. Communism is based on materialistic, humanistic, secularistic, and atheistic views of life and history. Christianity affirms that God is the Creator and Sustainer, has infinite power and love, and views truth as absolute. Communism’s historical context, the book Tortured for Christ, and the ever-prevalent persecution of Christians all point to the fact that Communism and Christianity are incompatible.
Communism’s historical context is far-reaching. Communism began to influence Romania after the Paris Peace Treaty was signed in 1947. Romanian education became socialist and private schools were controlled …show more content…
The carpenter prayed for his whole life to win a Jew for Christ. One day in 1938, Richard Wurmbrand, and his wife Sabina arrived in the village where the carpenter lived. As they were Jews, the carpenter saw this as an answer to his prayers. He led both Richard and Sabina to Christ. After his salvation, Richard became a pastor. Seven years later , in 1945, Richard and Sabina attended the "Congress of Cults" where thousands of religious leaders stood up and said that Communism was good, and then swore loyalty to the new regime. Sabina told Richard to "wipe the shame from the face of Jesus" (torturedforchrist.com). Richard went up in front of over 4,000 people and proclaimed their duty was to glorify God, and not the Communist Regime. One cold winter day in 1948, while on his way to church, Wurmbrand was kidnapped by the Secret Police. He was immediately placed in solitary confinement and designated “Prisoner No. 1.” Sabina was arrested two years later for continued work in the underground church. She was forced to work in a labor camp on the Danube Canal. While Richard and Sabina were in prison, their young son, Mihai, was left to fend for himself. In 1953, after three years of forced labor and horrible living conditions, Sabina was released from the prison camp and immediately returned to work in the underground church. She was told that her husband had died in prison. …show more content…
Nine out of the top ten worst countries for Christians are communist. Over 75% of people live in countries with severe religious restrictions (opendoorsusa.org). Every month 322 Christians are killed, 214 churches and Christian properties are destroyed, and 772 forms of violence are committed against Christians just because of their faith in Jesus (opendoorsusa.org). Christians in over 60 countries are persecuted for their faith every day (opendoorsusa.org). The Bible has lots to say about the persecution of Christians. The bible clearly says that Christians will be persecuted. Matthew 24:9 says “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake” (ESV). This means that people will be persecuted just because they follow Jesus. Another thing that the Bible says is that you should be kind to those that persecute you. An example of this is Romans 12:14 which says “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” (ESV). Another verse that supports this is Matthew 5:44 that says “…Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (ESV). Christians also need to take a stand against persecution. Hebrews 13:13 says “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body” (ESV). I Corinthians 12:26 says “If one
Communism’s historical context is far-reaching. Communism began to influence Romania after the Paris Peace Treaty was signed in 1947. Romanian education became socialist and private schools were controlled …show more content…
The carpenter prayed for his whole life to win a Jew for Christ. One day in 1938, Richard Wurmbrand, and his wife Sabina arrived in the village where the carpenter lived. As they were Jews, the carpenter saw this as an answer to his prayers. He led both Richard and Sabina to Christ. After his salvation, Richard became a pastor. Seven years later , in 1945, Richard and Sabina attended the "Congress of Cults" where thousands of religious leaders stood up and said that Communism was good, and then swore loyalty to the new regime. Sabina told Richard to "wipe the shame from the face of Jesus" (torturedforchrist.com). Richard went up in front of over 4,000 people and proclaimed their duty was to glorify God, and not the Communist Regime. One cold winter day in 1948, while on his way to church, Wurmbrand was kidnapped by the Secret Police. He was immediately placed in solitary confinement and designated “Prisoner No. 1.” Sabina was arrested two years later for continued work in the underground church. She was forced to work in a labor camp on the Danube Canal. While Richard and Sabina were in prison, their young son, Mihai, was left to fend for himself. In 1953, after three years of forced labor and horrible living conditions, Sabina was released from the prison camp and immediately returned to work in the underground church. She was told that her husband had died in prison. …show more content…
Nine out of the top ten worst countries for Christians are communist. Over 75% of people live in countries with severe religious restrictions (opendoorsusa.org). Every month 322 Christians are killed, 214 churches and Christian properties are destroyed, and 772 forms of violence are committed against Christians just because of their faith in Jesus (opendoorsusa.org). Christians in over 60 countries are persecuted for their faith every day (opendoorsusa.org). The Bible has lots to say about the persecution of Christians. The bible clearly says that Christians will be persecuted. Matthew 24:9 says “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake” (ESV). This means that people will be persecuted just because they follow Jesus. Another thing that the Bible says is that you should be kind to those that persecute you. An example of this is Romans 12:14 which says “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” (ESV). Another verse that supports this is Matthew 5:44 that says “…Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (ESV). Christians also need to take a stand against persecution. Hebrews 13:13 says “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body” (ESV). I Corinthians 12:26 says “If one