Book Review - Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand

Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

You should read this if: You're willing to be challenged by the memoir of a man who has suffered much for Christ along with countless others. Also, if you need encouragement that God is alive and working.

You should not read this if: You're looking for a bigger-picture Christian historical accounts.

Summary

Tortured for Christ is a rightfully a classic - it's short and easy to read (the writing, not the subject material). Not only does Wurmbrand recount his ministry and suffering, he challenges the free church to love and care for our brothers and sisters in persecuted nations. Personally, accounts of the faithfulness of saints always stir the heart. In particular Wurmbrand's intention of directing attention to others is obvious, as he highlights the faithfulness of the nameless Christians who now are adorned with a crown of life.

The atrocities are great, but love is greater. Perhaps the most astonishing aspect presented is the love and forgiveness portrayed by Christians. Reading the book, I could feel my own anger well up within me, and God's protection over the souls of the believers truly surpasses human understanding. Praise God for his miraculous work of his salvation and his presence with his people. While I pray that I would have the faith of those Christians, I know it came at the cost of deep suffering. It is truly of great encouragement, however, to know that God truly is enough and graciously provides for his children for all circumstances.

Some Christians may reflexively be repulsed by some his strong political stances, but we should do some soul-searching and reflect on his challenge - that the suffering of peoples under our foreign or domestic policy is a Christian responsibility (which also is not dissimilar from arguments in McCaulley's Reading While Black). Have we wealthy, Western Christians used "separation of church and state" as an excuse, an absolution of responsibility?

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Quotes: 

“Bible verses remain true, even if the devil quotes them.”

“The Bible he gave me was written not so much in words but in flames of love, fired by his prayers.”

“Men are responsible before God, not only for their personal sins but also for their national sins. The tragedy of all the captive nations is a responsibility on the hearts of American and British Christians. Americans must know that they have at times unwittingly assisted the Russians in imposing on us a regime murder of and terror.”

“Ask yourself if it is not also your sin that such tragedies occur, that such Christian families are alone and not helped by you who are free.”

“My only prayer repeated again and again was "Jesus, I love you.”

“The value of the Bibles smuggled in by these means cannot be understood by an American or an English Christian who “swims” in Bibles.”