For the crime of publicly saying that communism and Christianity are incompatible, Pastor Richard Wurmbrand was imprisoned by the communist regime of Romania in 1948. It’s said that he described the pain of his torture in these words, “There are not words to describe the pain.”
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Rod Dreher writes about the stories of Soviet-era communism oppression and the future of “soft totalitarianism” in Live Not By Lies. View the book on Amazon here.
Warning. The following content are true stories of torture and violent acts, which may be graphic in nature.
The tortures were sometimes horrible. I prefer not to speak too much about those through which
Richard Wurmbrand, Tortured For Christ.
I have passed; it is too painful. When I do, I cannot sleep at night.
Pastor Richard Wurmbrand
His captors filed his arrest details in their records under a fake name so noone could trace his whereabouts. Wurmbrand would not be found and released until being ransomed in 1964 for $10,000.
Richard Wurmbrand was born in Bucharest, Romania. After being released from prison in 1964, Richard authored many books and founded the international organization, Voice Of The Martyrs which helps persecuted Christians.
Richard Wurmbrand Torture By Communists
Pastor Richard Wurmbrand witnessed the invasion of the Soviet Red Army into his country of Romania in late August, 1944.
One of the first actions the Soviets took was to elect communists to the Romanian government, which they did in droves. There was little resistance.
But one pastor did resist, publicly renouncing the Soviet’s legitimacy, stating that “communism and Christianity are not compatible”. Wurmbrand’s words were broadcast to the entire country, and he would pay dearly for this transgression against the new government.
My wife and I were present at this congress. Sabina told me, “Richard, stand up and wash away
Richard Wurmbrand, Tortured For Christ.
this shame from the face of Christ! They are spitting in His face.” I said to her, “If I do so, you
lose your husband.” She replied, “I don’t wish to have a coward as a husband.”
Then I arose and spoke to this congress, praising not the murderers of Christians, but Jesus
Christ, stating that our loyalty is due first to Him. The speeches at this congress were broadcast
and the whole country could hear proclaimed from the rostrum of the Communist Parliament the
message of Christ! Afterward I had to pay for this, but it was worthwhile.
Wurmbrand witnessed the torture of others who had been imprisoned for their Christian faith in communist Romania.
A pastor by the name of Florescu was tortured with red-hot iron pokers and with knives. He was
Richard Wurmbrand, Tortured For Christ.
beaten very badly. Then starving rats were driven into his cell through a large pipe. He could not
sleep because he had to defend himself all the time. If he rested a moment, the rats would attack
him.
If rats attacking you all night was not enough, this same pastor was forced to stand for days, to wear chains with nails pointing inwards towards flesh, and to witness the brutal murder of his own young son by the hands of his captors.
He was forced to stand for two weeks, day and night. The Communists wished to compel him to
Richard Wurmbrand, Tortured For Christ.
betray his brethren, but he resisted steadfastly. Eventually, they brought his fourteen-year-old
son to the prison and began to whip the boy in front of his father, saying that they would
continue to beat him until the pastor said what they wished him to say. The poor man was half
mad. He bore it as long as he could, then he cried to his son, “Alexander, I must say what they
want! I can’t bear your beating anymore!” The son answered, “Father, don’t do me the injustice of
having a traitor as a parent. Withstand! If they kill me, I will die with the words, ‘Jesus and my
fatherland.'” The Communists, enraged, fell upon the child and beat him to death, with blood
spattered over the walls of the cell. He died praising God. Our dear brother Florescu was never
the same after seeing this.
The communist regime of Romania in 1944 wanted Wurmbrand to renounce Christ and recant his public words that criticized communism. He never gave in, crediting his perseverance as his duty to witness his faith to his fellow prisoners.
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