Richard Wurmbrand

In God´s Underground

Being a Christian under Romania´s Communist regime.

This man is one of the most intelligent men I have read about. An intellectual and a hero of the Christian faith. A man of integrity. Blessed with a long and beautiful life as a reward for all his pains while spreading the Good News in Romania during the long Communist dictatorship years in prisons, being tortured physically and mentally. And never giving up his faith, which was the prize the communists were hunting. It was amazing to see how many, almost all, the communists who had a chance of talking intimately with Mr Wurmbrand would eventually open up their hearts and crack. That tells a lot for the influence of evil spirits on people, people whose souls are naturally -in their origin- Christian, as Wurmbrand says.

A man well-learned, who can talk of science, Shakespeare, Dostoyevsky, ancient history, or almost anything without hesitation, who can give a quick and wise response to any questioner who's trying to ridicule the faith. The book is full of lessons on how to live as "sheep in the midst of wolves... therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." (Mat. 10:16) This was Mr Wurmbrand.

Reading him is learning to be wiser. There is priceless advice on how to face situations that can compromise your faith in Christ. It is not an idealistic, theological treatise, it's simple and handy advice on how to respond to the test of atheists.

Here's one pearl of his philosophy: "A real disciple does not seek gifts but Christ Himself, and so is ready for self sacrifice to the end. They were not followers of Jesus, but customers."

Since the persecutions of Christians in ancient Rome, there has been no such hellish scenario up to the Communist era in the 20th century. The book is not pessimistic though. It is a wonderful story of victory of faith against all odds. When faith in the Christian God of Israel was put to the test real bad, and boy did it come out alive!