Professional Documents
Culture Documents
FOR
CHRIST
Dedication
To the Rev$ W$ Stuart Harris* <enera) Director of the Euro"ean Christian 8ission in London* 1ho* u"on m# re)ease from "rison in 456,* came to Romania as a messenger from Christians in the West$ Entering our house ver# )ate at night* after having ta!en man# "recautionar# measures* he brought us 1ords of )ove and comfort as 1e)) as re)ief for fami)ies of Christian mart#rs$ On beha)f of these faithfu) be)ievers* I hereb# e%"ress our gratitude$
Contents
=OREWORD
4 & ( , .
The Russians> 9vid Thirst for Christ ?<reater Love Hath :o 8an@ Ransom and Re)ease for Wor! in the West Defeating Communism With the Love of Christ The Invincib)e* Wides"read Underground Church
6 '
EPILO<UE
=OREWORD
?THE 89RTAR@
Richard Wurmbrand said* Tortured for Christ has no )iterar# va)ue$ It 1as 1ritten in
on)# three da#s short)# after m# re)ease from "rison$ ut it 1as 1ritten 1ith "en and tears$ 9nd for some reason* <od has chosen to b)ess this 1riting and use it for His "ur"ose$@ In this (-th anniversar# edition of Tortured for Christ* )itt)e has been changed$ The origina) testimon# of a "astor>s fourteen/#ear im"risonment under a Romanian dictatorshi" has been )eft intact$ Over the #ears* Tortured for Christ has been trans)ated into 6. )anguages and mi))ions of co"ies have been distributed throughout the 1or)d$ We are continua))# amaBed at ho1 this testimon# has been used of <od to strengthen His od#$ We have discovered that in this od#* victor#* courage* resi)ience* and tenacit# !no1 no borders* no s!in co)or* no nationa)it#* but are given e;ua))# to a)) b# the Ho)# S"irit$ It is ver# curious that Chinese "astors* 9merican house1ives* and 9rab ta%i drivers can a)) be ins"ired and encouraged b# a boo! b# a Romanian Ce1$ 0ietnamese house church )eaders once shared 1ith me ho1 the# "re"ared their Christian f)oc!s to survive and gro1 under the e%"ected Communist ta!eover of South 0ietnam in the 45'-s$ The# distributed the 0ietnamese trans)ation of Tortured for Christ as a surviva) guideboo!* a testimon# of an overcoming faith in incredib)# difficu)t circumstances$ We a)so receive )etters from man# 1ho have entered a "ersona) re)ationshi" 1ith Cesus Christ from reading this boo!* rea)iBing that the )ove of Christ is a "o1erfu) rea)it#$ In this sense* these "ages do not constitute a "o)itica) attac! but "resent a mart#r>s gos"e) ?1itness$@ 8an# toda# be)ieve that a mart#r is sim")# someone 1ho dies for his faith$ Unfortunate)#* b# this definition 1e have )ost the true significance and de"th of mart#rdom$ St$ 9ugustine once stated* ?The cause* not the suffering* ma!es a genuine mart#r$@ In his ")a# Murder in the Cathedral* T$ S$ E)iot describes a mart#r as one ?1ho has become an instrument of <od* 1ho has lost his 1i)) in the 1i)) of <od* not )ost it but found it* for he has found freedom in submission to <od$ The mart#r no )onger desires an#thing for himse)f* not even the g)or# of mart#rdom$@ 9ccording to the origina) <ree!* ?mart#r@ means ?1itness$@ The 1riter of Hebre1s states that ?1e are surrounded b# so great a c)oud of 1itnesses Dmart#rsE@ FHebG4&24H* and Cesus instructs us in 9ctG427* ?Aou sha)) be 1itnesses Dmart#rsE to 8e in Cerusa)em* and in a)) Cudea and Samaria* and to the end of the earth$@ The :e1 Testament mart#r not on)# "ersona))# testified to the truth and "o1er of Cesus Christ* but 1as instructed to ta!e that 1itness to others* regard)ess of the cost$ Later in the boo! of 9cts* 1e read about the stoning of Ste"hen* ma!ing him the first to "a# the u)timate "rice for that 1itness$ It is at this time that the 1ord martyr too! on a much stronger meaning as one 1ho not on)# is a 1itness but as one 1ho is 1i))ing to give his )ife or to be martyred for that cause$ The ver# truth to 1hich 1e bear 1itness comes at a great costIit can cost us our re"utation* "o"u)arit#* and "restige$ It ma# even cost us our fami)ies* friends* or our )ives$ ut the message of our 1itness is so "o1erfu) that 1e are e%horted to ?)a# aside ever# 1eight* and the sin 1hich so easi)# ensnares us@ FHebG4&24H* in order to run 1ith endurance the ?race@ that <od has set before us in our )ife$
The message of Christ>s ?1itnesses@ is a)so not confined to "h#sica) borders or )imitations$ It transcends an# )abe) or bo% 1e ma# deem a""ro"riate$ 8art#rdom is not de"ressing* but necessar# for movement into a "ra#erfu) understanding of g)oba) Christian rea)it#$$$necessar# in order to receive that 1hich has been ?granted on beha)f of Christ@I?to suffer for His sa!e@ FPhiG42&5H$ The faith of these 1itnesses* or mart#rs* cannot be contro))ed or !i))ed$ It can on)# ")ant seeds to further <od>s !ingdom be#ond ?Cerusa)em* and in a)) Cudea and Samaria* and to the end of the earth@ F9ctG427H* as their testimonies bear 1itness to the truth of Cesus Christ$ Christ said* ?On this roc! I 1i)) bui)d 8# church* and the gates of Hades sha)) not "revai) against it@ F8atG46247H$ It is through this understanding that I have come to !no1 Pastor Richard Wurmbrand as one 1hose )ife ref)ects that of a mart#r$ :ot because of death* but because he bears 1itness to the )ife of Christ and has undergone sufferings to the "oint that death 1ou)d have been "referred to )ife itse)f$ Tortured for Christ not on)# revea)s the facts surrounding a man 1ho has suffered at the hands of a bruta) Communist regime* it revea)s the faith and "erseverance of a man tota))# committed to Christ and his desire to share the truth 1ith others$ It is this truth that comes a)ive through each "age* transforming the thin!ing of Western Christians b# revea)ing that throughout histor#* and even toda#* Christians endure horrific sufferings and even die for their witness to the )ife and "o1er of Cesus Christ$ It is our "ra#er that this testimon# )ives on* that 1e ma# come to a dee"er !no1)edge of our re)ationshi" 1ith Cesus Christ and our dut# on this earth$ That 1e ma# come to understand the true as"ects of the mart#r>s )ife* and if b# <od>s 1i))* 1e 1ou)d be 1i))ing to be that witness$ Tom White US9 Director* The 0oice of the 8art#rs
CH9PTER 4
eing brought u" in a fami)# in 1hich no re)igion 1as recogniBed* I received no re)igious education as a chi)d$ 9s the resu)t of a bitter chi)dhood* 1hich inc)uded !no1ing "overt# in the difficu)t #ears of Wor)d War I* at age fourteen I 1as as convinced an atheist as the Communists are toda#$ I had read atheistic boo!s* and it 1as not Just that I did not be)ieve in <od or ChristII hated these notions* considering them harmfu) for the human mind$ So I gre1 u" in bitterness to1ard re)igion$ ut as I understood after1ard* I had the grace to be one of the chosen of <od for reasons that I don>t understand$ These reasons had nothing to do 1ith m# character* because m# character 1as ver# bad$ 9)though I 1as an atheist* something unreasonab)e a)1a#s attracted me to churches$ I found it difficu)t to "ass a church 1ithout entering it$ Ho1ever* I never understood 1hat 1as ha""ening in these churches$ I )istened to the sermons* but the# didn>t a""ea) to m# heart$ I had an image of <od as a master 1hom I shou)d have to obe#$ I hated this 1rong image of <od that I had in m# mind* but I 1ou)d have )i!ed ver# much to !no1 that a )oving heart e%isted some1here in the center of this universe$ Since I had !no1n fe1 of the Jo#s of chi)dhood and #outh* I )onged that there shou)d be a )oving heart beating for me* too$ I convinced m#se)f that there 1as no <od* but I 1as sad that such a <od of )ove did not e%ist$ Once* in m# inner s"iritua) conf)ict* I entered a Catho)ic church$ I sa1 "eo")e !nee)ing and sa#ing something$ I thought* will !neel near them so can hear what they say and re"eat the "rayers to see if something ha""ens# The# said a "ra#er to the ho)# virgin* ?Hai) 8ar#* fu)) of grace$@ I re"eated the 1ords after them again and againK I )oo!ed at the statue of the virgin 8ar#* but nothing ha""ened$ I 1as ver# sad about it$ One da#* being a ver# convinced atheist* I "ra#ed to <od$ 8# "ra#er 1as something )i!e this2 ?<od* I !no1 sure)# that Aou do not e%ist$ ut if "erchance Aou e%ist* 1hich I contest* it is not m# dut# to be)ieve in AouK it is Aour dut# to revea) Aourse)f to me$@ I 1as an atheist* but atheism did not give "eace to m# heart$ During this time of inner turmoi)* an o)d car"enter in a vi))age high u" in the mountains of Romania "ra#ed )i!e this2 ?8# <od* I have served #ou on earth and I 1ish to have m# re1ard on earth as 1e)) as in heaven$ 9nd m# re1ard shou)d be that I shou)d not die before I bring a Ce1 to Christ* because Cesus 1as from the Ce1ish "eo")e$ ut I am "oor* o)d* and sic!$ I cannot go around and see! a Ce1$ In m# vi))age there are none$ ring a Ce1 into m# vi))age and I 1i)) do m# best to bring him to Christ$@ Something irresistib)e dre1 me to that vi))age$ I had no reason to go there$ Romania has t1e)ve thousand vi))ages* but I 1ent to that one$ Seeing I 1as a Ce1* the car"enter courted me as never a beautifu) gir) had been courted$ He sa1 in me the ans1er to his "ra#er and gave me a ib)e to read$ I had read the ib)e out of cu)tura) interest man# times before$ ut the ib)e he gave me 1as another !ind of ib)e$ 9s he to)d me some time )ater* he and his 1ife "ra#ed together for hours for m# conversion and that of m# 1ife$ The ib)e he gave me 1as 1ritten not so much in 1ords* but in f)ames of )ove fired b# his "ra#ers$ I cou)d bare)# read it$ I cou)d on)# 1ee" over it* com"aring m# bad )ife 1ith the )ife of CesusK m# im"urit# 1ith His righteousnessK m# hatred 1ith His )oveIand He acce"ted me as one of His o1n$
Soon thereafter* m# 1ife 1as converted$ She brought other sou)s to Christ$ Those other sou)s brought sti)) more sou)s to Christ* and so a ne1 Lutheran congregation arose in Romania$ Then came the :aBis under 1hom 1e suffered much$ In Romania* :aBism too! the form of a dictatorshi" of e%treme orthodo% e)ements that "ersecuted Protestant grou"s as 1e)) as the Ce1s$ Even before m# forma) ordination and before I 1as "re"ared for the ministr#* I 1as the )eader of this church* being the founder of it$ I 1as res"onsib)e for it$ 8# 1ife and I 1ere arrested severa) times* beaten* and hau)ed before :aBi Judges$ The :aBi terror 1as great* but on)# a taste of 1hat 1as to come under the Communists$ 8# son* 8ihai* had to assume a non/Ce1ish name to "revent his death$ ut these :aBi times had one great advantage$ The# taught us that "h#sica) beatings cou)d be endured* and that the human s"irit 1ith <od>s he)" can survive horrib)e tortures$ The# taught us the techni;ue of secret Christian 1or!* 1hich 1as a "re"aration for a far 1orse ordea) to comeIan ordea) that 1as Just before us$
8en are res"onsib)e before <od not on)# for their "ersona) sins* but a)so for their nationa) sins$ The traged# of a)) the ca"tive nations is a res"onsibi)it# on the hearts of 9merican and ritish Christians$ 9mericans must !no1 that the# have at times un1itting)# assisted the Russians in im"osing u"on us a regime of murder and terror$ 9s a "art of the od# of Christ* 9mericans must atone for this b# he)"ing the ca"tive "eo")es come to the )ight of Christ$
Once the Communists came to "o1er* the# s!i))fu))# used the means of seduction to1ard the Church$ The )anguage of )ove and the )anguage of seduction are the same$ The one 1ho 1ishes a gir) for a 1ife and the one 1ho 1ishes her for on)# a night both sa# the 1ords* ?I )ove #ou$@ Cesus has to)d us to discern bet1een the )anguage of seduction and the )anguage of )ove* and to !no1 the 1o)ves c)ad in shee"s!in from the rea) shee"$ Unfortunate)#* 1hen the Communists came to "o1er* thousands of "riests* "astors* and ministers did not !no1 ho1 to discern bet1een the t1o voices$ The Communists convened a congress of a)) Christian bodies in our Par)iament bui)ding$ There 1ere four thousand "riests* "astors* and ministers of a)) denominationsI and these men of <od chose Cose"h Sta)in as honorar# "resident of this congress$ 9t the same time he 1as "resident of the Wor)d 8ovement of the <od)ess and a mass murderer of Christians$ One after another* bisho"s and "astors arose and dec)ared that communism and Christianit# are fundamenta))# the same and cou)d coe%ist$ One minister after another said 1ords of "raise to1ard communism and assured the ne1 government of the )o#a)t# of the Church$ 8# 1ife and I 1ere "resent at this congress$ Sabina to)d me* ?Richard* stand u" and 1ash a1a# this shame from the face of ChristL The# are s"itting in His face$@ I said to her* ?If I do so* #ou )ose #our husband$@ She re")ied* ?I don>t 1ish to have a co1ard as a husband$@ Then I arose and s"o!e to this congress* "raising not the murderers of Christians* but Cesus Christ* stating that our )o#a)t# is due first to Him$ The s"eeches at this congress 1ere broadcast and the 1ho)e countr# cou)d hear "roc)aimed from the rostrum of the Communist Par)iament the message of ChristL 9fter1ard I had to "a# for this* but it 1as 1orth1hi)e$ Orthodo% and Protestant church )eaders com"eted 1ith each other in #ie)ding to communism$ 9n Orthodo% bisho" "ut the hammer and sic!)e on his robes and as!ed his "riests to no )onger ca)) him ?Aour <race*@ but ?Comrade isho"$@ Priests )i!e Patrascoiu and Rosianu 1ere more direct$ The# became officers of the secret "o)ice$ Ra""* de"ut# bisho" of the Lutheran church in Romania* began to teach in the theo)ogica) seminar# that <od had given three reve)ations2 one through 8oses* one through Cesus* and the third through Sta)in* the )ast su"erseding the one before$ I attended the Congress of the a"tists in the to1n of ResitaIa congress under the Red f)ag* 1here the anthem of the Soviet Union had been sung 1ith ever#one standing$ The "resident of the a"tists "raised Sta)in as a great teacher of the ib)e and "roc)aimed that Sta)in did nothing but fu)fi)) the commandments of <odL It must be understood that the true a"tists* 1hom I )ove ver# much* did not agree and 1ere ver# faithfu) to Christ* suffering much$ Ho1ever* the Communists ?e)ected@ their )eaders and the a"tists had no choice but to acce"t them$ The same condition e%ists toda# in Communist nations among the ver# to" re)igious )eadershi" of the ?officia)@ 4 church$ Those 1ho became servants of communism instead of Christ began to denounce the brethren 1ho did not Join them$
Dfootnote2 4 The officia) church is one registered 1ith and contro))ed b# the government$ 8embershi" of officia) churches in man# tota)itarian s#stems toda# usua))# numbers )ess than ten "ercent of the Christian "o"u)ation$ The others "refer to 1orshi" ?underground$@E Cust as Christians in Russia created an Underground Church after their revo)ution* the coming to "o1er of communism and the betra#a) b# man# officia) church )eaders com"e))ed us to )i!e1ise create in Romania an Underground Church2 one faithfu) to evange)iBe* "reach the gos"e)* and reach chi)dren for Christ$ The Communists forbade a)) this and the officia) church com")ied$ Together 1ith others* I began an underground 1or!$ Out1ard)# I had a ver# res"ectab)e "ositionI"astor of the :or1egian Lutheran 8issionIthat served as a cover for m# rea) underground 1or!$ 9t the same time I re"resented the Wor)d Counci) of Churches in Romania$ FIn Romania 1e had not the s)ightest idea that this organiBation 1ou)d ever coo"erate 1ith the Communists$ 9t that time in our countr# it did nothing but re)ief 1or!$H These t1o tit)es gave me a ver# good standing before the authorities* 1ho did not !no1 of m# underground 1or!$ There 1ere t1o as"ects of this underground 1or!$ The first 1as our secret ministr# among Russian so)diers$ The second as"ect 1as our underground 1or! 1ith the ens)aved "eo")es of Romania$
I said to him* ?Let us "ra#L@ He did not !no1 ho1 to "ra#$ He did not !no1 our ?ho)#@ "hrases$ He fe)) on his !nees together 1ith me and his 1ords of "ra#er 1ere2 ?Oh <od* 1hat a fine cha" #ou areL If I 1ere Aou and Aou 1ere me* I 1ou)d never have forgiven Aou of Aour sins$ ut Aou are rea))# a ver# nice cha"L I )ove Aou 1ith a)) of m# heart$@ I thin! that a)) the ange)s in heaven sto""ed 1hat the# 1ere doing to )isten to this sub)ime "ra#er from a Russian officer$ The man had been 1on for ChristL In a sho"* I met a Russian ca"tain 1ith a )ad# officer$ The# 1ere bu#ing a)) !inds of things and had difficu)t# s"ea!ing to the sa)esman* 1ho did not understand Russian$ I offered to trans)ate for them and 1e became ac;uainted$ I invited them to )unch at our house$ efore beginning to eat* I to)d them* ?Aou are in a Christian house and 1e have the habit of "ra#ing$@ I said the "ra#er in Russian$ The# "ut do1n their for!s and !nives and 1ere no )onger interested in food$ Instead* the# as!ed ;uestion after ;uestion about <od* Christ* and the ib)e$ The# !ne1 nothing$ It 1as not eas# to ta)! to them$ I to)d them the "arab)e of the man 1ho had a hundred shee" and )ost one$ The# did not understand* as the# 1ere brain1ashed 1ith the Communist ideo)og#$ The# as!ed* ?Ho1 is it that he has a hundred shee"M Has not the Communist co))ective farm ta!en them a1a#M@ Then I said that Cesus is a !ing$ The# ans1ered* ?9)) the !ings have been bad men 1ho contro))ed the "eo")e* so Cesus must a)so be a dictator$@ When I to)d them the "arab)e of the 1or!ers in the vine#ard* the# said* ?We))* these did ver# 1e)) to rebe) against the o1ner of the vine#ard$ The vine#ard has to be)ong to the co))ective$@ Ever#thing 1as ne1 for them$ When I to)d them about the birth of Cesus* the# as!ed 1hat 1ou)d seem b)as"hemous to a Westerner* ?Was 8ar# the 1ife of <odM@ In ta)!ing 1ith them and man# others* I )earned that to "reach the gos"e) to the Russians* after so man# #ears of communism* 1e had to use an entire)# ne1 a""roach$ This truth a"")ies in man# different cu)tures$ The missionaries 1ho 1ent to Centra) 9frica had difficu)t# trans)ating the 1ords of Isaiah2 ?Though #our sins are )i!e scar)et* the# sha)) be 1hite as sno1@ FIsaG4247H$ :o one in Centra) 9frica had ever seen sno1* so the# had no 1ord for it$ The missionaries had to trans)ate* ?Aour sins 1i)) become 1hite as the !erne) of the coconut$@ So 1e had to trans)ate the gos"e) into the ?8ar%ist )anguage@ in order for them to identif# 1ith it$ It 1as something 1e cou)d not do b# ourse)ves* but the Ho)# S"irit did His 1or! through us$ The ca"tain and the )ad# officer 1ere converted on that da#$ Later* the# he)"ed us much in our underground ministr# to the Russians$ We secret)# "rinted and distributed among Russians man# thousands of <os"e)s and other Christian )iterature$ Through the converted Russian so)diers* 1e smugg)ed ib)es and ib)e "ortions into Russia$ We a)so used another techni;ue to get co"ies of <od>s Word into the hands of Russians$ The Russian so)diers had been fighting for severa) #ears and man# of them had chi)dren bac! home 1hom the# had not seen for a)) this time$ FThe Russians have a great fondness for chi)dren$H 8# son* 8ihai* and other chi)dren under ten #ears of age 1ou)d go to the Russian so)diers on the streets and in the "ar!s* carr#ing ib)es* <os"e)s* and other )iterature in their "oc!ets$ The Russian so)diers 1ou)d "at them on the head* ta)! to them )oving)#* thin!ing of their o1n chi)dren 1hom the# had not seen in #ears$ The so)diers 1ou)d give them choco)ate or cand#* and the chi)dren* in turn* 1ou)d give the so)diers somethingI ib)es and <os"e)s* 1hich the# eager)# acce"ted$ Often 1hat 1as too dangerous for us to do o"en)# our chi)dren did in com")ete safet#$ The# 1ere ?#oung missionaries@ to the Russians$ The resu)ts 1ere e%ce))ent$ 8an# Russian so)diers received the gos"e) this 1a# 1hen there 1as no other 1a# to give it to them$
arrac!s
We 1or!ed among the Russians not on)# b# individua) 1itnessing$ We 1ere ab)e to 1or! in sma)) grou" meetings as 1e))$ The Russians 1ere ver# fond of 1atches$ The# sto)e 1atches from ever#one$ The# 1ou)d sto" "eo")e on the street and demand that the# hand them over$ We 1ou)d see Russians 1ith severa) 1atches on each arm* and Russian 1omen officers 1ith a)arm c)oc!s hanging around their nec!s$ The# had never had 1atches before and cou)d not get enough of them$ Romanians 1ho 1ished to have a 1atch had to go to the barrac!s of the Soviet arm# to bu# a sto)en one* often bu#ing bac! their o1n 1atch$ So it 1as common for Romanians to enter the Russian barrac!s$ The Underground Church a)so used that "rete%tIof "urchasing 1atches from themIto give us entrance into their barrac!s$ The first time I "reached in a Russian barrac! 1as on the da# of St$ Pau) and St$ Peter* an Orthodo% feast$ I 1ent onto the mi)itar# base "retending to bu# a 1atch$ I "retended that one 1as too e%"ensive* another 1as too sma))* and another too big$ Severa) so)diers cro1ded around me* each offering me something to bu#$ Co!ing)# I as!ed them* ?9re an# of #ou named Pau) or PeterM@ Some 1ere$ Then I said* ?Do #ou !no1 that toda# is the da# 1hen #our Orthodo% church honors St$ Pau) and St$ PeterM@ FSome of the o)der Russians !ne1 it$H So I as!ed* ?Do #ou !no1 1ho Pau) and Peter 1ereM@ :o one !ne1* so I began to te)) them about Pau) and Peter$ One of the o)der Russian so)diers interru"ted me and said* ?Aou have not come to bu# 1atches$ Aou have come to te)) us about the faith$ Sit do1n here 1ith us and s"ea! to usL ut be ver# carefu)L We !no1 about 1hom to be1are$ These around me are a)) good men* but 1hen I "ut m# hand on #our !nee* #ou must ta)! on)# about 1atches$ When I remove m# hand* #ou ma# begin #our message again$@ Nuite a great cro1d of men 1as gathered around me and I to)d them about Pau) and Peter* about the Christ for 1hom Pau) and Peter died$ =rom time to time* someone 1ou)d a""roach in 1hom the# had no confidence$ The so)dier 1ou)d "ut his hand on m# !nee and I 1ou)d ta)! about 1atches$ When that man 1ent a1a#* I resumed "reaching about Christ$ This visit 1as re"eated numerous times 1ith the he)" of Russian Christian so)diers$ 8an# of their comrades found Christ and thousands of <os"e)s 1ere given out secret)#$ 9 number of our brothers and sisters in the Underground Church 1ere caught and heavi)# beaten for this* but the# didn>t betra# our organiBation$ During this 1or! 1e had the Jo# of meeting brethren from the Underground Church in Russia and hearing about their e%"eriences$ =irst of a))* 1e sa1 in them the ma!ings of great saints$ The# had "assed through so man# #ears of Communist indoctrination$ ut Just as a fish )ives in the sa)t# 1aters and !ee"s its meat s1eet* the# "assed through the Communist schoo)s and universities but had !e"t their sou)s c)ean and "ure in Christ$ These Russian Christians had such beautifu) sou)sL The# said* ?We !no1 that the star 1ith the hammer and sic!)e* 1hich 1e 1ear on our ca"s* is the star of the anti/Christ$@ The# said this 1ith great sorro1$ The# he)"ed us great)# to s"read the gos"e) among other Russian so)diers$ I can sa# that the# had a)) the Christian virtues* e%ce"t the virtue of Jo#$ This the# had on)# at conversion* then it disa""eared$ I thought about this a )ot$ Once I as!ed a a"tist* ?Ho1 is it that #ou !no1 no Jo#M@ He ans1ered* ?Ho1 can I be Jo#fu) 1hen I have to hide from the "astor of m# church that I am an earnest Christian* that I )ead a )ife of "ra#er* that I tr# to 1in sou)sM The "astor of the church is an informer of the secret "o)ice$ We are s"ied on one after another and the she"herds are those 1ho betra# the f)oc!$ There e%ists ver# dee" in our heart the Jo# of sa)vation* but this e%terna) g)adness that #ou haveI1e do not have it an#more$@
Christianit# has become dramatic 1ith us$ When Christians in free countries 1in a sou) for Christ* the ne1 be)iever ma# become a member of a ;uiet)# )iving church$ ut 1hen those in ca"tive nations 1in someone* 1e !no1 that he ma# have to go to "rison and that his chi)dren ma# become or"hans$ The Jo# of having brought someone to Christ is a)1a#s mi%ed 1ith this fee)ing that there is a "rice that must be "aid$ We had met an entire)# ne1 t#"e of ChristianIthe Christian of the Underground Church$ Here 1e had man# sur"rises$ 9s there are man# 1ho be)ieve the# are Christians and in rea)it# are not* 1e found that among the Russians there are man# 1ho be)ieve the# are atheists* but in rea)it# the# are not$ On a train* a Russian officer sat in front of me$ I had s"o!en to him about Christ for on)# a fe1 minutes 1hen he bro!e out 1ith a torrent of atheistic arguments$ Nuotations from 8ar%* Sta)in* 0o)taire* Dar1in* and others against the ib)e Just f)e1 from his mouth$ He gave me no o""ortunit# to contradict him$ He s"o!e for near)# an hour to convince me that there is no <od$ When he had finished* I as!ed him* ?If there is no <od* 1h# do #ou "ra# 1hen #ou are in troub)eM@ Li!e a thief sur"rised 1hi)e stea)ing* he re")ied* ?Ho1 do #ou !no1 that I "ra#M@ I did not a))o1 him to esca"e$ ?I as!ed m# ;uestion first$ I as!ed 1h# #ou "ra#$ P)ease ans1erL@ He bo1ed his head and ac!no1)edged* ?On the front* 1hen 1e 1ere encirc)ed b# the <ermans* 1e a)) "ra#edL We did not !no1 ho1 to do it$ So 1e said* O<od and s"irit of mother>@I1hich is sure)# a ver# good "ra#er in the sight of the One 1ho )oo!s to the heart$ I met a Russian cou")e* both scu)"tors$ When I s"o!e to them about <od* the# ans1ered* ?:o* <od does not e%ist$ We are be$boshni!iIgod)ess$ ut 1e 1i)) te)) #ou something interesting that ha""ened to us$ ?Once 1e 1or!ed on a statue of Sta)in$ During the 1or!* m# 1ife as!ed me* OHo1 about the thumbM If 1e did not have an o""osing thumbIif our fingers 1ere )i!e our toesI1e cou)d not ho)d a hammer* ma))et* too)* boo!* or "iece of bread$ Human )ife 1ou)d be im"ossib)e 1ithout this )itt)e thumb$ :o1* 1ho made the thumbM We both )earned 8ar%ism in schoo) and !no1 that heaven and earth e%ist b# themse)ves$ The# are not created b# <od$ So I have )earned and so I be)ieve$ ut if <od did not create heaven and earth* if He created on)# the thumb* He 1ou)d be "raise1orth# for this )itt)e thing$ ?OWe "raise Edison and e)) and Ste"henson 1ho have invented the e)ectric bu)b* te)e"hone* rai)1a#* and other things$ ut 1h# shou)d 1e not "raise the One 1ho has invented the thumbM If Edison had not had a thumb* he 1ou)d have invented nothing$ It is on)# right to 1orshi" <od 1ho made the thumb$>@ The husband became ver# angr#* as husbands ver# often do 1hen their 1ives te)) them 1ise things$ ?Don>t s"ea! stu"iditiesL Aou have )earned that there is no <od$ Aou do not !no1 if the house is bugged$ We can get into troub)e$ <et into #our mind once and for all that there is no <od$ In heaven there is nobody%& She re")ied* ?This is an even greater 1onder$ If in heaven there is an 9)might# <od* in 1hom in stu"idit# our forefathers be)ieved* it 1ou)d then be on)# natura) that 1e shou)d have thumbs$ 9n 9)might# <od can do ever#thing* so He can ma!e a thumb* too$ ut if in heaven there is nobod#* I 1i)) 1orshi" 1ith a)) of m# heart the O:obod#> 1ho has made the thumb$@ So the# became 1orshi""ers of the ?:obod#@L Their faith in this ?:obod#@ increased 1ith time* be)ieving Him to be the creator not on)# of the thumb* but a)so of the stars* f)o1ers* chi)dren* and ever#thing beautifu) in )ife$ It 1as Just as in 9thens in ear)ier times* 1hen Pau) met 1orshi""ers of the ?un!no1n <od@ F9ctG4'2&(H$
This cou")e 1as uns"ea!ab)# ha""# to hear from me that the# had be)ieved right)#* that in heaven there is rea))# a ?:o/bod#@I<od 1ho is S"irit$ He is a S"irit of )ove* 1isdom* truth* and "o1er* 1ho so )oved them that He sent His on)# begotten Son to sacrifice Himse)f for them on the cross$ The# had been be)ievers in <od not !no1ing that the# 1ere so$ I had the great "rivi)ege of ta!ing them one ste" furtherIto the e%"erience of sa)vation and redem"tion$ Once I sa1 a Russian )ad# officer on the street$ I a""roached her and a"o)ogiBed* ?I !no1 that it is im"o)ite to a""roach an un!no1n )ad# on the street* but I am a "astor and m# intentions are earnest$ I 1ish to s"ea! to #ou about Christ$@ She as!ed me* ?Do #ou )ove ChristM@ I said* ?AesL With a)) of m# heart$@ She fe)) into m# arms and !issed me again and again$ It 1as a ver# embarrassing situation for a "astor* so I !issed her bac!* ho"ing "eo")e 1ou)d thin! 1e 1ere re)atives$ She e%c)aimed to me* ?I )ove Christ* tooL@ I too! her to our home and discovered to m# amaBement that she !ne1 nothing about ChristIabso)ute)# nothingIe%ce"t the name$ 9nd #et she )oved Him$ She did not !no1 that He is the Savior* nor 1hat sa)vation means$ She did not !no1 1here and ho1 He )ived and died$ She did not !no1 His teachings* His )ife or ministr#$ She 1as for me a "s#cho)ogica) curiosit#2 ho1 can #ou )ove someone if #ou !no1 on)# his nameM When I in;uired* she e%")ained* ?9s a chi)d* I 1as taught to read b# "ictures$ =or an Oa> there 1as an a"")e* for Ob> there 1as a be))* for Oc> a cat* and so on$ ?When I 1ent to high schoo)* I 1as taught that it 1as m# ho)# dut# to defend the Communist father)and$ I 1as taught about Communist mora)s$ ut I did not !no1 1hat a Oho)# dut#> or a Omora)> )oo!ed )i!e$ I needed a "icture for these$ :o1* I !ne1 that our forefathers had a "icture for ever#thing beautifu)* "raise1orth#* and truthfu) in )ife$ 8# grandmother a)1a#s bo1ed before this "icture* sa#ing that it 1as the "icture of one ca))ed Cristos FChristH$ 9nd I )oved this name b# itse)f$ This name became so rea) to meL Cust to sa# this name gave me such Jo#$@ Listening to her* I remembered 1hat is 1ritten in PhiG&24-* that at the name of Cesus ever# !nee shou)d bo1$ Perha"s the anti/Christ 1i)) be ab)e for a time to erase from the 1or)d the !no1)edge of <od$ ut there is "o1er in the sim")e name of Christ* and this 1i)) )ead one to the )ight$ She Jo#ous)# found Christ in m# home and no1 the One 1hose name she )oved )ived in her heart$ Ever# moment I )ived 1ith Russians 1as fu)) of "oetr# and dee" meaning$ 9 sister 1ho s"read the gos"e) in rai)1a# stations gave an interested officer m# address$ One evening he entered m# houseIa ta))* handsome Russian )ieutenant$ I as!ed him* ?Ho1 can I serve #ouM@ He ans1ered* ?I have come for )ight$@ I began to read him the most essentia) "arts of Scri"ture$ He "ut his hand u"on mine and said* ?I as! #ou 1ith a)) of m# heart* don>t )ead me astra#$ I be)ong to a "eo")e !e"t in the dar!$ Te)) me* ")ease* is this the true Word of <odM@ I assured him that it 1as$ He )istened for hoursIand acce"ted Christ$ Russians are rare)# su"erficia) or sha))o1 in re)igious matters$ Whether the# fought against re)igion or 1ere for it and sought Christ* the# "ut their 1ho)e sou) into it$ That is 1h# under communism in Russia* Christians 1ere sou)/1inning missionaries$ Russians are a)so historica))# a re)igious "eo")e$ Countries such as this are ri"e and fruitfu) for gos"e) 1or!* and the course of the 1or)d is being changed as 1e aggressive)# share the gos"e) 1ith them$ It is such a traged# that Russia and its "eo")es are ver# hungr# for the Word of <od* #et man# have seeming)# 1ritten them off$
Our ministr# to the Russians has borne much fruit$ I remember Piotr FPeterH$ :o one !no1s in 1hat Russian "rison he disa""eared$ He 1as so #oungI"erha"s t1ent#$ He had come to Romania 1ith the Russian arm#$ He 1as converted in an underground meeting and as!ed me to ba"tiBe him$ 9fter his ba"tism* I as!ed him to te)) us 1hat verse of the ib)e had im"ressed him most and had inf)uenced him to come to Christ$ He said that at one of our secret meetings* I had read Lu!e &,* the stor# of Cesus meeting the t1o disci")es 1ho 1ent to1ard Emmaus$ When the# dre1 near the vi))age* ?He DCesusE indicated that He 1ou)d have gone farther@ FLu!G&,2&7H$ Piotr said* ?I 1ondered 1h# Cesus said this$ He sure)# 1anted to sta# 1ith His disci")es$ Wh# then did He sa# that He 1ished to go furtherM@ 8# e%")anation 1as that Cesus is "o)ite$ He 1ished to be ver# sure that He 1as desired$ When He sa1 that He 1as 1e)comed* He g)ad)# entered the house 1ith them$ The Communists are im"o)ite$ The# enter b# vio)ence into our hearts and minds$ The# force us to )isten to them from morning to )ate in the night$ The# do it through their schoo)s* radio* ne1s"a"ers* "osters* movies* atheistic meetings* and ever#1here 1e turn$ We have to )isten continuous)# to their god)ess "ro"aganda 1hether 1e )i!e it or not$ Cesus res"ects our freedom$ He gent)# !noc!s at the door of our heart$ ?Cesus has 1on me b# His "o)iteness*@ said Piotr$ This star! contrast bet1een communism and Christ had convinced him$ He 1as not the on)# Russian to have been im"ressed b# this feature in Cesus> character$ F9s a "astor* I had never thought about it this 1a#$H 9fter his conversion* Piotr re"eated)# ris!ed his )ibert# and )ife to smugg)e Christian )iterature and he)" for the Underground Church in Romania to Russia$ In the end he 1as caught$ The )ast I heard of him* he 1as sti)) in "rison$ Did he dieM Is he a)read# in heaven or is he continuing the good fight on earthM I don>t !no1$ On)# <od !no1s 1here he is toda#$ Li!e Piotr* man# others 1ere not Just converted$ We shou)d never sto" at having 1on a sou) for Christ$ # this* 1e have done on)# ha)f the 1or!$ Ever# sou) 1on for Christ must be made to be a sou)/1inner$ The Russians 1ere not on)# converted* but became ?missionaries@ in the Underground Church$ The# 1ere rec!)ess and daring for Christ* a)1a#s sa#ing that it 1as the )east the# cou)d do for Christ 1ho died for them$
Preaching in these ne1 conditions 1as not eas#$ Our "eo")e 1ere ver# o""ressed$ The Communists too! "ossessions from ever#one$ =rom the farmer the# too! fie)ds and shee"$ =rom a barber or tai)or* the# too! his )itt)e sho"$ It 1as not on)# the ca"ita)ists 1ho 1ere e%"ro"riatedK ver# "oor men a)so suffered much$ :ear)# ever# fami)# had a member in "rison* and the "overt# 1as great$ 8en as!ed* ?Ho1 is it that a <od of )ove "ermits the trium"h of evi)M@ It )i!e1ise 1ou)d not have been eas# for the a"ost)es to "reach Christ on <ood =rida#* as Cesus died on the cross cr#ing* ?8# <od* 8# <od* 1h# have Aou forsa!en 8eM@ ut the fact that the 1or! continued to bear fruit "roves that it 1as from <od and not from us$ The Christian faith has an ans1er to such ;uestions$ =or instance* Cesus to)d us about LaBarus* a "oor beggar* o""ressed as 1e 1ere o""ressedId#ing* hungr#* his 1ounds being )ic!ed b# dogsIbut in the end* ange)s too! him to 9braham>s bosom$
We then 1ent to the Communist demonstrations and distributed these ?Communist@ boo!)ets$ The Communists* seeing the "icture of 8ar%* com"eted 1ith each other to bu# them$ # the time the# reached "age ten and discovered that the# 1ere a)) about <od and Cesus* 1e 1ere far a1a#$ Thus* the Underground Church 1or!ed not on)# in the secret meetings and c)andestine activities* but bo)d)# in the o"en "roc)aiming the gos"e) on the Communist streets and to Communist )eaders$ There 1as a "rice* but 1e 1ere "re"ared to "a# it$ 9nd the Underground Church is sti)) "re"ared to "a# it toda#$
Wor!ing #nderco%er
The secret "o)ice great)# "ersecuted the Underground Church* because the# recogniBed in it the on)# effective resistance )eft$ It 1as Just the !ind of resistance Fa s"iritua) resistanceH that* if )eft unhindered* 1ou)d undermine their atheistic "o1er$ The# recogniBed* as on)# the devi) can* an immediate threat to them$ They !new that if a man belie(ed in Christ) he would ne(er be a mindless) willing sub*ect# They !new they could im"rison the "hysical body) but they couldn+t im"rison a man+s s"irit,his faith in -od# 9nd so the# fought ver# hard$ ut the Underground Church a)so has its s#m"athiBers or members even in the Communist governments and in the secret "o)ice$ We instructed Christians to Join the secret "o)ice and "ut on the most hated and des"ised uniform in our countr#* so the# cou)d re"ort the activities of the secret "o)ice to the Underground Church$ Severa) brethren of the Underground Church did this* !ee"ing their faith hidden$ It 1as difficu)t for them to be des"ised b# fami)# and friends for 1earing the Communist uniform and not revea) their true mission$ Aet the# did* so great 1as their )ove for Christ$ When I 1as !idna""ed b# "o)ice and !e"t im"risoned for #ears in strictest secrec#* a Christian doctor actua))# became a member of the secret "o)ice to )earn m# 1hereaboutsL 9s a secret "o)ice doctor* he had access to the ce))s of a)) "risoners and ho"ed to find me$ 9)) of his friends shunned him* thin!ing he had become a Communist$ To go around dressed in the uniform of the torturers is a much greater sacrifice than to 1ear the uniform of a "risoner$ The doctor found me in a dee"* dar! ce)) and sent 1ord that I 1as a)ive$ He 1as the first friend to discover me during m# initia) eight/and/a/ha)f #ears in "risonL Due to him* 1ord 1as s"read that I 1as a)ive and* 1hen "risoners 1ere re)eased during the Eisenho1er/ +hrushchev ?tha1@ in 45.6* Christians c)amored for m# re)ease and I 1as freed for a short time$ If it had not been for this doctor* 1ho Joined the secret "o)ice s"ecifica))# to find me* I 1ou)d never have been re)eased$ I 1ou)d sti)) be in "risonIor in a graveItoda#$ Using their "osition in the secret "o)ice* these members of the Underground Church 1arned us man# times and 1ere of tremendous he)"$ The Underground Church in Communist countries has men in the secret "o)ice toda# 1ho "rotect and 1arn Christians of im"ending danger$ Some are high u" in government circ)es* !ee"ing their faith in Christ secret and he)"ing us great)#$ One da# in heaven the# can "ub)ic)# "roc)aim Christ* 1hom the# serve secret)# no1$ :everthe)ess* man# members of the Underground Church 1ere discovered and im"risoned$ We had our ?Cudases*@ too* 1ho re"orted our activities to the secret "o)ice$ Using beatings* druggings* threats* and b)ac!mai)* the Communists tried to find ministers and )a#men 1ho 1ou)d re"ort on their brethren$
CH9PTER &
#nspea!a)le Tortures
9 "astor b# the name of =)orescu 1as tortured 1ith red/hot iron "o!ers and 1ith !nives$ He 1as beaten ver# bad)#$ Then starving rats 1ere driven into his ce)) through a )arge "i"e$ He cou)d not s)ee" because he had to defend himse)f a)) the time$ If he rested a moment* the rats 1ou)d attac! him$ He 1as forced to stand for t1o 1ee!s* da# and night$ The Communists 1ished to com"e) him to betra# his brethren* but he resisted steadfast)#$ Eventua))#* the# brought his fourteen/#ear/o)d son to the "rison and began to 1hi" the bo# in front of his father* sa#ing that the# 1ou)d continue to beat him unti) the "astor said 1hat the# 1ished him to sa#$ The "oor man 1as ha)f mad$ He bore it as )ong as he cou)d* then he cried to his son* ?9)e%ander* I must sa# 1hat the# 1antL I can>t bear #our beating an#moreL@ The son ans1ered* ?=ather* don>t do me the inJustice of having a traitor as a "arent$ WithstandL If the# !i)) me* I 1i)) die 1ith the 1ords* OCesus and m# father)and$>@ The Communists* enraged* fe)) u"on the chi)d and beat him to death* 1ith b)ood s"attered over the 1a))s of the ce))$ He died "raising <od$ Our dear brother =)orescu 1as never the same after seeing this$ Handcuffs 1ith shar" nai)s on the insides 1ere ")aced on our 1rists$ If 1e 1ere tota))# sti))* the# didn>t cut us$ ut in the bitter)# co)d ce))s* 1hen 1e shoo! 1ith co)d* our 1rists 1ou)d be torn b# the nai)s$
Christians 1ere hung u"side/do1n on ro"es and beaten so severe)# that their bodies s1ung bac! and forth under the b)o1s$ Christians 1ere a)so ")aced in ice/bo% ?refrigerator ce))s*@ 1hich 1ere so co)d that frost and ice covered the inside$ I 1as thro1n into one 1hi)e I had ver# )itt)e c)othing on$ Prison doctors 1ou)d 1atch through an o"ening unti) the# sa1 s#m"toms of freeBing to death* then the# 1ou)d give a signa) and guards 1ou)d rush in to ta!e us out and ma!e us 1arm$ When 1e 1ere fina))# 1armed* 1e 1ou)d immediate)# be "ut bac! into the ice/bo% ce))s to freeBe$ Tha1ing out* then freeBing to 1ithin minutes of death* then being tha1ed outIover and over againL Even toda# there are times 1hen I can>t bear to o"en a refrigerator$ We Christians 1ere sometimes forced to stand in 1ooden bo%es on)# s)ight)# )arger than 1e 1ere$ This )eft no room to move$ DoBens of shar" nai)s 1ere driven into ever# side of the bo%* 1ith their raBor/shar" "oints stic!ing through the 1ood$ Whi)e 1e stood "erfect)# sti))* it 1as a)) right$ ut 1e 1ere forced to stand in these bo%es for end)ess hoursK 1hen 1e became fatigued and s1a#ed 1ith tiredness* the nai)s 1ou)d "ierce our bodies$ If 1e moved or t1itched a musc)eIthere 1ere the horrib)e nai)s$ What the Communists have done to Christians sur"asses an# "ossibi)it# of human understanding$ I have seen Communists 1hose faces 1hi)e torturing be)ievers shone 1ith ra"turous Jo#$ The# cried out 1hi)e torturing the Christians* ?We are the devi)L@ We 1rest)e not against f)esh and b)ood* but against the "rinci"a)ities and "o1ers of evi)$ We sa1 that communism is not from men but from the devi)$ It is a s"iritua) forceIa force of evi)Iand can on)# be countered b# a greater s"iritua) force* the S"irit of <od$ I often as!ed the torturers* ?Don>t #ou have "it# in #our heartsM@ The# usua))# ans1ered 1ith ;uotations from Lenin2 ?Aou cannot ma!e ome)ets 1ithout brea!ing the she))s of eggs*@ and ?Aou cannot cut 1ood 1ithout ma!ing chi"s f)#$@ I said again* ?I !no1 these ;uotations from Lenin$ ut there is a difference$ When #ou cut a "iece of 1ood it fee)s nothing$ ut here #ou are dea)ing 1ith human beings$ Ever# beating "roduces "ain and there are mothers 1ho 1ee"$@ It 1as in vain$ The# are materia)ists$ =or them nothing besides matter e%ists and to them a man is )i!e 1ood* )i!e an eggshe))$ With this be)ief the# sin! to unthin!ab)e de"ths of crue)t#$ The crue)t# of atheism is hard to be)ieve$ When a man has no faith in the re1ard of good or the "unishment of evi)* there is no reason to be human$ There is no restraint from the de"ths of evi) that is in man$ The Communist torturers often said* ?There is no <od* no hereafter* no "unishment for evi)$ We can do 1hat 1e 1ish$@ I heard one torturer sa#* ?I than! <od* in 1hom I don>t be)ieve* that I have )ived to this hour 1hen I can e%"ress a)) the evi) in m# heart$@ He e%"ressed it in unbe)ievab)e bruta)it# and torture inf)icted on "risoners$ I am ver# sorr# if a crocodi)e eats a man* but I can>t re"roach the crocodi)e$ He is not a mora) being$ So no re"roaches can be made to the Communists$ Communism has destro#ed an# mora) sense in them$ The# boasted that the# had no "it# in their hearts$ I )earned from them$ 9s the# a))o1ed no ")ace for Cesus in their hearts* I decided I 1ou)d )eave not the sma))est ")ace for Satan in mine$ I have testified before the Interna) Securit# Subcommittee of the U$S$ Senate$ There I described a1fu) things* such as Christians tied to crosses for four da#s and nights$ The crosses 1ere ")aced on the f)oor and hundreds of "risoners had to fu)fi)) their bodi)# necessities over the faces and bodies of the crucified ones$ Then the crosses 1ere erected again and the Communists Jeered and moc!ed2 ?Loo! at #our ChristL Ho1 beautifu) he isL What fragrance he brings from heavenL@ I described ho1* after being driven near)# insane 1ith tortures* a "riest 1as forced to consecrate human e%crement and urine and give Ho)#
Communion to Christians in this form$ This ha""ened in the Romanian "rison of Pitesti$ I as!ed the "riest after1ard 1h# he did not "refer to die rather than "artici"ate in this moc!er#$ He ans1ered* ?Don>t Judge me* ")easeL I have suffered more than ChristL@ 9)) the bib)ica) descri"tions of he)) and the "ains of Dante>s Inferno are nothing in com"arison 1ith the tortures in Communist "risons$ This is on)# a ver# sma)) "art of 1hat ha""ened on one Sunda# and on man# other Sunda#s in the "rison of Pitesti$ Other things sim")# cannot be to)d$ 8# heart 1ou)d fai) if I shou)d te)) them again and again$ The# are too terrib)e and obscene to "ut in 1riting$ That is 1hat #our brothers in Christ 1ent through and go through no1L If I 1ere to continue to te)) a)) the horrors of Communist tortures and a)) the se)f/ sacrifices of Christians* I 1ou)d never finish$ :ot on)# 1ere the tortures !no1n* but the heroic deeds 1ere !no1n a)so$ The heroic e%am")es of those in "rison great)# ins"ired the brethren 1ho 1ere sti)) free$ One of the rea))# great heroes of the faith 1as Pastor 8i)an Haimovici$ The "risons 1ere overcro1ded and the guards did not !no1 us b# name$ The# ca))ed out for those 1ho had been sentenced to get t1ent#/five )ashes 1ith a 1hi" for having bro!en some "rison ru)e$ Innumerab)e times* Pastor Haimovici 1ent to get the beating in the ")ace of someone e)se$ # this he 1on the res"ect of other "risoners not on)# for himse)f* but a)so for Christ 1hom he re"resented$ One of our 1or!ers in the Underground Church 1as a #oung gir)$ The Communist "o)ice discovered that she secret)# s"read <os"e)s and taught chi)dren about Christ$ The# decided to arrest her$ ut to ma!e the arrest as agoniBing and "ainfu) as the# cou)d* the# decided to de)a# her arrest a fe1 1ee!s* unti) the da# she 1as to be married$ On her 1edding da#* the gir) 1as dressed as a brideIthe most 1onderfu)* Jo#ous da# in a gir)>s )ifeL Sudden)#* the door burst o"en and the secret "o)ice rushed in$ When the bride sa1 the secret "o)ice* she he)d out her arms to1ard them to be handcuffed$ The# rough)# "ut the manac)es on her 1rists$ She )oo!ed to1ard her be)oved* then !issed the chains and said* ?I than! m# heaven)# ridegroom for this Je1e) He has "resented to me on m# marriage da#$ I than! Him that I am 1orth# to suffer for Him$@ She 1as dragged off* 1ith 1ee"ing Christians and a 1ee"ing bridegroom )eft behind$ The# !ne1 1hat ha""ens to #oung Christian gir)s in the hands of Communist guards$ Her bridegroom faithfu))# 1aited for her$ 9fter five #ears she 1as re)easedIa destro#ed* bro!en 1oman* )oo!ing thirt# #ears o)der$ She said it 1as the )east she cou)d do for her Christ$ Such beautifu) Christians are in the Underground Church$
Resisting
rain(ashing
Westerners have "robab)# heard about brain1ashing in the +orean and 0ietnam Wars$ I have "assed through brain1ashing m#se)f$ It is the most horrib)e torture$ We had to sit for seventeen hours a da#Ifor 1ee!s* months* and #earsIhearing2 Communism is good% Communism is good% Communism is good% Christianity is stu"id% Christianity is stu"id% Christianity is stu"id% -i(e u"% -i(e u"% -i(e u"%
Severa) Christians have as!ed me ho1 1e cou)d resist brain1ashing$ There is on)# one method of resistance to brain1ashing2 it is ?heart 1ashing$@ If the heart is c)eansed b# the )ove of Cesus Christ* and if the heart )oves Him* one can resist a)) tortures$ What 1ou)d a )oving bride not do for a )oving bridegroomM What 1ou)d a )oving mother not do for her chi)dM If #ou )ove Christ as 8ar# did* 1ho had Christ as a bab# in her arms* if #ou )ove Cesus as a bride )oves her bridegroom* then #ou can resist such tortures$ <od 1i)) Judge us not according to ho1 much 1e endured* but ho1 much 1e cou)d )ove$ The Christians 1ho suffered for their faith in "risons cou)d )ove$ I am a 1itness that the# cou)d )ove <od and men$ The tortures and bruta)it# continued 1ithout interru"tion$ When I )ost consciousness or became too daBed to give the torturers an# further ho"es of confession* I 1ou)d be returned to m# ce))$ There I 1ou)d )ie* untended and ha)f dead* to regain a )itt)e strength so the# cou)d 1or! on me again$ 8an# died at this stage* but someho1 m# strength a)1a#s managed to return$ In the ensuing #ears* in severa) different "risons* the# bro!e four vertebrae in m# bac!* and man# other bones$ The# carved me in a doBen ")aces$ The# burned and cut eighteen ho)es in m# bod#$ When m# fami)# and I 1ere ransomed out of Romania and brought to :or1a#* doctors in Os)o* seeing a)) this and the scars in m# )ungs from tubercu)osis* dec)ared that m# being a)ive toda# is a "ure mirac)eL 9ccording to their medica) boo!s* I shou)d have been dead for #ears$ I !no1 m#se)f that it is a mirac)e$ <od is a <od of mirac)es$ I be)ieve <od "erformed this 1onder so that #ou cou)d hear m# voice cr#ing out on beha)f of the Underground Church in "ersecuted countries$ He a))o1ed one to come out a)ive and cr# a)oud the message of #our suffering* faithfu) brethren$
Eventua))#* the cease)ess interest of the "o)ice in m# activities and 1hereabouts "aid off for them$ 9gain I 1as discovered and im"risoned$ =or some reason the# did not im"rison m# fami)# this time* "erha"s because of a)) the "ub)icit# I had received$ I had had eight/ and/a/ha)f #ears of "rison and then a cou")e #ears of re)ative freedom$ :o1 I 1as to be im"risoned for five/and/a/ha)f #ears more$ 8# second im"risonment 1as in man# 1a#s 1orse than the first$ I !ne1 1e)) 1hat to e%"ect$ 8# "h#sica) condition became ver# bad a)most immediate)#$ ut 1e continued the 1or! of the Underground Church 1here 1e cou)dIin Communist "risons$
eat
It 1as strict)# forbidden to "reach to other "risoners* as it is in ca"tive nations toda#$ It 1as understood that 1hoever 1as caught doing this received a severe beating$ 9 number of us decided to "a# the "rice for the "rivi)ege of "reaching* so 1e acce"ted their terms$ It 1as a dea)2 1e "reached and the# beat us$ We 1ere ha""# "reachingK the# 1ere ha""# beating usIso ever#one 1as ha""#$ The fo))o1ing scene ha""ened more times than I can remember$ 9 brother 1as "reaching to the other "risoners 1hen the guards sudden)# burst in* sur"rising him ha)f1a# through a "hrase$ The# hau)ed him do1n the corridor to their ?beating room$@ 9fter 1hat seemed an end)ess beating* the# brought him bac! and thre1 himIb)ood# and bruisedIon the "rison f)oor$ S)o1)#* he "ic!ed u" his battered bod#* "ainfu))# straightened his c)othing and said* ?:o1* brethren* 1here did I )eave off 1hen I 1as interru"tedM@ He continued his gos"e) messageL I have seen beautifu) thingsL Sometimes the "reachers 1ere )a#men* sim")e men ins"ired b# the Ho)# S"irit 1ho often "reached beautifu))#$ 9)) of their heart 1as in their 1ords* for to "reach under such "unitive circumstances 1as no trif)ing matter$ Then the guards 1ou)d come and ta!e the "reacher out and beat him ha)f to death$ In the "rison of <her)a* a Christian named <recu 1as sentenced to be beaten to death$ The "rocess )asted a fe1 1ee!s* during 1hich he 1as beaten ver# s)o1)#$ He 1ou)d be hit once at the bottom of the feet 1ith a rubber c)ub* and then )eft$ 9fter some minutes he 1ou)d again be hit* after another fe1 minutes again$ He 1as beaten on the testic)es$ Then a doctor gave him an inJection$ He recovered and 1as given ver# good food to restore his strength* and then he 1as beaten again* unti) he eventua))# died under this s)o1* re"eated beating$ One 1ho )ed this torture 1as a member of the Centra) Committee of the Communist Part#* 1hose name 1as Rec!$ During the beatings* Rec! said something to <recu that the Communists often said to Christians* ?Aou !no1* am <od$ I have "o1er of )ife and death over #ou$ The one 1ho is in heaven cannot decide to !ee" #ou in )ife$ Ever#thing de"ends u"on me$ If I 1ish* #ou )ive$ If I 1ish* #ou are !i))ed$ am -od%& So he moc!ed the Christian$ rother <recu* in this horrib)e situation* gave Rec! a ver# interesting ans1er* 1hich I heard after1ard from Rec! himse)f$ He said* ?Aou don>t !no1 1hat a dee" thing #ou have said$ Ever# cater"i))ar is in rea)it# a butterf)#* if it de(elo"s rightly$ Aou have not been created to be a torturer* a man 1ho !i))s$ Aou have been created to become )i!e <od* 1ith the )ife of the <odhead in #our heart$ 8an# 1ho have been "ersecutors )i!e #ou* have come to rea)iBeI)i!e the a"ost)e Pau)Ithat it is shamefu) for a man to commit atrocities* that the# can do much better things$ So the# have become "arta!ers of the divine nature$ Cesus said to the Ce1s of His time* OAe are gods$> e)ieve me* 8r$ Rec!* #our rea) ca))ing is to be <od)i!eIto have the character of <od* not a torturer$@
9t that moment Rec! did not "a# much attention to the 1ords of his victim* as Sau) of Tarsus did not "a# attention to the beautifu) 1itness of Ste"hen being !i))ed in his "resence$ ut those 1ords 1or!ed in his heart$ 9nd Rec! )ater understood that this was his rea) ca))ing$ One great )esson arose from a)) the beatings* tortures* and butcher# of the Communists2 that the s"irit is master of the body $ We fe)t the torture* but it often seemed as something distant and far removed from the s"irit 1hich 1as )ost in the g)or# of Christ and His "resence 1ith us$ When 1e 1ere given one s)ice of bread a 1ee! and dirt# sou" ever# da#* 1e decided 1e 1ou)d faithfu))# ?tithe@ even then$ Ever# tenth 1ee! 1e too! the s)ice of bread and gave it to 1ea!er brethren as our ?tithe@ to the 8aster$ When one Christian 1as sentenced to death* he 1as a))o1ed to see his 1ife before being e%ecuted$ His )ast 1ords to his 1ife 1ere* ?Aou must !no1 that I die )oving those 1ho !i)) me$ The# don>t !no1 1hat the# do and m# )ast re;uest of #ou is to )ove them* too$ Don>t have bitterness in #our heart because the# !i))ed #our be)oved one$ We 1i)) meet in heaven$@ These 1ords im"ressed the officer of the secret "o)ice 1ho attended the discussion bet1een the t1o$ He )ater to)d me the stor# in "rison 1here he had been sent for becoming a Christian$ In the Tirgu/Ocna "rison 1as a ver# #oung "risoner named 8atchevici$ He had been "ut in "rison at the age of eighteen$ ecause of the tortures* he 1as ver# sic! 1ith tubercu)osis$ His fami)# found out someho1 that he 1as in this grave state of hea)th and sent him one hundred bott)es of stre"tom#cin* 1hich cou)d ma!e the difference bet1een )ife and death$ The "o)itica) officer of the "rison ca))ed 8atchevici and sho1ed him the "arce) and said* ?Here is the medicine that can save #our )ife$ ut #ou are not a))o1ed to receive "arce)s from #our fami)#$ Persona))#* I 1ou)d )i!e to he)" #ou$ Aou are #oung$ I 1ou)d not )i!e #ou to die in "rison$ He)" me to be ab)e to he)" #ouL <ive me information against #our fe))o1 "risoners and this 1i)) enab)e me to Justif# before m# su"eriors 1h# I gave #ou the "arce)$@ 8atchevici ans1ered* ?I don>t 1ish to remain a)ive and be ashamed to )oo! in a mirror* because I 1i)) see the face of a traitor$ I cannot acce"t such a condition$ I "refer to die$@ The officer of the secret "o)ice shoo! 8atchevici>s hand and said* ?I congratu)ate #ou$ I didn>t e%"ect an# other ans1er from #ou$ ut I 1ou)d )i!e to ma!e another "ro"osa)$ Some of the "risoners have become our informers$ The# c)aim to be Communist and the# are denouncing #ou$ The# ")a# a doub)e ro)e$ We have no confidence in them$ We 1ou)d )i!e to !no1 in 1hat measure the# are sincere$ To1ard #ou the# are traitors 1ho are doing #ou much harm* informing us about #our 1ords and deeds$ I understand that #ou don>t 1ant to betra# #our comrades$ ut give us information about those 1ho o""ose #ou so #ou 1i)) save #our )ifeL@ 8atchevici ans1ered* as "rom"t)# as the first time* ?I am a disci")e of Christ and He has taught us to )ove even our enemies$ The men 1ho betra# us do us much harm but I cannot re1ard evi) 1ith evi)$ I cannot give information even against them$ I "it# them$ I "ra# for them$ I don>t 1ish to have an# connection 1ith the Communists$@ 8atche/ vici came bac! from the discussion 1ith the "o)itica) officer and died in the same ce)) I 1as in$ I sa1 him dieIhe 1as "raising <od$ Love con;uered even the natura) thirst for )ife$
If a "oor man is a great )over of music* he gives his )ast do))ar to )isten to a concert$ He is then 1ithout mone#* but he does not fee) frustrated$ He has heard beautifu) things$ I don>t fee) frustrated to have )ost man# #ears in "rison$ I have seen beautifu) things$ I m#se)f have been among the 1ea! and insignificant ones in "rison* but have had the "rivi)ege to be in the same Jai) 1ith great saints* heroes of faith 1ho e;ua)ed the Christians of the first centuries$ The# 1ent g)ad)# to die for Christ$ The s"iritua) beaut# of such saints and heroes of faith can never be described$ The things that I sa# here are not e%ce"tiona)$ The su"ernatura) things have become natura) to Christians in the Underground Church 1ho have returned to their first )ove$ efore entering "rison* I )oved Christ ver# much$ :o1* after having seen the ride of Christ FHis s"iritua) od#H in "rison* I 1ou)d sa# that I )ove the Underground Church a)/ most as much as I )ove Christ Himse)f$ I have seen her beaut#* her s"irit of sacrifice$
What 'appened to My Wife and SonI 1as ta!en a1a# from m# 1ife and I did not !no1 1hat had ha""ened to her$ On)# after man# #ears I )earned that she had been "ut in "rison* too$ Christian 1omen suffer much more than men in "rison$ <ir)s have been ra"ed b# bruta) guards$ The moc!er#* the obscenit#* is horrib)e$ The 1omen 1ere forced to 1or! at hard )abor bui)ding a cana)* fu)fi))ing the same 1or!)oad as men$ The# shove)ed earth in 1inter$ Prostitutes 1ere made overseers and com"eted in torturing the faithfu)$ 8# 1ife has eaten grass )i!e catt)e to sta# a)ive$ Hungr# "risoners ate rats and sna!es at this cana)$ One of the Jo#s of the guards on Sunda#s 1as to thro1 1omen into the Danube and then fish them out* to )augh about them* to moc! them about their 1et bodies* to thro1 them bac! and fish them out again$ 8# 1ife 1as thro1n in the Danube in this manner$ 8# son 1as )eft to 1ander on the street 1hen his mother and father 1ere ta!en a1a#$ 8ihai had been ver# re)igious from chi)dhood and ver# interested in matters of faith$ 9t the age of nine* 1hen his "arents 1ere ta!en a1a# from him* he "assed through a crisis in his Christian )ife$ He became bitter and ;uestioned a)) of his re)igion$ He had "rob)ems that chi)dren usua))# don>t have at this age$ He had to thin! about earning his )iving$ It 1as a crime to he)" fami)ies of Christian mart#rs$ T1o )adies 1ho he)"ed him 1ere arrested and beaten so bad)# that the# 1ere "ermanent)# cri"")ed$ 9 )ad# 1ho ris!ed her )ife and too! 8ihai into her house 1as sentenced to eight #ears in "rison for the crime of having he)"ed fami)ies of "risoners$ 9)) of her teeth 1ere !ic!ed out and her bones 1ere bro!en$ She 1i)) never be ab)e to 1or! again$ She* too* 1i)) be a cri"")e for )ife$
Mihai.
elie%e in /esus0
9t the age of e)even* 8ihai began to earn his )iving as a regu)ar 1or!er$ Suffering had "roduced a 1avering in his faith$ ut after t1o #ears of Sabina>s im"risonment he 1as a))o1ed to see her$ He 1ent to the Communist "rison and sa1 his mother behind iron bars$ She 1as dirt#* thin* 1ith ca))oused hands* 1earing the shabb# uniform of a "risoner$ He scarce)# recogniBed her$ Her first 1ords 1ere* ?8ihai* be)ieve in CesusL@ The guards* in a savage rage* "u))ed her a1a# from 8ihai and too! her out$ 8ihai 1e"t seeing his mother dragged a1a#$ This minute 1as the minute of his conversion$ He !ne1 that if Christ can be )oved under such circumstances* He sure)# is the true Savior$ He said after1ard* ?If Christianit# had no other arguments in its favor than the fact that m# mother be)ieves in it* this is enough for me$@ That 1as the da# he fu))# acce"ted Christ$
In schoo)* he had a continuous batt)e for e%istence$ He 1as a good "u"i) and as a re1ard he 1as given a red nec!tieIa sign of membershi" in the Aoung Communist Pioneers$ 8# son said* ?I 1i)) never 1ear the nec!tie of those 1ho "ut m# father and mother in "rison$@ He 1as e%"e))ed from schoo) for this$ 9fter having )ost a #ear* he entered schoo) again* hiding the fact that he 1as the son of Christian "risoners$ Later* he had to 1rite a thesis against the ib)e$ In this thesis he 1rote2 ?The arguments against the ib)e are 1ea! and the ;uotations against the ib)e are untrue$ Sure)# the "rofessor has not read the ib)e$ The ib)e is in harmon# 1ith science$@ 9gain he 1as e%"e))ed$ This time he had to )ose t1o schoo) #ears$ In the end he 1as a))o1ed to stud# in the seminar#$ Here he 1as taught ?8ar%ist theo)og#$@ Ever#thing 1as e%")ained according to the "attern of +ar) 8ar%$ 8ihai "rotested "ub)ic)# in c)ass* and other students Joined him$ The resu)t 1as that he 1as e%"e))ed and cou)d not finish his theo)ogica) studies$ Once in schoo)* 1hen a "rofessor de)ivered an atheistic s"eech* m# son rose and contradicted the "rofessor* te))ing him 1hat res"onsibi)it# he too! u"on himse)f b# )eading so man# #oung men astra#$ The entire c)ass too! his side$ It 1as necessar# that one shou)d have the courage to s"ea! out first* then a)) the others 1ere on his side$ To get an education he constant)# tried to hide the fact that he 1as the son of Wurmbrand* a Christian "risoner$ ut often it 1as discovered and again there 1as the fami)iar scene of being ca))ed to the schoo) director>s office and being e%"e))ed$ 8ihai a)so suffered much from hunger$ 8an# fami)ies of Jai)ed Christians in Communist countries near)# starve to death$ It is a great crime to he)" them$ I 1i)) te)) #ou Just one case of suffering of a fami)# that I !no1 "ersona))#$ 9 brother entered "rison on account of his 1or! in the Underground Church$ He )eft behind a 1ife 1ith si% chi)dren$ His o)der daughters of seventeen and nineteen cou)d not get a Job$ The on)# one that gives Jobs in a Communist countr# is the state* and it does not give Jobs to chi)dren of ?crimina)@ Christians$ P)ease don>t Judge this stor# according to mora) standardsK Just receive the facts$ The t1o daughters of a Christian mart#rIChristians themse)vesIbecame "rostitutes to su""ort their #ounger brothers and sic! mother$ Their #ounger brother of fourteen became insane 1hen he sa1 it and had to be "ut in an as#)um$ When #ears )ater the im"risoned father returned* his on)# "ra#er 1as* ?<od* ta!e me to "rison again$ I cannot bear to see this$@ His "ra#er 1as ans1ered and he 1as Jai)ed again for the crime of having 1itnessed for Christ to chi)dren$ His daughters 1ere no )onger "rostitutes* as the# received Jobs b# com")#ing 1ith the demands of the secret "o)iceIthe# became informers$ 9s daughters of a Christian mart#r* the# are received 1ith honor in ever# house$ The# )isten and then the# re"ort ever#thing the# hear to the secret "o)ice$ Don>t Just sa# that this is ug)# and immora)Iof course it isIbut as! yourself if it is not also your sin that such tragedies occur * that such Christian fami)ies are )eft a)one* and are not he)"ed b# #ou 1ho are free$
CH9PTER (
9 tota) of fourteen #ears in "rison "assed for me$ During a)) this time I never sa1 a
ib)e or an# other boo!$ I had forgotten ho1 to 1rite$ ecause of the starvation* drugging* and tortures* I had forgotten the Ho)# Scri"tures$ ut on the da# that I fu)fi))ed fourteen #ears* out of ob)ivion came into m# mind the verse2 ?So Cacob served seven #ears for Rache)* and the# seemed but a fe1 da#s to him because of the )ove he had for her@ F<enG&52&-H$ 0er# soon after this I 1as re)eased through a genera) amnest# given in our countr#* ver# much under the inf)uence of 9merican "ub)ic o"inion$ I sa1 m# 1ife again$ She had 1aited faithfu))# for me for fourteen #ears$ We began our ne1 )ife in "overt#* because those 1ho are arrested have ever#thing ta!en from them$ The "riests and "astors 1ho 1ere re)eased 1ere a))o1ed to have sma)) churches$ 9 church in the to1n of Orsova 1as given to me$ The Communist De"artment of Cu)ts to)d me it had thirt#/five members in it and 1arned that it must never have thirt#/si%L I 1as a)so to)d that I must be their agent and re"ort to the secret "o)ice on ever# member and !ee" a)) #outh a1a#$ This is ho1 the Communists use churches as their ?too)@ of contro)$ I !ne1 that if I "reached* man# 1ou)d come to hear$ So I never tried even to begin 1or!ing in the officia) church$ Instead* I ministered again in the Underground Church* sharing a)) the beauties and the dangers of this 1or!$ During the #ears I 1as im"risoned* <od had moved 1onderfu))#$ The Underground Church 1as no )onger abandoned and forgotten$ 9mericans and other Christians had begun to he)" us and "ra# for us$ One afternoon as I rested in the house of a brother in a "rovincia) to1n* he a1o!e me and said* ? rethren from abroad have come$@ In the West there 1ere Christians 1ho had not forgotten or abandoned us$ Ran!/and/fi)e Christians had organiBed a secret 1or! of re)ief for fami)ies of Christian mart#rs* and 1ere smugg)ing in Christian )iterature and he)"$ In the other room I found si% brethren 1ho had come to do this 1or!$ 9fter s"ea!ing 1ith me at )ength* the# to)d me that the# had heard that at this address there 1as someone 1ho had s"ent fourteen #ears in "rison* and the# 1ou)d )i!e to see him$ I to)d them that I 1as the man$ The# said* ?We e%"ected to see someone me)ancho)ic$ Aou cannot be this "erson because #ou are fu)) of Jo#$@ I assured them that I 1as the im"risoned one and m# Jo# 1as in !no1ing that the# had come and that 1e 1ere no )onger forgotten$ Stead#* regu)ar he)" began to come to the Underground Church$ # secret channe)s 1e got man# ib)es and other Christian )iterature* as 1e)) as re)ief for fami)ies of Christian mart#rs$ :o1* 1ith their he)"* 1e of the Underground Church cou)d 1or! much better$ It 1as not on)# that the# gave us the Word of <od* but 1e sa1 that 1e 1ere be)oved$ The# brought us a 1ord of comfort$ During the #ears of brain1ashing* 1e had heard* ?:obod# )oves #ou an#more* nobod# )oves #ou an#more* nobod# )oves #ou an#more$@ :o1 1e sa1 9merican and Eng)ish Christians 1ho ris!ed their )ives to sho1 us that the# )oved us$ We )ater he)"ed them deve)o" a techni;ue of secret 1or!* so the# cou)d cree" undetected into houses surrounded b# the secret "o)ice$ The va)ue of the ib)es smugg)ed in b# these means cannot be understood b# an 9merican or an Eng)ish Christian 1ho ?s1ims@ in ib)es$
8# fami)# and I 1ou)d not have survived 1ithout the materia) he)" I received from "ra#ing Christians abroad$ The same is true 1ith man# other underground "astors and mart#rs in Communist countries$ I can testif# out of m# o1n e%"erience about the materia) and even greater mora) he)" that has been given to us b# s"ecia) missions formed for this "ur"ose in the free 1or)d$ =or us* these be)ievers 1ere )i!e ange)s sent b# <odL ecause of the rene1ed 1or! of the Underground Church* I 1as in ver# great danger of sti)) another arrest$ 9t this time* t1o Christian organiBations* the :or1egian 8ission to the Ce1s and the Hebre1 Christian 9))iance* "aid the Communist government a ransom of Q4-*--- for meIover five times the standard "rice for a "o)itica) "risoner$ I cou)d no1 )eave Romania$
CH9PTER ,
We !no1 about the )ove of Christ to1ard the Communists b# our o1n )ove to1ard them$ I have seen Christians in Communist "risons 1ith fift# "ounds of chains on their feet* tortured 1ith red/hot iron "o!ers* in 1hose throats s"oonfu)s of sa)t had been forced* being !e"t after1ard 1ithout 1ater* starving* 1hi""ed* suffering from co)dIand "ra#ing 1ith fervor for the Communists$ This is human)# ine%")icab)eL It is the )ove of Christ* 1hich 1as "oured out in our hearts$ Later* the Communists 1ho had tortured us 1ere sent to "rison* too$ Under communism* Communists* and even Communist ru)ers* are "ut in "rison a)most as often as their adversaries$ :o1 the tortured and the torturer 1ere in the same ce))$ 9nd 1hi)e the non/Christians sho1ed hatred to1ard their former in;uisitors and beat them* Christians too! their defense* even at the ris! of being beaten themse)ves and accused of being accom")ices 1ith communism$ I have seen Christians give a1a# their )ast s)ice of bread F1e 1ere given one s)ice a 1ee!H and the medicine that cou)d save their )ives to a sic! Communist torturer* 1ho 1as no1 a fe))o1 "risoner$ These are the )ast 1ords of Iu)iu 8aniu* a Christian and the former Prime 8inister of Romania* 1ho died in "rison2 ?If the Communists are overthro1n in our countr#* it 1i)) be the most ho)# dut# of ever# Christian to go into the streets and at the ris! of his o1n )ife defend the Communists from the righteous fur# of the mu)titudes 1hom the# have t#ranniBed$@ In the first da#s after m# conversion* I fe)t that I 1ou)d not be ab)e to )ive an# )onger$ Wa)!ing on the street* I fe)t a "h#sica) "ain for ever# man and 1oman 1ho "assed b#$ It 1as )i!e a !nife in m# heart* so burning 1as the ;uestion of 1hether or not he or she 1as saved$ If a member of the congregation sinned* I 1ou)d 1ee" for hours$ The )onging for the sa)vation of a)) sou)s has remained in m# heart and the Communists are not e%c)uded from it$ In so)itar# confinement* 1e cou)d not "ra# as before$ We 1ere unimaginab)# hungr#K 1e had been drugged unti) 1e acted )i!e idiots$ We 1ere as 1ea! as s!e)etons$ The Lord>s Pra#er 1as much too )ong for usI1e cou)d not concentrate enough to sa# it$ 8# on)# "ra#er re"eated again and again 1as* ?Cesus* I )ove Aou$@ 9nd then* one g)orious da# I got the ans1er from Cesus2 ?Aou )ove meM :o1 I 1i)) sho1 #ou ho1 I )ove #ou$@ 9t once* I fe)t a f)ame in m# heart* 1hich burned )i!e the corona) streamers of the sun$ The disci")es on the 1a# to Emmaus said that their hearts burned 1hen Cesus s"o!e 1ith them$ So it 1as 1ith me$ I !ne1 the )ove of the One 1ho gave His )ife on the cross for us a))$ Such )ove cannot e%c)ude the Communists* ho1ever grave their sins$ Communists have committed and sti)) commit horrors but ?)ove is as strong as death* Jea)ous# as crue) as the grave$$$8an# 1aters cannot ;uench )ove* nor can the f)oods dro1n it@ FSonG726/'H$ 9s the grave insists on having a))Irich and "oorK #oung and o)dK men of a)) races* nations* and "o)itica) convictionsK saints and crimina)sIso )ove is a))/embracing$ Christ* the Incarnate Love* 1ants a)) men to come to Him* inc)uding the Communists$ 9 minister 1ho had been horrib)# beaten 1as thro1n into m# ce))$ He 1as ha)f/dead* 1ith b)ood streaming from his face and bod#$ We 1ashed him$ Some "risoners cursed the Communists$ <roaning* he said* ?P)ease* don>t curse themL +ee" si)entL I 1ish to "ra# for them$@
'o( We Could
e /oyful$%en in Prison
When I )oo! bac! on m# fourteen #ears in "rison* it 1as occasiona))# a ver# ha""# time$
Other "risoners and even the guards ver# often 1ondered at ho1 ha""# Christians cou)d be under the most terrib)e circumstances$ We cou)d not be "revented from singing* a)though 1e 1ere beaten for this$ I imagine that nightinga)es* too* 1ou)d sing* even if the# !ne1 that after finishing the# 1ou)d be !i))ed for it$ Christians in "rison danced for Jo#$ Ho1 cou)d the# be so ha""# under such tragic conditionsM I meditated often in "rison about Cesus> 1ords to His disci")es* ? )essed are the e#es 1hich see the things #ou see@ FLu!G4-2&(H$ The disci")es had Just come bac! from a tour through Pa)estine 1here the# had seen horrors$ Pa)estine 1as an o""ressed countr#$ Ever#1here there 1as the terrib)e miser# of a t#ranniBed "eo")e$ The disci")es met sic!ness* ")agues* hunger* and sorro1$ The# entered houses from 1hich "atriots had been ta!en to "rison* )eaving behind 1ee"ing "arents or 1ives$ It 1as not a beautifu) 1or)d to )oo! u"on$ Sti)) Cesus said* ? )essed are the e#es 1hich see the things #ou see$@ That 1as because the# had not seen on)# the suffering$ The# had a)so seen the Savior$ =or the first time a fe1 ug)# 1ormsIcater"i))ars that cree" on )eavesIunderstood that* after this miserab)e e%istence* there comes )ife as a beautifu)* mu)tico)ored butterf)#* ab)e to f)it from f)o1er to f)o1er$ This ha""iness 1as ours* too$ 9round me 1ere ?Cobs@Isome much more aff)icted than Cob had been$ ut I !ne1 the end of Cob>s stor#* ho1 he received t1ice as much as he had before$ I had around me men )i!e LaBarus the beggar* hungr# and covered 1ith boi)s$ ut I !ne1 that ange)s 1ou)d ta!e these men to the bosom of 9braham$ I sa1 them as the# 1i)) be in the future$ I sa1 in the shabb#* dirt#* 1ea! mart#r near me the s")endid)# cro1ned saint of tomorro1$ ut )oo!ing at men )i!e thisInot as the# are* but as the# 1i)) beII cou)d a)so see in our "ersecutors a Sau) of TarsusIa future a"ost)e Pau)$ 9nd some have a)read# become so$ 8an# officers of the secret "o)ice to 1hom 1e 1itnessed became Christians and 1ere ha""# to )ater suffer in "rison for having found our Christ$ 9)though 1e 1ere 1hi""ed* as Pau) 1as* in our Jai)ers 1e sa1 the "otentia) of the Jai)er in Phi)i""i 1ho became a convert$ We dreamed that soon the# 1ou)d as!* ?What must I do to be savedM@ In those 1ho moc!ed the Christians 1ho 1ere tied to crosses and smeared 1ith e%crement* 1e sa1 the cro1d of <o)gotha 1ho 1ere soon to beat their breasts in fear of having sinned$ It 1as in "rison that 1e found the ho"e of sa)vation for the Communists$ It 1as there that 1e deve)o"ed a sense of res"onsibi)it# to1ard them$ It 1as in being tortured b# them that 1e )earned to )ove them$ 9 great "art of m# fami)# 1as murdered$ It 1as in m# o1n house that their murderer 1as converted$ It 1as a)so the most suitab)e ")ace$ So in Communist "risons the idea of a Christian mission to the Communists 1as born$ <od sees things different)# than 1e see them* Just as 1e see different)# than an ant$ =rom the human "oint of vie1* to be tied to a cross and smeared 1ith e%crement is a horrib)e thing$ :onethe)ess* the ib)e ca))s the sufferings of mart#rs ?)ight aff)ictions$@ To be in "rison for fourteen #ears is a )ong "eriod to us$ The ib)e ca))s it ?but for a moment*@ and te))s us that these things are ?1or!ing for us a far more e%ceeding and eterna) 1eight of g)or#@ F&CoG,24'H$ This gives us the right to su""ose that the fierce crimes of the Communists* 1hich are ine%cusab)e to us* are )ighter in the e#es of <od than the# are in our e#es$ Their t#rann#* 1hich has )asted a)most an entire centur#* ma# be before <od* for 1hom a thousand #ears are )i!e one da#* on)# a moment of erring astra#$ The# sti)) have the "ossibi)it# of being saved$ The gates of heaven are not c)osed for the Communists$ :either is the )ight ;uenched for them$ The# can re"ent )i!e ever#one e)se$ 9nd 1e must ca)) them to re"entance$
On)# )ove can change the Communist and the terrorist Fa )ove that must be c)ear)# distinguished from com"romise 1ith non/Christian "hi)oso"hies* "racticed b# man# church )eadersH$ Hatred b)inds$ Hit)er 1as an anti/Communist* but one 1ho hated$ Therefore* instead of con;uering them* he he)"ed them 1in one/third of the 1or)d$ With )ove 1e ")anned a missionar# 1or! among the Communists in "rison$ 9nd thereb# 1e thought first of a)) about the Communist ru)ers$ Some mission directors seem to have studied )itt)e church histor#$ Ho1 1as :or1a# 1on for ChristM # 1inning +ing O)af$ Russia first had the gos"e) 1hen its !ing* 0)adimir* 1as 1on$ Hungar# 1as 1on b# 1inning St$ Ste"hen* its !ing$ The same 1ith Po)and$ In 9frica* 1here the chief of the tribe has been 1on* the tribe fo))o1s$ We set u" missions to ran!/and/fi)e men 1ho ma# become ver# fine Christians* but 1ho have )itt)e inf)uence and cannot change the state of things$ We must 1in ru)ers* )eaders in "o)itics* economics* science* and the arts$ The# mo)d the sou)s of men$ Winning them* #ou 1in the "eo")e the# )ead and inf)uence$ =rom the missionar# "oint of vie1* communism has an advantage over other socia) s#stems in that it is more centra)iBed$ If the President of the U$S$ 1ere converted to 8ormonism* 9merica 1ou)d not become 8ormon because of it$ ut if Communist government )eaders 1ere converted to Christianit#* "erha"s their 1ho)e countr# cou)d be reached$ So great is the im"act of )eaders$ Can these )eaders be convertedM Sure)#* because the# are unha""# and insecure Just )i!e their victims$ :ear)# a)) the Communist ru)ers of Russia ended in "rison or 1ere shot b# their o1n comrades$ The same in China$ Even the ministers of the interior )i!e Iagoda* AeBhov* eria* 1ho seemed to have a)) "o1er in hand* ended Just )i!e the )ast counterrevo)utionar#2 1ith a bu))et in the nec!$ Aears ago* She)e"in* the 8inister of the Interior of the Soviet Union* and Ran!ovic* the 8inister of the Interior of Augos)avia* 1ere thro1n out )i!e dirt# rags$
Strategic thought is needed in missionar# 1or!$ =rom the "oint of vie1 of sa)vation* a)) sou)s are e;ua)K from the "oint of vie1 of missionar# strateg#* the# are not e;ua)$ It is more im"ortant to 1in a man of great inf)uence* 1ho can after1ard 1in thousands* than to s"ea! to a savage in the Jung)e assuring sa)vation on)# for him$ Therefore* Cesus chose to end His ministr# not in some sma)) vi))age* but in Cerusa)em* the s"iritua) head;uarters of the 1or)d$ =or this same reason* Pau) strove so much to arrive in Rome$ The ib)e sa#s that the seed of the 1oman 1i)) bruise the head of the ser"ent F<enG(24.H$ We tic!)e the ser"ent on the be))#* ma!ing him )augh$ Toda# the ser"ent continues to cra1) through China* :orth +orea* 0ietnam* and Laos$ There are nations in the 8idd)e East 1here not one church bui)ding is a))o1ed to stand$ The ")ight of such ca"tive nations must continua))# be addressed b# church )eaders and mission directors* as 1e)) as b# ever# thoughtfu) Christian$ We must give u" routine 1or!$ It is 1ritten* ?Cursed is he 1ho does the 1or! of the Lord deceitfu))#@ FCerG,724-H$ The Church must 1age a fronta)* s"iritua) attac! on the "rinci"a)ities in ca"tive nations$ Wars are 1on on)# b# offensive* never b# defensive* strateg#$ PsaG4-'246 sa#s that <od cuts the bars of iron in t1o$ The Iron Curtain 1as a sma)) thing for Him$ The Ear)# Church 1or!ed secret)# and i))ega))#* and it trium"hed$ We must )earn again to 1or! in the same manner$ Unti) the Communist era* I never understood 1h# so man# "ersons of the :e1 Testament are ca))ed b# nic!names2 Simeon 1ho 1as ca))ed :iger* Cohn ca))ed 8ar!* and so on$ We continue to use secret names in our 1or! in ca"tive nations$ I never understood before 1h# Cesus* 1ishing to have the )ast su""er arranged* did not give an address but said* ?<o into the cit#* and a man 1i)) meet #ou carr#ing a "itcher of 1ater@ F8arG4,24(H$ :o1 I understand$ We a)so give such secret signs of recognition in the 1or! of the Underground Church$ If 1e agree to 1or! )i!e thisIto come bac! to the methods of ear)# Christianit#I1e can 1or! effective)# for Christ in these c)osed countries$ ut 1hen I met some church )eaders of the West* instead of )ove to1ard the CommunistsI1hich 1ou)d have )ed )ong ago to the organiBation of a missionar# 1or! in Communist countriesII found their "o)ic# on the side of the Communists$ I did not find the com"assion of the <ood Samaritan to1ard the )ost sou)s of the house of +ar) 8ar%$ 9 man rea))# be)ieves not 1hat he recites in his creed* but on)# the things he is read# to die for$ The Christians of the Underground Church have "roved that the# are read# to die for their faith$ Our internationa) net1or! of missions continues toda# 1ith a secret 1or! in ca"tive nations that can mean for them im"risonment* torture* and death if caught in such a countr#$ I be)ieve in the things I 1rite$ I have the right to as!2 Wou)d the church )eaders of 9merica 1ho ma!e friends 1ith communism be read# to die for their be)iefM Who "revents them from giving u" their high "ositions in the West to become officia) "astors in the East* coo"erating thereIon the s"ot I1ith CommunistsM The "roof of such a faith has not #et been given b# an# Western church )eader$
Human 1ords gro1 out of the need of men to understand each other and to e%"ress their fee)ings to1ard one another$ There are no human 1ords to e%"ress in an ade;uate manner the m#steries of <od and the heights of s"iritua) )ife$ Li!e1ise* there are no human 1ords that can describe the de"ths of devi)ish crue)t#$ Can #ou e%"ress in 1ords 1hat a man fe)t 1ho 1as about to be thro1n into a furnace b# the :aBis* or 1ho sa1 his chi)d thro1n into this furnaceM So it is use)ess to tr# to describe 1hat Christians have suffered and sti)) suffer under the Communists$ I 1as in "rison 1ith Lucretiu Patrascanu* the man 1ho brought communism to "o1er in Romania$ His comrades re1arded him b# "utting him in Jai)$ Though he 1as sane* the# "ut him in a menta) hos"ita) 1ith madmen* unti) he became mad* too$ The# did the same to 9nna Pau!er* their former Secretar# of State$ Christians are often given a simi)ar t#"e of treatment$ The# receive e)ectric shoc!s and are "ut in straitJac!ets$ The 1or)d 1as horrified about 1hat ha""ened on the streets in China$ In vie1 of ever#one* the Red <uard e%ercised its terror$ :o1 tr# to imagine 1hat ha""ens to Christians in a Chinese Jai)* 1here no one e)se seesL I heard that 1hen a reno1ned Chinese evange)ica) 1riter and other Christians refused to den# their faith* their ca"tors cut off their ears* tongues* and )egs$ Christians are sti)) in Chinese "risons toda#$ ut the 1orst thing Communists do is not that the# torture and !i)) the bodies of men$ The# ho"e)ess)# fa)sif# the thoughts of men and "oison the #outh and the chi)dren$ The# have ")aced their men into "ositions of )eadershi" in the churches to )ead the Christians and to destro# the churches$ The# teach #outh not to be)ieve in <od and Christ but to hate these names$ In 1hat 1ords can 1e e%"ress the traged# of Christian mart#rs* 1ho* coming home after #ears in "rison* are received 1ith scorn b# their chi)dren* 1ho in the meantime have become mi)itant atheistsM This boo! is 1ritten not so much 1ith in!* as 1ith the b)ood of b)eeding hearts$ 9s in the boo! of Danie) 1hen the three #oung men 1ho 1ere "ut in the furnace did not sme)) )i!e fire u"on being de)ivered from it* so the Christians 1ho have been in Communist "risons don>t sme)) )i!e bitterness against the Communists$ 9 f)o1er* if #ou bruise it under #our feet* re1ards #ou b# giving #ou its "erfume$ Li!e1ise Christians* tortured b# the Communists* re1arded their torturers b# )ove$ We brought man# of our Jai)ors to Christ$ 9nd 1e are dominated b# one desire2 to give Communists 1ho have made us suffer the best 1e have* the sa)vation that comes from our Lord Cesus Christ$ I did not have the "rivi)ege* as man# of m# brethren in the faith had* to die a mart#r>s death in "rison$ I 1as re)eased and cou)d even come out of Romania to the West$ In the West I found in man# church )eaders the contrar# sentiment of that 1hich 1as "redominant in the Underground Church behind the amboo and former Iron Curtains$ 8an# Christians in the West have no )ove for those in ca"tive nations$ Proof of it is that the# do nothing for their sa)vation$ The# have missions to "ersuade Christians of one denomination to change to another$ ut man# have no mission to ca"tive nations* c)aiming that such 1or! is ?against the )a1@L The# don>t )ove them$ Other1ise the# 1ou)d have )ong since created such an im"ossib)e/ )oo!ing mission* Just as Wi))iam Care# 1ho )oved the Indians and Hudson Ta#)or the Chinese have created their res"ective missions$
ut it is not enough that the# do not )ove those in ca"tive nations and do nothing to 1in them for Christ$ # their com")acenc#* b# their neg)ect* and sometimes b# acting as actua) accom")ices* some Western church )eaders strengthen the infide)s in their infide)it#$ The# he)" the Communists to intrude into Western churches and to 1in )eadershi" in the churches of the 1or)d$ The# he)" Christians remain una1are of the danger of communism$ # not )oving the Communists and those from other ca"tive nations* and b# doing nothing to 1in them for Christ Funder the "rete%t that the# are not a))o1ed to do so* as if the first Christians as!ed "ermission from :ero to s"read the gos"e)H* Western church )eaders do not )ove their o1n f)oc!s either* if the# do not a))o1 them to "artici"ate in this s"iritua) batt)e around the 1or)d$
There is on)# one force that can change evi) governments$ It is the same force that enab)ed Christian states to ta!e the ")ace of the heathen Roman Em"ire* the force that made Christians of savage Teutons and 0i!ings* the force that overthre1 the b)ood# In;uisition$ This force is the "o1er of the gos"e)* re"resented b# the Underground Church that 1or!s in a)) ca"tive nations$ To sustain this Church and to he)" her is not on)# a ;uestion of unit# 1ith our suffering brethren$ It means )ife or death for #our countr# and for #our churches$ To sustain this Church is not on)# in the interests of free Christians* but shou)d a)so be the "o)ic# of free governments$ The Underground Church has a)read# 1on Communist ru)ers to Christ$ <heorghiu DeJ* Romania>s Prime 8inister* died a converted man after confessing his sin and changing his sinfu) )ife$ In man# ca"tive nations there are members of the government 1ho are hidden Christians$ This can s"read$ Then 1e 1i)) be ab)e to e%"ect a rea) change in the "o)ic# of some governmentsInot changes )i!e those of Tito and <omu)!a* after 1hich the same dictatorshi" of a crue) atheistic "art# continuedIbut a turn to1ard Christianit# and freedom$ E%ce"tiona) o""ortunities e%ist no1 for this$ e)ievers in communism* 1ho ver# often are as sincere in their be)iefs as Christians are in theirs* are "assing through a great crisis$ The# had rea))# be)ieved that communism 1ou)d create a brotherhood among nations$ :o1 the# see that Communist countries have fa))en a"art )i!e the Eastern )oc countries$ The# had rea))# be)ieved that communism 1ou)d create an earth)# "aradise* o""osed to 1hat the# ca)) the i))usor# "aradise in heaven$ 9nd no1 their "eo")es are hungr#$ Wheat has to be im"orted from ca"ita)ist countries$ Such is the case 1ith :orth +orea>s famine$ Considered one of the 1or)d>s most iso)ated nations* :orth +orea current)# stands at the brin! of utter "h#sica) destruction$ =)oods have destro#ed cro"s* ob)iterating their food su"")#$ :o1* out of des"eration* :orth +orea has begun to crac! o"en its 1indo1s and doors for the rest of the 1or)d to catch a g)im"se of 1hat>s been !e"t behind barbed 1ire$ The Communists had be)ieved in their )eaders$ :o1 the# have read in their o1n ne1s"a"ers that Sta)in 1as a mass murderer and +hrushchev an idiot$ The same 1ith their nationa) heroes )i!e Ra!osi* <ero* 9nna Pau!er* Ran!ovici* and so on$ The Communists no )onger be)ieve in the infa))ibi)it# of their )eaders$ The# are )i!e Catho)ics 1ithout a Po"e$ There is a void in the hearts of Communists$ This void can be fi))ed b# Christ a)one$ The human heart b# nature see!s after <od$ There is a s"iritua) vacuum in ever# man unti) it is fi))ed b# Christ$ This is true a)so for the Communists and those in other ca"tive nations$ In the gos"e) there is a "o1er of )ove that can a""ea) to them* too$ I have seen it ha""en$ I !no1 it can be done$ ChristiansImoc!ed and tortured b# the CommunistsIhave forgotten and forgiven 1hat has been done to them "ersona))# and to their fami)ies$ The# do their best to he)" the Communists "ass through the crisis and find the 1a# to Christ$ =or this 1or! the# need our he)"$ 9nd not on)# for this$ Christian )ove is a)1a#s universa)$ With Christians* there is no "artia)it#$ Cesus said that the sun of <od rises over the good and the evi)$ The same is true about Christian )ove$ Those Christian )eaders in the West 1ho sho1 friendshi" to the Communists and other t#rannica) regimes Justif# it b# the teaching of Cesus that 1e must )ove even our enemies$ ut never did Cesus teach that 1e must )ove only our enemies* forgetting our brethren$
The# sho1 their ?)ove@ b# 1ining and dining those 1hose hands are fu)) of the b)ood of Christians* not b# giving them the good ne1s of Christ$ ut those o""ressed b# t#rants are forgotten$ The# are not )oved$ Decades ago* the Evange)ica) and Catho)ic churches of West <erman# gave Q4&. mi))ion for the hungr#$ 9merican Christians give even more$ There are man# hungr# "eo")e* but I cannot imagine an#one hungrier or more entit)ed to he)" from free Christians than Christian mart#rs$ If <erman* ritish* 9merican* and Scandinavian churches raise so much mone# for re)ief* it shou)d go for ever#one in need* but first for the Christian mart#rs and their fami)ies$ Does it ha""en so no1M I 1as ransomed b# Christian organiBations* 1hich "roves that Christians can be ransomed$ Ho1ever* I ma# be the on)# case of someone ransomed from Romania b# Christians$ 9nd the fact of m# ransom 1i)) accuse Christian organiBations of the West of neg)ecting to fu)fi)) their dut# in other cases$ The first Christians as!ed themse)ves 1hether the ne1 Church 1as on)# for the Ce1s* or for the <enti)es* too$ The ;uestion received the right ans1er$ In another form* the "rob)em has rea""eared in the t1entieth centur#$ Christianit# is not on)# for the West$ Christ does not be)ong on)# to 9merica* Eng)and* and other democratic countries$ When He 1as crucified* one of His hands 1as stretched out to1ard the 1est* the other to1ard the east$ He 1ishes to be the +ing not on)# of the Ce1s* but a)so of the <enti)es* of the Communists* and of the Western 1or)d$ Cesus said* ?<o into a)) the 1or)d and "reach the gos"e) to ever# creature@ F8arG4624.H$ He gave His b)ood for a))* and a)) shou)d hear and be)ieve the gos"e)$ What encourages us to "reach the gos"e) in ca"tive nations is that there those 1ho become Christians are fu)) of )ove and Bea)$ I have never met a sing)e )u!e1arm Russian Christian$ =ormer #oung Communists and 8us)ims become e%ce"tiona) disci")es of Christ$ Christ )oves these "eo")e and 1ishes to free them* as He )oves a)) sinners and desires to free them from sin$ Some Western church )eaders re")ace this* the on)# correct attitude* 1ith another one2 com")acenc# to1ard the "ersecutors of Christians$ The# favor the sinfu)* thereb# he)"ing the "ersecutors to maintain their "o1er and hindering the sa)vation of these same enemies* as 1e)) as of their victims$
<od is ?the Truth$@ The ib)e is the ?truth about the Truth$@ Theo)og# is the ?truth about the truth about the Truth$@ Christian "eo")e )ive in these man# truths about the Truth* and* because of them* have not ?the Truth$@ Hungr#* beaten* and drugged* 1e had forgotten theo)og# and the ib)e$ We had forgotten the ?truths about the Truth*@ therefore 1e )ived in ?the Truth$@ It is 1ritten* ?The Son of man is coming at an hour 1hen #ou do not e%"ect Him@ F8atG&,2,,H$ We cou)d not thin! an#more$ In our dar!est hours of torture* the Son of 8an came to us* ma!ing the "rison 1a))s shine )i!e diamonds and fi))ing the ce))s 1ith )ight$ Some1here* far a1a#* 1ere the torturers be)o1 us in the s"here of the bod#$ ut the s"irit reJoiced in the Lord$ We 1ou)d not have given u" this Jo# for that of !ing)# "a)aces$ The desire to fight against somebod# or something cou)d not have been further from m# mind$ I did not 1ish to fight an# 1ars* even Just 1ars$ I 1ished rather to bui)d )iving tem")es to Christ$ It 1as 1ith the ho"e of ;uiet #ears of contem")ation ahead that I )eft "rison$ ut* from the ver# da# of m# re)ease* I 1as faced 1ith as"ects of communism more ug)# than a)) the tortures of m# im"risonment had been$ One after the other I met great "reachers and "astors of the different churches* and even bisho"s* 1ho sim")# confessed 1ith great sorro1 that the# 1ere informers for the secret "o)ice against their o1n f)oc!s$ I as!ed them if the# 1ere "re"ared to give u" being informers* even at the ris! of being im"risoned themse)ves$ 9)) ans1ered ?no*@ and e%")ained that it 1as not fear for their o1n "ersons that restrained them$ The# to)d me of ne1 deve)o"ments in the churches* things that did not e%ist before m# arrestIthat to refuse to be an informer cou)d mean the c)osing of a church$ In ever# to1n there 1as a government re"resentative for the contro) of ?cu)ts*@ a man of the secret Communist "o)ice$ He had the right to ca)) an# "riest or "astor 1henever he )i!ed and to as! him 1ho had been in church* 1ho too! fre;uent Communion* 1ho 1as Bea)ous in re)igion* 1ho 1as a sou)/1inner* 1hat "eo")e confessed* and so on$ If #ou did not ans1er* #ou 1ere dismissed and another ?minister@ 1as "ut in #our ")ace 1ho 1ou)d sa# more than #ou did$ Where the government re"resentative had no such re")acement F1hich a)most never ha""enedH* he sim")# c)osed the church$ This ha""ens toda# in China$ 8ost ministers gave information to the secret "o)ice$ Some did it re)uctant)#* tr#ing to hide certain things* 1hereas others got into the habit and their consciences 1ere hardened$ Sti)) others had ac;uired a "assion for it and said more than 1as demanded of them$ I heard confessions from chi)dren of Christian mart#rs 1ho had been ob)iged to give information about the fami)ies in 1hich the# had been received 1ith !indness$ Other1ise* the# 1ere threatened 1ith not being ab)e to continue their studies$ I 1ent to the a"tist Congress* 1hich 1as under the to!en of the Red =)ag* 1here the Communists had decided 1ho shou)d be the ?e)ected )eaders$@ I !ne1 that at the head of a)) the officia) churches 1ere men nominated b# the Communist Part#$ Then I rea)iBed that I 1as seeing an abomination about 1hich Cesus s"o!e$ There have a)1a#s been good and bad "astors and "reachers$ ut no1* for the first time in Church histor#* the Centra) Committee of an avo1ed atheistic Part#* 1hich has as its dec)ared "ur"ose the u"rooting of re)igion* decides 1ho )eads the Church$ To )ead it for 1hat "ur"oseM Sure)#* to he)" in the u"rooting of re)igion$ Lenin 1rote2 ?Ever# re)igious idea* ever# idea of <odIeven f)irting 1ith the idea of <od Iis unutterab)e vi)eness of the most dangerous !ind* contagion of the most abominab)e !ind$ 8i))ions of sins* fi)th# deeds* acts of vio)ence* and "h#sica) contagion are far )ess dangerous than the subt)e* s"iritua) idea of a <od$@
The Communist Parties of the Soviet Union 1ere Leninist$ To them re)igion 1as 1orse than cancer* tubercu)osis* or s#"hi)is$ They decided 1ho shou)d be the re)igious )eaders$ The )eaders of the officia) church coo"erated* com"romising more or )ess 1ith them$ I have seen the "oisoning of chi)dren and #outh 1ith atheism* the officia) churches having not the s)ightest "ossibi)it# of counteracting it$ In no church in our ca"ita) of ucharest cou)d one find a #outh meeting or a Sunda# schoo) for chi)dren$ The chi)dren of Christians are brought u" in the schoo) of hatred$ 9nd thenIseeing a)) thisII hated communism as I had not hated it under their tortures$ I hated not because of 1hat it had done to me* but because of the 1rong it does to the g)or# of <od* to the name of Christ* and to the sou)s of one bi))ion men under its dominion$ Peasants from a)) over the countr# came to see me and to)d me ho1 the co))ectiviBation 1as being conducted$ The# 1ere no1 hungr# s)aves on their o1n former fie)ds and vine#ards$ The# had no bread$ Their chi)dren had no mi)!* no fruitIand this in a countr# 1ith natura) riches that e;ua) those of Canaan of o)d$ rethren confessed to me that Lenin>s Communist regime had made thieves and )iars of them a))$ Out of hunger the# had to stea) from 1hat 1as origina))# their o1n fie)d* but no1 be)onged to the co))ective$ Then the# had to )ie to cover their theft$ Wor!ers s"o!e to me about the terror in the factories and about an e%")oitation of 1or!/"o1er such as the ca"ita)ists had never dreamed of$ The 1or!ers had no right to stri!e$ Inte))ectua)s had to teach* against their inner convictions* that there is no <od$ The 1ho)e )ife and thought of one/third of the 1or)d at that time 1as destro#ed or fa)sified* as is sti)) being done in restricted nations toda#$ Aoung gir)s came to com")ain that the# had been ca))ed to the Communist Aouth OrganiBation* and 1ere re"roved and threatened because the# !issed a bo# 1ho 1as a ChristianK and the name of another 1as given to them 1hom the# might !issL Ever#thing 1as des"erate)# fa)se and ug)#$ Then I met the fighters of the Underground ChurchIm# comrades of )ong agoIsome of 1hom have remained uncaught and others 1ho have ta!en u" the fight again after having been re)eased from "rison$ The# ca))ed on me to ta!e u" the fight 1ith them$ I attended their secret meetings at 1hich the# sang from h#mnboo!s 1ritten b# hand$ I remembered St$ 9nthon# the <reat* 1ho had been in the desert for thirt# #ears$ He had )eft the 1or)d a)together* "assing his 1ho)e )ife in fasting and "ra#er$ ut 1hen he heard about the fight bet1een St$ 9thanasius and 9rius about the divinit# of Christ* he )eft the contem")ative )ife and came to 9)e%andria to he)" the truth to trium"h$ I remembered St$ ernard de C)airvau%* 1ho 1as a mon! high u" in the mountains$ ut he heard about the foo)ishness of the Crusades* about Christians !i))ing 9rabs and Ce1s and their brethren in faith of another confession* to 1in an em"t# tomb$ He )eft his monaster# and ste""ed do1n from his heights to "reach against the Crusades$ I decided to do 1hat a)) Christians have to do2 to fo))o1 the e%am")es of Christ* the a"ost)e Pau)* and the great saints* to give u" the thought of retiring and to ta!e u" the fight$ What !ind of fight 1ou)d it beM Christians in "rison have a)1a#s "ra#ed for their enemies and have given a beautifu) 1itness to them$ The desire of our heart 1as that the# shou)d be saved* and 1e reJoiced as often as it ha""ened$ ut I hated the evi) Communist s#stem and I 1ished to strengthen the Underground Church* the on)# force that can overthro1 this a1fu) t#rann#* b# the "o1er of the gos"e)$
I did not thin! on)# about Romania* but a)so about the entire Communist 1or)d$ Ho1ever* I have met much unconcern in the West$ Writers around the 1or)d "rotested 1hen t1o Communist 1riters* Siniavs!i and Danie)* 1ere sentenced to "rison b# their o1n comrades$ ut not even churches "rotest 1hen Christians are "ut in "rison for their faith$ Who cares about rother +uB#c!* sentenced because he committed the crime of distributing ?"oisonous@ Christian "ub)ications such as ib)e "ortions and the devotiona) boo!)ets of Torre#M Who !no1s about rother Pro!ofiev* sentenced for having distributed "rinted sermonsM Who !no1s about <runva)d* a Hebre1 Christian sentenced for simi)ar offenses in Russia and from 1hom the Communists too! his )itt)e son for )ifeM I !no1 1hat I fe)t 1hen I 1as ta!en a1a# from m# 8ihai$ 9nd I suffer 1ith rother <runva)d* Ivanen!o* <rann# Shevchu!* Tais#a T!achen!o* E!aterina 0e!aBina* <eorgi 0e!aBin* the cou")e Pi)at in Latvia* and on and onInames of saints and heroes of the faith in the t1entieth centur#L I bo1 to !iss their chains* as the first Christians !issed the chains of their fe))o1 be)ievers 1hen the# 1ere )ed to be thro1n before the 1i)d beasts$ Some Western Church )eaders don>t care about them$ The names of the mart#rs are not on their "ra#er )ists$ Whi)e the# 1ere being tortured and sentenced* the Russian a"tist and Orthodo% officia) )eaders 1ho had denounced and betra#ed them 1ere received 1ith great honor at :e1 De)hi* at <eneva* and at other conferences$ There the# assured ever#one that in Russia there is fu)) re)igious )ibert#$ 9 )eader of the Wor)d Counci) of Churches !issed the o)shevi! archbisho" :i!odim 1hen he gave this assurance$ Then the# ban;ueted together in the im"osing name of the Wor)d Counci) of Churches* 1hi)e the saints in "rison ate cabbage 1ith un1ashed intestines* Just as I had eaten in the name of Cesus Christ$ Things cou)d not remain )i!e this$ The Underground Church decided that I shou)d )eave the countr# if the "ossibi)it# 1ere given* and inform Christians in the West about 1hat is ha""ening$ I have decided to denounce communism* though I )ove the Communists$ I don>t find it to be right to "reach the gos"e) 1ithout denouncing communism$ Some te)) me ?Preach the "ure gos"e)L@ This reminds me that the Communist secret "o)ice a)so to)d me to "reach Christ* but not to mention communism$ Is it rea))# so* that those 1ho are for 1hat is ca))ed ?a "ure gos"e)@ are ins"ired b# the same s"irit as those of the Communist secret "o)iceM I don>t !no1 1hat this so/ca))ed "ure gos"e) is$ Was the "reaching of Cohn the a"tist "ureM He did not sa# on)#* ?Re"ent* for the !ingdom of heaven is at handL@ F8atG(2&H$ He a)so ?rebu!ed DHerodE$$$for a)) the evi)s 1hich Herod had done@ FLu!G(245H$ He 1as beheaded because he didn>t confine himse)f to abstract teaching$ Cesus did not "reach on)# the ?"ure@ Sermon on the 8ount* but a)so 1hat some actua) church )eaders 1ou)d have ca))ed a negative sermon2 ?Woe to #ou* scribes and Pharisees* h#"ocritesL$$$Ser"ents* brood of vi"ersL@ F8atG&(2&'* 8atG&(2((H$ It is for such ?im"ure@ "reaching that He 1as crucified$ The Pharisees 1ou)d not have bothered about the Sermon on the 8ount$ Sin must be ca))ed b# its name$ Communism is one of the most dangerous sins in the 1or)d toda#$ Ever# gos"e) that does not denounce it is not the "ure gos"e)$ The Underground Church denounces it* ris!ing )ibert# and )ife$ The )ess have 1e to be si)ent in the West$ I have decided to denounce communism* not in the sense in 1hich those 1ho are usua))# ca))ed ?anti/Communists@ do it$ Hit)er 1as an anti/Communist and 1as nonethe)ess a t#rant$ We hate the sin and )ove the sinner$
This 1as 1ritten in 45&6$ Since then* democrac# and civi)iBation have died a)read# in ha)f of Euro"e and even as far as Cuba$ 8uch of the West s)ee"s$ ut there is one force that does not s)ee"$ Whereas in the East* Communists are disa""ointed and have )ost their i))usions* in the West a ?humanistic communism@ has re/ mained viru)ent$ The Western humanistsRCommunists sim")# do not be)ieve a)) the bad re"orts about the crue)ties* the miser#* and the "ersecution in Communist countries$ The# s"read their faith 1ith tire)ess Bea) ever#1here* in the )ounges of the u""er c)asses* in the c)ubs of inte))ectua)s* in co))eges* in the s)ums* and in the churches$ We Christians are often ha)f/hearted)# on the side of the 1ho)e truth$ The# are 1ho)ehearted)# on the side of the )ie$
Theo)ogians of the West discuss trif)es in the meantime$ It reminds me that* 1hi)e the troo"s of 8ahomet II surrounded Constantino")e in 4,5( and it had to be decided 1hether the a)!ans 1ou)d be under Christian or 8ohammedan dominion for centuries* a )oca) church counci) in the besieged cit# discussed the fo))o1ing "rob)ems2 What co)or 1ere the e#es of the virgin 8ar#M What gender do the ange)s haveM If a f)# fa))s into sanctified 1ater* is the f)# sanctified or the 1ater defi)edM This ma# be on)# a )egend concerning those times* but "eruse Church "eriodica)s of toda# and #ou 1i)) find that ;uestions Just )i!e these are discussed$ The menace of the "ersecutors and the sufferings of the Underground Church are scarce)# ever mentioned$ There are end)ess discussions about theo)ogica) matters* about ritua)s* about nonessentia)s$ 9t a "art# in a )ounge* someone as!ed2 ?If #ou 1ere on a shi" that san! and #ou cou)d esca"e to an iso)ated is)and* having the chance to ta!e 1ith #ou on)# one boo! from the shi">s )ibrar#* 1hich one 1ou)d #ou chooseM@ One ans1ered* ?The ib)e*@ another* ?Sha!es"eare$@ ut a 1riter had the correct ans1er2 ?I 1ou)d choose a boo! that cou)d teach me ho1 to ma!e a boat and to arrive on the shore$ There I 1ou)d be free to read 1hatever I 1ished$@ To !ee" )ibert# for a)) denominations and a)) theo)ogies* and to regain it 1here it has been )ost due to 1ides"read re)igious "ersecution* is more im"ortant than to insist u"on one certain theo)ogica) o"inion$ ?The truth sha)) ma!e #ou free*@ said Cesus FCohG72(&H$ ut* the same freedom* on)# freedom* can give the truth$ 9nd* instead of ;uarre)ing about nonessentia)s* 1e shou)d unite in this fight for freedom against the t#rannies in this 1or)d$ I suffer a)so b# sharing the increasing suffering of the Church in ca"tive nations$ Having "assed through these sufferings* I can visua)iBe them$ In Cune 4566* the Soviet ne1s"a"ers $(estia and 0er(ens!ais Ji$n accused the Russian a"tists of teaching their members to !i)) chi)dren to atone for sins$ It is the o)d accusation of ritua) murder that used to be raised against the Ce1s$ ut I !no1 1hat this means$ I 1as in a "rison in C)uJ in 45.5 1ith a "risoner* LaBarovici* accused of having !i))ed a gir)$ He 1as on)# thirt# #ears o)d* but his hair had turned 1hite overnight under the tortures$ He )oo!ed )i!e an o)d man$ His fingernai)s had been torn out to ma!e him confess to the crime* 1hich he had not committed$ 9fter a #ear of torture* his innocence 1as estab)ished and he 1as re)eased* but freedom meant nothing to him an# )onger$ He 1as a bro!en man forever$ Others read a ne1s"a"er artic)e and )aughed about the stu"id accusations that the Soviet Press made against the a"tists during the Communist era$ I !no1 1hat the# mean for the accused$ It is horrib)e to be in the West and to have such images constant)# before #our e#es$ What ha""ened to the 9rchbisho" Aermogen of +a)uga FU$S$S$R$H and the other seven bisho"s 1ho "rotested against the e%tremes of coo"eration 1ith the Soviet regime as "racticed b# the "atriarch 9)e%ei and the 9rchbisho" :i!odim* 1ho 1ere too)s in the hands of the CommunistsM If I had not seen the bisho"s 1ho "rotested in Romania d#ing near me in "rison* I 1ou)d not be so concerned about these god)# bisho"s$
The ministers :i!o)ai Esh)iman and <)eb Aa!unin 1ere disci")ined b# the "atriarch because the# as!ed for re)igious freedom for the church$ The West !no1s this much$ ut I 1as in "rison 1ith =ather Ioan of 0)adimireshti* Romania* to 1hom the same thing ha""ened$ On the surface there 1as on)# an ecc)esiastica) ?disci")ining$@ ut our officia) church )eaders* )i!e most officia) church )eaders of the Communist countries* 1or!ed hand/in/hand 1ith the secret "o)ice$ Those disci")ined b# them 1ere a)so "ut under the more efficient ?disci")ine@Itortures* beatings* and druggingIof "risoners$ I tremb)e because of the sufferings of those "ersecuted in different )ands$ I tremb)e thin!ing about the eterna) destin# of their torturers$ I tremb)e for Western Christians 1ho don>t he)" their "ersecuted brethren$ In the de"th of m# heart* I 1ou)d )i!e to !ee" the beaut# of m# o1n vine#ard and not be invo)ved in such a huge fight$ I 1ou)d )i!e so much to be some1here in ;uietness and rest$ ut it is not "ossib)e$ When the Communists invaded Tibet* the# "ut an end to those 1ho 1ere interested on)# in com")ete)# s"iritua) matters$ In our countr# the# "ut an end to a)) 1ho removed themse)ves from rea)it#$ Churches and monasteries 1ere disso)ved* !ee"ing on)# as much as 1as necessar# to du"e foreigners$ The ;uietness and rest for 1hich I )ong 1ou)d be an esca"e from rea)it# and dangerous for m# sou)$ I have )ed this fight a)though it 1as ver# dangerous for me "ersona))#$ The# !idna""ed me from the street in 45,7 and "ut me in Jai) under a fa)se name$ 9nna Pau!er* our Secretar# of State at that time* said to the S1edish ambassador* Sir Patric! von Reuters1aerde* ?Oh* Wurmbrand is no1 ta!ing 1a)!s on the streets of Co"enhagen$@ The S1edish minister had in his "oc!et m# )etter that I had succeeded in smugg)ing out of "risonK he !ne1 that he had been to)d a )ie$ Such a thing can ha""en again$ If I am !i))ed* the !i))er 1i)) have been a""ointed b# the Communists$ :o one e)se has an# motive to !i)) me$ If #ou hear rumors about m# mora) de"ravit#* theft* homose%ua)it#* adu)ter#* "o)itica) unre)iab)eness* )#ing* or an#thing e)se* it 1i)) be the fu)fi))ing of the threat of the secret "o)ice2 ?We 1i)) destro# #ou mora))#$@ 9 ver# 1e))/informed source to)d me that the Romanian Communists decided to !i)) me after the testimon# I gave to the U$S$ Senate in the )ate 456-s$ ut I cannot remain si)ent$ 9nd #our dut# is to e%amine ;uiet)# 1hat I sa#$ Even if #ou thin! that* after a)) I have "assed through* I suffer from a "ersecution com")e%* #ou must as! #ourse)f 1hat this dreadfu) "o1er of communism is that ma!es its citiBens suffer from such com")e%es$ What "o1er is it that made men from Communist East <erman# ta!e a chi)d in a bu))doBer and "ass through barbed 1ire at the ris! of being shot 1ith their 1ho)e fami)#M The West s)ee"s and must be a1a!ened to see the ")ight of ca"tive nations$
n n n
8en 1ho suffer often see! a sca"egoat* someone on 1hom to ")ace the gui)t$ To find such a one eases the burden much$ I cannot do it$ I cannot "ut the gui)t on some of the Church )eaders of the West 1ho com"romise 1ith the haters of Christians$ The evi) comes not from them$ These )eaders are themse)ves the victims of a much o)der evi)$ The# did not create the mess in the ChurchK the# found it$
Since being in the West* I have visited man# theo)ogica) seminaries$ There I heard )ectures about the histor# of be))s and the histor# of )iturgica) songs* about canonica) )a1s )ong since disused or about a church disci")ine that no )onger e%ists$ I have heard that some students of theo)og# )earn that the bib)ica) stor# of creation is not true* nor that of 9dam* nor the f)ood* nor the mirac)es of 8oses$ Some are taught that the "ro"hecies 1ere 1ritten after their fu)fi))mentK that the virgin birth is a m#thK )i!e1ise the resurrection of Cesus* that His bones have remained some1here in a graveK that the E"ist)es are not genuineK and that Reve)ation is the boo! of a madman$ Other1ise* the ib)e is a ho)# boo!L FThis )eaves a ho)# boo! in 1hich there are a))eged)# more )ies than in Chinese Communist ne1s"a"ers$H That is 1hat some "resent Western Church )eaders )earned 1hen the# 1ere in seminaries$ That is the atmos"here in 1hich the# )ive$ Wh# shou)d the# be faithfu) to a 8aster about 1hom such strange things are saidM Wh# shou)d Church )eaders be faithfu) to a Church in 1hich it can be free)# taught that <od is deadM Some )eaders of denominations are not of the ride of Christ$ The# are )eaders in a Church in 1hich man# have )ong since betra#ed the 8aster$ When the# meet someone of the Underground Church* a mart#r* the# )oo! at him strange)#$ We cannot a)1a#s Judge man for on)# one "art of his attitude$ If 1e did so* 1e 1ou)d be )i!e the Pharisees in 1hose e#es Cesus 1as seen as bad* because He did not res"ect their ru)es about the Sabbath$ The# c)osed their e#es entire)# to 1hat 1ou)d have been )ovab)e in Cesus* even in their sight$ The same Church )eaders 1ho have a 1rong attitude to1ard communism ma# be right in man# other things and ma# be "ersona))# sincere$ 9nd even in 1hat the# are 1rong* the# ma# change$ I 1as once 1ith an Orthodo% bisho" in Romania$ He 1as a man of the Communists* denouncing his o1n shee"$ I too! his hand bet1een mine and to)d him the "arab)e of the "rodiga) son$ It 1as on an evening in his garden$ I said* ?See 1ith 1hat )ove <od receives a sinner 1ho returns$ He receives g)ad)# even a bisho" if he re"ents$@ I sang him Christian songs$ This man 1as converted$ I 1as in "rison in the same ce)) 1ith an Orthodo% "riest 1ho* in the ho"e of being re)eased* 1rote atheistic )ectures$ I s"o!e to him and he tore to "ieces 1hat he had 1ritten* thus ris!ing never to be re)eased$ I cannot ma!e a sca"egoat of an#one to ease the burden I have u"on m# heart$
n n n
I have another "ain$ Even ver# c)ose friends misunderstand me$ Some accuse me of bitterness and resentment against the Communists* 1hich I !no1 not to be true$ The 8osaic 1riter C)aude 8ontefiore said that Cesus> attitude to1ard scribes and Pharisees* His "ub)ic denunciation of them* is contrar# to His command to )ove our enemies and b)ess those 1ho curse us$ 9nd Dr$ W$ R$ 8atthe1s* retired Dean of St$ Pau)>s in London* conc)uded that this is an incoherence and inconsistenc# in Cesus$ He gives the e%cuse that Cesus 1as not an inte))ectua)L 8ontefiore>s im"ression of Cesus 1as 1rong$ Cesus lo(ed the Pharisees* a)though He denounced them "ub)ic)#$ 9nd I )ove the Communists* as 1e)) as their too)s in the Church* a)though I denounce them$ Constant)# I am to)d* ?=orget the CommunistsL Wor! on)# in s"iritua) thingsL@
I met 1ith a Christian 1ho had suffered under the :aBis$ He to)d me that he is entire)# on m# side as )ong as I 1itness for Christ* but I shou)d not sa# one 1ord against communism$ I as!ed him if Christians 1ho fought against :aBism in <erman# 1ere 1rong and if the# shou)d have been confined to s"ea!ing on)# from the ib)e* 1ithout sa#ing a 1ord against the t#rant Hit)er$ The re")# 1as* ? ut Hit)er !i))ed si% mi))ion Ce1sL One had to s"ea! against him$@ I re")ied* ?Communism has !i))ed thirt# mi))ion Russians and mi))ions of Chinese and others$ 9nd the# have !i))ed Ce1s* too$ 8ust 1e "rotest on)# 1hen Ce1s are !i))ed* and not 1hen Russians or Chinese are !i))edM@ The ans1er 1as* ?This is ;uite another thing$@ I received no e%")anation$ The "o)ice beat me both during Hit)er>s reign and during Communist times* and I cou)d not see an# difference$ oth 1ere ver# "ainfu)$ Christianit# has to fight against man# as"ects of sin* not on)# against communism$ We are not obsessed 1ith Just this one "rob)em$ ut communism is a tremendous foe of Chris/ tianit# and most dangerous$ 9gainst it* 1e must unite$ 8a# I sa# it againL The highest goa) of man is to become Christ/)i!e$ To "revent this is the main aim of Communists$ The# are "rimari)# anti/re)igious$ The# be)ieve that after death man becomes sa)t and minera)s* nothing e)se$ The# desire the 1ho)e )ife to be )ived on the )eve) of matter$ The# !no1 on)# the masses$ Their 1ord is that of the demon in the :e1 Testament 1hen as!ed 1hat his name 1as2 ?We are )egion$@ Individua) "ersona)it#Ione of the great gifts of <od to man!indImust be crushed$ The# im"risoned a man because the# found him 1ith a boo! b# 9)fred 9d)er* ndi(idual 'sychology# The officers of the secret "o)ice shouted* ?9h* individua)Ia)1a#s individua)L Wh# not co))ectiveM@ Cesus 1ishes us to be "ersona)ities$ Therefore there is no "ossibi)it# of com"romise bet1een communism and us$ The Communists !no1 it$ In their magaBine Nau!a i Religia FScience and Re)igionH* the# have 1ritten* ?Re)igion is incom"atib)e 1ith communism$ It is hosti)e to it$$$The content of the "rogram of the Communist Part# is a death b)o1 to re)igion$$$It is a "rogram for the creation of an atheistic societ# in 1hich "eo")e 1i)) be rid / forever of the re)igious bondage$@ Can Christianit# coe%ist 1ith communismM Here the Communists ans1er this ;uestion2 ?The Communist Part# is a death b)o1 to re)igionL@
CH9PTER .
The Communist "ress to)d the stor# of a #oung 1oman 1ho 1or!ed in the Communist "ro"aganda de"artment$ 9fter 1or!* the# said* she and her husband 1ou)d gather a grou" of #oung "eo")e from other a"artments in their bui)ding for secret ib)e studies and "ra#er meetings$ This is sti)) ha""ening throughout the 1or)d$ Tens of thousands of such ?out1ard nonbe)ievers@ e%ist$ The# fee) it 1iser not to attend the sho1/churches 1here the# 1i)) be 1atched and hear on)# a 1atered/do1n gos"e)$ Instead* the# sta# in their "ositions of authorit# and res"onsibi)it# from 1hich the# can ;uiet)# and effective)# 1itness for Christ$ The faithfu) Underground Church has thousands of members in such ")aces$ The# have secret meetings in basements* attics* a"artments* and fie)ds$ In former)# Communist Russia* no one remembered an#more the arguments for or against chi)d or adu)t ba"tism* for or against "a"a) infa))ibi)it#$ The# 1ere not "re/ or "ost/ mi))ennia)ists$ The# cou)d not inter"ret "ro"hecies and didn>t ;uarre) about them* but I 1ondered ver# often ho1 1e)) the# cou)d "rove to atheists the e%istence of <od$ Their ans1ers to atheists 1ere sim")e* ?If #ou 1ere invited to a feast 1ith a)) !inds of good meats* 1ou)d #ou be)ieve that there has been no one to coo! themM ut nature is a ban;uet "re"ared for usL Aou have tomatoes and "eaches and a"")es and mi)! and hone#$ Who has "re"ared a)) these things for man!indM :ature is b)ind$ If #ou be)ieve in no <od* ho1 can #ou e%")ain that b)ind nature succeeded in "re"aring Just the things that 1e need in such ")enitude and variet#M@ The# "rove that eterna) )ife e%ists$ I heard one ")eading 1ith an atheist2 ?Su""ose that 1e cou)d s"ea! 1ith an embr#o in his mother>s 1omb and that #ou 1ou)d te)) him that the embr#onic )ife is on)# a short one after 1hich fo))o1s a rea)* )ong )ife$ What 1ou)d the embr#o ans1erM He 1ou)d sa# Just 1hat #ou atheists ans1er to us* 1hen 1e s"ea! to #ou about "aradise and he))$ He 1ou)d sa# that the )ife in the mother>s 1omb is the on)# one and that ever#thing e)se is re)igious foo)ishness$ ut if the embr#o cou)d thin!* he 1ou)d sa# to himse)f* OHere arms gro1 on me$ I do not need them$ I cannot even stretch them$ Wh# do the# gro1M Perha"s the# gro1 for a future stage of m# e%istence* in 1hich I 1i)) have to 1or! 1ith them$ Legs gro1* but I have to !ee" them bent to1ard m# chest$ Wh# do the# gro1M Probab)# )ife in a )arge 1or)d fo))o1s* 1here I 1i)) have to 1a)!$ E#es gro1* a)though I am surrounded b# "erfect dar!ness and don>t need them$ Wh# do I have e#esM Probab)# a 1or)d 1ith )ight and co)ors 1i)) fo))o1$> ?So* if the embr#o 1ou)d ref)ect on his o1n deve)o"ment* he 1ou)d !no1 about a )ife outside of his mother>s 1omb* 1ithout having seen it$ It is the same 1ith us$ 9s )ong as 1e are #oung* 1e have vigor* but no mind to use it "ro"er)#$ When* 1ith the #ears* 1e have gro1n in !no1)edge and 1isdom* the hearse 1aits to ta!e us to the grave$ Wh# 1as it necessar# to gro1 in a !no1)edge and 1isdom that 1e can use no moreM Wh# do arms* )egs* and e#es gro1 on an embr#oM t is for what follows# So it is 1ith us here$ We gro1 here in e%"erience* !no1)edge* and 1isdom for 1hat fo))o1s$ We are "re"ared to serve on a higher )eve) that fo))o1s death$@ 9bout Cesus* the Communists "rinted that He never e%isted$ The 1or!ers of the Underground Church ans1ered this easi)#2 ?What ne1s"a"er have #ou in #our "oc!etM Is it the 'ra(da of toda# or #esterda#M Let me have a )oo!$ 9haL Canuar# ,* 456,$ The #ear 456, counted from 1henM Aou sa# Cesus never e%isted* #et #ou count the #ears from His birth$ Time e%isted before Him$ ut 1hen He came* it seemed to man!ind that ever#thing 1hich had been before had been vain and that the rea) time began on)# no1$ Aour Communist ne1s"a"er itse)f is a "roof that Cesus is not fiction$@
Pastors in the West usua))# assume that those 1hom the# have in church are rea))# convinced about the main truths of Christianit#* 1hich the# are not$ Aou rare)# hear a sermon "roving the truth of our faith$ ut behind the Iron Curtain* men 1ho have never )earned to do it gave their converts a ver# serious foundation$ There is no c)ear dividing )ine b# 1hich #ou cou)d sa# 1here the Underground Church* 1hich is the main strongho)d of Christianit#* ends and the officia) Church begins$ The# are inter1oven$ Some "astors of the sho1/churches in ca"tive nations carr# on a secret "ara))e) ministr# going far be#ond the )imitations im"osed on them b# their governments$ The officia) Church* the church of co))aborators 1ith the Communists* has a )ong histor#$ It began immediate)# after the Russian Socia)ist Revo)ution 1ith the ?Living Church*@ headed b# a bisho" named Sergius$ One of his co))aborators dec)ared that ?8ar%ism is the gos"e) 1ritten 1ith atheist )etters$@ What nice theo)og#$ We have had man# )i!e Sergius in ever# countr#$ In Hungar#* among the Catho)ics* it 1as =ather a)ogh$ He and some Protestant ministers he)"ed the Communists ta!e com")ete contro) of the state$ In Romania* the Communists came to "o1er 1ith the he)" of an Orthodo% "riest named urducea* a former =ascist* 1ho had to ma!e u" to the Reds for his "ast sins b# becoming even more ?Red@ than his bosses$ This "riest stood near 0ishins!i* the Soviet Secretar# of State* and smi)ed in an a""roving manner 1hen the )atter dec)ared at the insta))ation of the ne1 Communist government2 ?This government 1i)) bui)d an earth)# "aradise and #ou 1i)) no )onger need a heaven)# one$@ 9s for those )i!e :i!o)ai of Russia* it is on record that the# are informers for the government$ 8aJor Deriabin* a defector from the Russian secret "o)ice* testified that :i!o)ai 1as their agent$ This 1as the situation in near)# a)) denominations$ The )eadershi" of the Romanian a"tists 1as im"osed b# force* denouncing the rea) Christians$ In Russia the )eadershi" of the a"tists did the same$ The "resident of the Romanian 9dventists* Tachici* to)d me that he had been an informer of the Communist secret "o)ice from the first da# the# came to "o1er$ Rather than c)ose ever# churchIthough the# have c)osed man# thousandsIthe Communists shre1d)# decided to "ermit a fe1 ?to!en@ officia) churches to remain o"en and use them as 1indo1s through 1hich to observe* contro)* and eventua))# destro# Christians and Christianit#$ The# decided that it 1ou)d be better to )et the structure of the Church remain and turn it into a Communist too) to contro) Christians and to deceive visitors coming to their )ands$ This situation e%ists in the officia) Chinese TSP8 church as 1e move into the ne%t centur#$ This ?on)# )ega)@ church in China re"resents )ess than t1ent# "ercent of China>s Christians$ In Romania* I 1as offered such a church on the condition that I* as "astor* 1ou)d re"ort on m# members to the secret "o)ice$ It seems that Westerners* accustomed to things ?b)ac! and 1hite@Ia)) one 1a# or a)) anotherIcannot understand this$ ut the Underground Church 1i)) never acce"t to!en* contro))ed churches as a substitute for meaningfu)* effective evange)ism ?to ever# creature@Iinc)uding #outh$ ut in the officia) churches there is a rea) s"iritua) )ife* des"ite man# treacherous )eaders$ FI have the im"ression that in man# churches of the West the situation is simi)ar$ The congregations are faithfu) sometimes not because of* but in s"ite of* their to" )eaders$H
In Russia* the Orthodo% )iturg# remained unchanged* and it fed the hearts of the members of this church* even if the sermons f)attered the Communists$ The Lutherans* Presb#terians* and other Protestants sang the same o)d h#mns$ 9nd then* even the sermons of the informers had to contain something of Scri"ture$ Peo")e in China toda# are converted under the inf)uence of men 1hom the# !no1 to be traitors$ The# !no1 that the# 1i)) te)) the secret "o)ice about their conversions$ The# must hide their faith from the ver# one 1ho gave them this faith b# his corru"ted sermon$ This is the great mirac)e of <od cited in LevG442(' in s#mbo)ic )anguage2 ?9nd if a "art of an# such carcass D1hich is* according to the 8osaic )a1* defi)edE fa))s on an# ")anting seed 1hich is to be so1n* it remains c)ean$@ =airness ob)iges us to sa# that not a)) the officia) Church )eaders* not even a)) the officia) to" )eaders* are men of the Communists$ 8embers of the Underground Church are a)so ver# "rominent in the officia) churches* e%ce"t for some 1ho have to !ee" themse)ves hidden$ 9nd the# see to it that Christianit# is not 1ish#/1ash#* but a fighting faith$ When the secret "o)ice came to c)ose do1n the monaster# of 0)adimireshti in Romania and others in man# ")aces in Russia* the# had a hard time$ Some Communists have "aid 1ith their )ives for the crime of tr#ing to forbid re)igion$ ut the officia) churches are becoming fe1er and fe1er$ I 1onder if* in the 1ho)e of the Soviet Union* there 1ere five or si% thousand churches under communism$ FThe United States* 1ith the same "o"u)ation* had some three hundred thousand decades ago$H 9nd these ?churches@ 1ere most often on)# tin# roomsInot a ?church@ as 1e "icture it$ =oreign visitors 1ou)d see a cro1ded church in 8osco1I1hich 1as the on)# Protestant church in the cit#Iand remar! 1hat freedom there is$ ?Even the churches are overf)o1ingL@ the# 1ou)d Jo#ous)# re"ort$ The# did not see the traged# of one Protestant church for seven mi))ion sou)sL 9nd not even the one/room churches 1ere 1ithin trave)ing distance of eight# "ercent of the "eo")e of the Soviet Union$ These mu)titudes 1ere either forgotten or reached 1ith underground methods of evange)ism$ There 1as no other choice$ The more communism dominates in a countr#* the more the Church 1i)) have to be underground$ In ")ace of c)osed officia) churches come the meetings of the anti/re)igious organiBations$
The Communist "ub)ishing house 1as ver# g)ad to receive thousands of )etters as!ing for re"rints of atheist boo!s that ;uoted ib)e verses to moc! them$ The# did not !no1 that these )etters came from the Underground Church* 1hich had no other o""ortunit# of receiving the Scri"tures$ We a)so !ne1 1e)) ho1 to use the atheistic meetings$ 9 "rofessor of communism demonstrated at a meeting that Cesus 1as nothing but a magician$ The "rofessor had before him a "itcher of 1ater$ He "ut a "o1der in it and it became red$ ?This is the 1ho)e mirac)e*@ he e%")ained$ ?Cesus had hidden in his s)eeves a "o1der )i!e this* and then "retended to have changed 1ater into 1ine in a 1onderfu) manner$ ut I can do even better than CesusK I can change the 1ine into 1ater again$@ 9nd he "ut another "o1der in the )i;uid$ It became c)ear$ Then another "o1der and it 1as red again$ 9 Christian stood u" and said* ?Aou have amaBed us* comrade "rofessor* b# 1hat #ou are ab)e to do$ We 1ou)d as! on)# one thing more of #ouIdrin! a bott)e of #our 1ineL@ The "rofessor said* ?This I cannot do$ The "o1der 1as a "oison$@ The Christian re")ied* ?This is the 1ho)e difference bet1een #ou and Cesus$ He* 1ith His 1ine* has given us Jo# for t1o thousand #ears* 1hereas #ou "oison us 1ith #our 1ine$@ The Christian 1ent to "rison$ ut ne1s of the incident s"read ver# far and strengthened man# of the faith$ We are 1ea! )itt)e Davids$ ut 1e are stronger than the <o)iath of atheism* because <od is on our side$ The truth be)ongs to us$ On one occasion a Communist 1as giving a )ecture on atheism$ 9)) factor# 1or!ers 1ere re;uired to attendK among these 1or!ers 1ere man# Christians$ The# sat ;uiet)# hearing a)) the arguments against <od and about the stu"idit# of be)ieving in Christ$ The )ecturer attem"ted to "rove that there is no s"iritua) 1or)d* no <od* no Christ* no hereafterK man is on)# matter 1ith no sou)$ He said over and over that on)# matter e%ists$ 9 Christian stood u" and as!ed to s"ea!$ Permission 1as given$ The Christian "ic!ed u" his fo)ding chair and thre1 it do1n$ He "aused* )oo!ing at it$ He then 1a)!ed u" and s)a""ed the Communist )ecturer in the face$ The )ecturer became ver# angr#$ His face f)ushed red 1ith indignation$ He shouted obscenities and ca))ed for fe))o1 Communists to arrest the Christian$ He demanded* ?Ho1 dare #ou s)a" meM What is the reasonM@ The Christian re")ied* ?Aou have Just "roved #ourse)f a )iar$ Aou said ever#thing is matter$$$nothing e)se$ I "ic!ed u" a chair and thre1 it do1n$ It is tru)# matter$ The chair did not become angr#$ It is on)# matter$ When I s)a""ed #ou* #ou did not react )i!e the chair$ Aou reacted different)#$ 8atter does not get mad or angr#* but you did$ Therefore* comrade "rofessor* #ou are 1rong$ 8an is more than matter$ We are s"iritua) beingsL@ In count)ess 1a#s such as this* ordinar# Christians of the Underground Church dis"roved e)aborate atheistic arguments$ In "rison* the "o)itica) officer as!ed me harsh)#* ?Ho1 )ong 1i)) #ou continue to !ee" #our stu"id re)igionM@ I said to him* ?I have seen innumerab)e atheists regretting on their deathbeds that the# have been god)essK the# ca))ed on Christ$ Can #ou imagine that a Christian cou)d regret* 1hen death is near* that he has been a Christian and ca)) on 8ar% or Lenin to rescue him from his faithM@ The officer )aughed* ?9 c)ever ans1er$@ I continued* ?When an engineer has bui)t a bridge* the fact that a cat can "ass over the bridge is no "roof that the bridge is good$ 9 train must "ass over it to "rove its strength$ The fact that #ou can be an atheist 1hen ever#thing goes 1e)) does not "rove the truth of atheism$ It does not ho)d u" in moments of great crisis$@ I used Lenin>s boo!s to "rove to him that* even after becoming "rime minister of the Soviet Union* Lenin himse)f "ra#ed 1hen things 1ent 1rong$
We 1ere ;uiet and cou)d ;uiet)# a1ait the deve)o"ment of events$ It 1as the Communists 1ho 1ere un;uiet and )aunched ne1 anti/re)igious cam"aigns$ # this the# "roved 1hat St$ 9ugustine said* ?Uneas# is the heart unti) it rests in Thee$@
e Won
The Underground Church* if he)"ed b# Christians in the free 1or)d* 1i)) 1in the hearts of the Communists and 1i)) change the face of the 1or)d$ It will 1in them* because it is unnatura) to be a Communist$ Even a dog 1ishes to have his o1n bone$ The hearts of Communists rebe) against the ro)e the# must ")a# and the absurdities the# are forced to be)ieve$ Individua) Communists asserted that ?matter is ever#thing@Ithat 1e are a handfu) of chemica)s organiBed in a certain fashion and that after death 1e 1i)) again be sa)t and minera)s$ It 1as therefore enough to as! them* ?Ho1 is it that Communists in so man# countries have given their )ives for their be)iefM Does a Ohandfu) of chemica)s> have be)iefsM Can Ominera)s> sacrifice themse)ves for the good of othersM@ To this the# have no ans1er$ 9nd then there is the issue of bruta)it#$ 8en 1ere not created as brutes and cannot bear to be brutes for )ong$ We have seen it in the co))a"se of :aBi ru)ers* some of 1hom committed suicide* 1hi)e some re"ented and confessed their crimes$ The enormous amount of drun!enness in Communist countries e%"oses the )onging for a more meaningfu) )ife* 1hich communism cannot give$ The average Russian is a dee"* big/ hearted* generous "erson$ Communism is sha))o1 and su"erficia)$ He see!s the dee" )ife and* finding it no1here e)se* he see!s it in a)coho)$ He e%"resses in a)coho)ism his horror about the bruta) and deceitfu) )ife he must )ive$ =or a fe1 moments a)coho) sets him free* as truth 1ou)d set him free forever if he cou)d !no1 it$ In ucharest* during the Russian occu"ation F45,'S4575H* I once fe)t an irresistib)e im"u)se to enter a tavern$ I ca))ed m# 1ife to go 1ith me$ U"on entering* 1e sa1 a Russian ca"tain 1ith a gun in his hand threatening ever#one and as!ing for more to drin!$ He had been refused because he 1as a)read# ver# drun!$ Peo")e 1ere in a "anic$ I 1ent to the o1nerI1ho !ne1 meIand as!ed him to give )i;uor to the ca"tain* "romising that I 1ou)d sit 1ith him and see that he !e"t ;uiet$ One bott)e of 1ine after another 1as given to us$ On the tab)e 1ere three g)asses$ The ca"tain a)1a#s "o)ite)# fi))ed a)) three$$$and dran! a)) three$ 8# 1ife and I did not drin!$ 9)though he 1as ver# drun!* his mind 1as 1or!ing$ He 1as used to a)coho)$ I s"o!e to him about Christ and he )istened 1ith une%"ected attention$ When I finished* he said* ?:o1 that #ou have to)d me 1ho #ou are* I 1i)) te)) #ou 1ho I am$ I am an Orthodo% "riest 1ho 1as among the first to den# m# faith 1hen the great "ersecution under Sta)in began$ I 1ent from vi))age to vi))age to give )ectures sa#ing that there is no <od and that as a "riest I had been a deceiver$ OI am a deceiver and so are a)) the other ministers*> I to)d them$ I 1as ver# much a""reciated for m# Bea)* so I became an officer of the secret "o)ice$ 8# "unishment from <od 1as that 1ith this hand I had to !i)) Christians* after having tortured them$ 9nd no1 I drin! and drin! to forget 1hat I have done$ ut it does not 1or!$@ 8an# Communists commit suicide$ So did their greatest "oets* Essenin and 8aia!ovs!i$ So did their great 1riter =adeev$ He had Just finished his nove) ca))ed 4a""iness in 1hich he had e%")ained that ha""iness consists in 1or!ing tire)ess)# for communism$ He 1as so ha""# about it that he shot himse)f after having finished the nove)$ It 1as too difficu)t for his sou) to bear such a great )ie$ Coffe* Tom!inIgreat Communist )eaders and fighters for communism in CBarist timesI)i!e1ise cou)d not bear to see ho1 communism )oo!s in rea)it#$ The# a)so ended in suicide$
Communists are unha""#$ So are even their great dictators$ Ho1 unha""# Sta)in 1asL 9fter having !i))ed near)# a)) of his o)d comrades* he 1as constant)# in fear of being "oisoned or !i))ed himse)f$ He had eight bedrooms that cou)d be )oc!ed u" )i!e safes in a ban!$ :o one ever !ne1 in 1hich of these bedrooms he s)e"t on an# given night$ He never ate un)ess the coo! tasted the food in his "resence$ Communism ma!es no one ha""#* not even its dictators$ The# need Christ$ # converting those 1ho "ersecute Christians* 1e 1ou)d free not on)# their victims* but the "ersecutors themse)ves$ The Underground Church re"resents the dee"est need of ens)aved "eo")es in ca"tive nations$ He)" herL
n n n
The distinctive feature of the Underground Church is its earnestness in faith$ 9 minister 1ho disguises himse)f under the name of ?<eorge@ te))s in his boo! about <od>s Underground the fo))o1ing incident2 9 Russian 9rm# ca"tain came to a minister in Hungar# and as!ed to see him a)one$ The #oung ca"tain 1as ver# brash* and ver# conscious of his ro)e as a con;ueror$ When he had been )ed to a sma)) conference room and the door 1as c)osed* he nodded to1ard the cross that hung on the 1a))$ ?Aou !no1 that thing is a )ie*@ he said to the minister$ ?It>s Just a "iece of tric!er# #ou ministers use to de)ude the "oor "eo")e to ma!e it easier for the rich to !ee" them ignorant$ Come no1* 1e are a)one$ 9dmit to me that #ou never rea))# be)ieved that Cesus Christ 1as the Son of <odL@ The minister smi)ed$ ? ut* m# "oor #oung man* of course I be)ieve it$ It is true$@ ?I 1on>t have #ou ")a# these tric!s on meL@ cried the ca"tain$ ?This is serious$ Don>t )augh at meL@ He dre1 out his revo)ver and he)d it c)ose to the bod# of the minister$ ?Un)ess #ou admit to me that it is a )ie* I>)) fireL@ ?I cannot admit that* for it is not true$ Our Lord is rea))# and tru)# the Son of <od*@ said the minister$ The ca"tain f)ung his revo)ver on the f)oor and embraced the man of <od$ Tears s"rang to his e#es$ ?It is trueL@ he cried$ t is true# I be)ieve so* too* but I cou)d not be sure men 1ou)d die for this be)ief unti) I found it out for m#se)f$ Oh* than! #ouL Aou have strengthened m# faith$ :o1 I too can die for Christ$ Aou have sho1n me ho1$@ I have !no1n other such cases$ When the Russians occu"ied Romania* t1o armed Russian so)diers entered a church 1ith their guns in their hands$ The# said* ?We don>t be)ieve in #our faith$ Those 1ho do not abandon it immediate)# 1i)) be shot at onceL Those 1ho abandon #our faith move to the rightL@ Some moved to the right* 1ho 1ere then ordered to )eave the church and go home$ The# f)ed for their )ives$ When the Russians 1ere a)one 1ith the remaining Christians* the# embraced them and confessed* ?We* too* are Christians* but 1e 1ished to have fe))o1shi" on)# 1ith those 1ho consider the truth 1orth d#ing for$@ Such men fought for the gos"e) and sti)) fight toda# in the Communist nations of Southeast 9sia$ 9nd the# fight not on)# for the gos"e)$ The# are a)so the fighters for )ibert#$
In the homes of man# Western Christians* hours are sometimes s"ent )istening to 1or)d)# music$ In our homes )oud music can a)so be heard* but it is on)# to cover the ta)! about the gos"e) and the underground 1or! so that neighbors ma# not overhear it and inform the secret "o)ice$ Ho1 underground Christians reJoice on those rare occasions 1hen the# meet a serious Christian from the WestL The one 1ho 1rites these )ines is on)# an insignificant man$ ut I am the voice of those 1ho are voice)essK of those 1ho are muBB)ed and never re"resented in the West$ In their name I as! great seriousness in faith and in hand)ing the "rob)ems of Christianit#$ In their name I as! #our "ra#ers and "ractica) he)" for the faithfu)* suffering Underground Church in Communist )ands and other ca"tive nations toda#$
n n n
We shall 1in the Communists$ =irst* because <od is on our side$ Second* because our message corres"onds to the dee"est needs of the heart$ Communists 1ho had been in "rison under the :aBis confessed to me that the# "ra#ed in difficu)t hours$ I have even seen Communist officers die 1ith the 1ords ?Cesus* Cesus*@ on their )i"s$ We sha)) 1in because a)) the cu)tura) inheritance of our "eo")e is on our side$ The Russians can forbid a)) the 1ritings of modern Christians$ ut there are the boo!s of To)sto# and Dosto#evs!i* and "eo")e find the )ight of Christ there$ So it is 1ith <oethe in Eastern <erman#* Sien!ie1icB in Po)and* and others$ The greatest Romanian 1riter 1as Sadoveanu$ The Communists have "ub)ished his boo! The 5i(es of 6aints under the tit)e The 5egend of 6aints$ ut even under this tit)e the e%am")e of the )ives of saints ins"ires$ The# cannot e%c)ude re"roductions of Ra"hae)* 8iche)ange)o* and Leonardo da 0inci from the histor# of the arts$ These "ictures s"ea! of Christ$ When I ta)! 1ith a Communist about Christ* the dee"est s"iritua) need in his heart is m# a))#Im# he)"er$ The greatest difficu)t# for him is not to ans1er m# arguments$ His great difficu)t# is to ;uiet the voice of his o1n conscience* 1hich is on m# side$ I have "ersona))# !no1n "rofessors of 8ar%ism 1ho* before de)ivering an atheistic )ecture* "ra#ed to <od that He might he)" them in thisL I have !no1n of Communists going to a secret meeting far a1a#$ When the# 1ere discovered* the# denied that the# had been in an underground meeting$ Then the# 1e"t* regretting that the# had not had the courage to stand for the faith that com"e))ed them to attend$ The# are men* too$ Once the individua) has arrived at faithIeven a ver# "rimitive faithIthis faith deve)o"s and gro1s$ We are sure that it 1i)) con;uer because 1e of the Underground Church have seen it con;uer again and again$ Christ )oves the Communists and other ?enemies of the faith$@ The# can and must be 1on for Christ$ Whoever 1ishes to satisf# the )onging of the heart of Cesus for the sa)vation of the sou)s of a)) man!ind shou)d sustain the Underground Church in her 1or!$ Cesus said* ?Teach a)) nations$@ He never said that 1e need governmenta) "ermission to evange)iBe$ =aithfu)ness to <od and the <reat Commission com"e)s us to reach be#ond borders to "eo")e in restricted nations$ We can reach them b# 1or!ing 1ith the Underground Church a)read# thereL
The third vita) "art of the Underground Church is the )arge bod# of faithfu) "astors in the officia)* but brid)ed and si)enced ?churches$@ The Underground Church is not something com")ete)# se"arate from the officia) church$ During the reign of communism in Po)and* Hungar#* and the former Augos)avia* man# of the "astors of the officia) churches secret)# 1or!ed in the Underground Church$ In some countries there is an inter1eaving bet1een the t1o even toda#$ These "astors are not a))o1ed to s"ea! about Christ outside their tin#* one/room churches$ The# are not a))o1ed to have chi)dren>s meetings or #outh meetings$ :on/Christians are afraid to come$ The "astors are not a))o1ed to "ra# for i)) church members in their homes$ The# are fenced in on ever# side b# Communist regu)ations that ma!e their ?churches@ a)) but meaning)ess$ 0er# often these "astors* faced 1ith contro)s that ma!e a moc!er# of ?freedom of re)igion*@ courageous)# ris! their )ibert# b# carr#ing on a "ara))e) secret ministr# that goes far be#ond the government>s )imitations$ These "astors secret)# minister to chi)dren and #outh$ In the 8idd)e East* :orth 9frica* and 9sia* the# evange)iBe secret)# in Christian homes and basements$ The# secret)# receive and distribute Christian )iterature to hungr# sou)s$ The# ris! their freedom b# secret)# ignoring the officia) )imitations and ministering to hungr# sou)s a)) around them$ Seeming)# doci)e and obedient on the surface* the# ris! their )ives to secret)# s"read the Word of <od$ 8an# such men 1ere discovered and arrested in the former Soviet Union and received severa) #ears of im"risonment$ 8ore men and 1omen are arrested toda#$ The# are the vita) "arts of the Underground Church in restricted nations$ =ormer ministers 1ho have been e%"e))ed from their churches and "ersecuted b# government officia)s* the )a# church* and officia) "astors 1ho secret)# carr# on a much )arger and e%tensive ministr# than the# are "ermittedIa)) these are 1or!ing in the Underground or ?unofficia)@ Church$ 9nd the Underground Church 1i)) )ast unti) communism and other ?isms@ are defeated$ In some )ands* one "art is more active than anotherIbut a)) are there* 1or!ing for Christ at a great ris!$ 9 man 1ho trave)s fre;uent)# in Communist )ands and 1ho is ver# interested in re)igious ;uestions came bac! and 1rote that he never met an# of the Underground Church$ It is )i!e trave)ing in Centra) 9frica among uneducated tribes and coming bac! sa#ing* ?I in;uired thorough)#$ I as!ed them a)) if the# s"ea! "rose$ The# a)) to)d me that the# don>t$@ The truth is that the# a)) s"ea! "rose not !no1ing that 1hat the# s"ea! is "rose$ The Christians of the first decades did not !no1 the# 1ere Christians$ If #ou had as!ed them about their re)igion* the# 1ou)d have ans1ered #ou that the# 1ere Ce1s* Israe)ites* be)ievers in Cesus as 8essiah* brethren* saints* chi)dren of <od$ The name ?Christian@ 1as given to them b# others much )ater* for the first time in 9ntioch$ :one of the fo))o1ers of Luther !ne1 he 1as a Lutheran$ Luther "rotested vigorous)# against this name$ ?Underground Church@ is a name given b# the Communists* as 1e)) as b# Western researchers of the re)igious situation in the East* to a secret organiBation that formed s"ontaneous)# in a)) Communist nations$ The members of the Underground Church don>t ca)) their organiBation b# this name$ The# ca)) themse)ves Christians* be)ievers* chi)dren of <od$ ut the# )ead an underground 1or!* the# meet secret)#* the# s"read the gos"e) in c)andestine meetings* attended sometimes b# the ver# foreigners 1ho c)aim that the# did not see the Underground Church$ It is an ade;uate name given b# the adversaries and b# those 1ho )oo! )oving)# from the outside to this 1onderfu) secret organiBation$
Aou can trave) #ears throughout the West never meeting an internationa) s"# net* 1hich does not mean that this s"# net does not e%ist$ It is not so stu"id as to sho1 itse)f to the curious trave)ers$ In the ne%t cha"ter* I 1i)) ;uote some artic)es "rinted decades ago b# the Soviet "ress* "roving the e%istence and gro1ing im"ortance of this courageous Underground Church$
CH9PTER 6
I have to)d of our o1n e%"erience in s"reading Christ>s message secret)# in the Soviet arm#
as 1e)) as in Communist Romania$ I have a""ea)ed to #ou to he)" "reach Christ to the Communists and to the "eo")e o""ressed b# them$ Is m# cha))enge ?visionar#@ and ?un1or!ab)e@M Is it rea)isticM Does the Underground Church e%ist no1 in Communist 9sia and other ca"tive nationsM Is underground 1or! sti)) "ossib)e there no1M To these ;uestions 1e can ans1er 1ith ver# good ne1s$ The Communists ce)ebrated 1e)) over ha)f a centur# of Communist ru)e$ ut their victor# 1as a defeat$ Christianit# has 1onInot communism$ The Russian "ress* 1hich our organiBation researched thorough)#* 1as fu)) of negative "ro"aganda about the Underground Church$ The Russian Underground Church had become so strong that it 1or!ed even semi/"ub)ic)#* frightening the Communists$ 9nd no1 the "resent )eadershi" of the former Soviet Union confirms the re"orts of the Communist "ress$ Remember* the Underground Church around the 1or)d toda# is )i!e an iceberg$ It is most)# be)o1 the surface* but often a sma)) "art o"erates in the o"en$ In the fo))o1ing "ages I have "reserved a short com"i)ation of some of their victorious 1or! in the t1entieth centur#$
=ifteen hundred be)ievers came$ What com"e))ed them 1as the )ove of <od$ The# !ne1 that the# ris!ed their )ibert#* and that in "rison starvation and torture a1aited them$ Ever# be)iever in Russia !ne1 the ?Secret 8anifesto@ "rinted b# the Evange)ica) Christians in arnau)* 1hich describes ho1 sister Hmara* of the vi))age of +u)unda* received the ne1s that her husband had died in "rison$ She 1as )eft a 1ido1 1ith four sma)) chi)dren$ When she received the cor"se of her husband* she cou)d see the "rints of manac)es on his hands$ The hands* fingers* and the bottom of his feet 1ere horrib)# burned$ The )o1er "art of his stomach had !nife mar!s on it$ The right foot 1as s1o))en$ On both feet 1ere signs of beating$ The 1ho)e bod# 1as fu)) of 1ounds from horrib)e torture$ Ever# be)iever 1ho attended the "ub)ic demonstration in Rostov/on/Don !ne1 this cou)d be his fate* too$ Sti)) the# came$ ut the# a)so !ne1 that this mart#r* 1ho had given his )ife for <od on)# three months after his conversion* 1as buried before a great cro1d of be)ievers 1ho had ")acards 1ith these inscri"tions2
?=or to me* to )ive is Christ* and to die is gain@ FPhiG42&4H$ ?Do not fear those 1ho !i)) the bod# but cannot !i)) the sou)@ F8atG4-2&7H$ ?I sa1 under the a)tar the sou)s of those 1ho had been s)ain for the Word of <od@ FRevG625H$
The e%am")e of this mart#r ins"ired those in Rostov/on/Don$ The# cro1ded around a )itt)e house$ Peo")e 1ere ever#1hereIsome on nearb# roofs* others in the trees* )i!e Tac/ chaeus$ Eight# "eo")e 1ere converted* most)# #oung "eo")e$ Out of this number* t1ent#/ three 1ere former +omsomo)s Fmembers of the Communist Aouth OrganiBationHL The Christians crossed the entire cit# 1a)!ing to1ard the river Don* 1here the ne1 be)ievers 1ere ba"tiBed$ 9utomobi)es )oaded 1ith Communist "o)ice soon arrived$ The "o)ice surrounded the be)ievers on the ban! of the river* 1anting to arrest the brethren in charge$ FThe# cou)dn>t arrest a)) fifteen hundredLH The be)ievers immediate)# fe)) to their !nees and* in a fervent "ra#er* as!ed <od to defend His "eo")e and "ermit them to have their service for that da#$ Then the brothers and sistersIstanding shou)der to shou)derIsurrounded the brethren )eading the service* ho"ing to "revent the "o)ice from arresting them$ The situation became ver# tense$ .chitels!aia -a$eta re"orted that the ?i))ega)@ a"tist organiBation in Rostov had an underground "rinting "ress$ FIn Russia* the 1ord ? a"tist@ inc)uded Evange)ica)s and Pentecosta)s$H In these underground "ub)ications* #outh 1ere ca))ed to stand for their faith* and Christian "arents 1ere as!ed to do 1hat I a)so thin! is a ver# good thing2 ?to ta!e their chi)dren to attend buria)s in order to )earn not to 1orr# about transitor# things$@ Parents 1ere a)so encouraged to give a Christian education to their chi)dren as an antidote against the atheism 1ith 1hich the# 1ere "oisoned in Communist schoo)s$ .chitels!aia -a$eta finished the artic)e b# as!ing* ?Wh# do teachers mi% so timid)# in the )ife of fami)ies in 1hich chi)dren are idioti$ed Db# re)igionEM@ This ?Teacher>s 8agaBine@ a)so described 1hat ha""ened at the tria) of the underground 1or!ers 1ho had ba"tiBed secret)#2 ?The #outhfu) be)ievers ca))ed as 1itnesses 1ere defiant and contem"tuous of the Communist court$ The# behaved angri)# and fanatica))#$ Aoung 1omen s"ectators gaBed 1ith admiration at the defendants and 1ith disa""rova) at the atheistic "ub)ic$@ 8embers of the Underground Church have ris!ed beatings and im"risonment to a""ea) for more freedom* in front of the Communist Part# head;uarters in Russia$
We "ossess a document that had been smugg)ed to the West through secret channe)s$ This document is from the ?i))ega)@ Committee of the Evange)ica) a"tist Churches of the Soviet Union Fas o""osed to the Communist/contro))ed ? a"tist Union@ )ed b# the traitor +arev* 1ho "raised the humanit# of the Communist mass/!i))ers of Christians and magnified the ?)ibert#@ reigning thereH$ In this secret document* 1e are to)d about another heroic "ub)ic demonstration* this time in 8osco1 itse)f$ I trans)ate from this manifesto2
Urgent communication$ e)oved rethren and Sisters* )essings to #ou and "eace from <od our =ather and our Lord Cesus Christ$ We hasten to te)) #ou that the de)egates of the churches of Evange)ica) a"tist Christians* numbering five hundred* 1ho trave)ed to 8osco1 on 8a# 46* 4566* for intervention 1ith the centra) organs of "o1er* 1ent to the bui)ding of the Centra) Committee for the Communist Part# of the Union of Socia)ist Soviet Re"ub)ics* 1ith the re;uest to be received and heard$ We de)ivered a "etition addressed to the genera) secretar#* reBhnev$
The manifesto further stated that these five hundred men stood the entire da# before the bui)ding$ It 1as the first "ub)ic demonstration in 8osco1 against communism$ 9nd it 1as made b# the de)egation of the Underground Church$ 9t the end of the da# the# de)ivered a second "etition addressed to reBhnev* in 1hich the# com")ained that a certain ?comrade@ Stroganov refused to transmit their re;uest to reBhnev and threatened them$ The five hundred de)egates remained on the streets throughout the night in s"ite of rain$ 9)though the# 1ere verba))# insu)ted and had mud s")ashed on them b# "assing cars* the# remained unti) morning in front of the bui)ding of the Communist Part#L On the ne%t da# it 1as "ro"osed that the five hundred brethren shou)d enter a bui)ding to meet some minor Communist officia)s$ ut ?!no1ing that be)ievers 1ho had visited the authorities 1ere often beaten 1hen the# entered a bui)ding 1here there 1ere no 1itnesses* these be)ievers refused unanimous)# and continued to 1ait to be received b# reBhnev$@ Then the inevitab)e ha""ened$ 9t 42,. "$m$* t1ent#/eight buses came and the bruta) revenge against the be)ievers began$ ?We formed a ring and* ho)ding each other>s hand* 1e sang the h#mn* OThe best da#s of our )ife are the da#s 1hen 1e can bear a cross$> The men of the secret "o)ice began to beat us* the #oung and o)d ones$ The# too! men out of the ro1 and beat them on the face and head* then thre1 them on the as"ha)t$ The# dragged some of the brethren to the buses b# their hair$ When some tried to )eave* the# 1ere beaten unti) the# )ost consciousness$ 9fter fi))ing the buses 1ith be)ievers* the "o)ice too! them to an un!no1n ")ace$ The songs of our brethren and sisters 1ere heard from the secret "o)ice buses$ 9)) this ha""ened in the sight of a mu)titude of men$@ 9nd no1 something more beautifu) fo))o1s$ 9fter the five hundred 1ere arrested and sure)# tortured* rother <$ 0ins and another )eading brother* named Horev Fthe rea) she"herds of Christ>s f)oc!H* sti)) had the courage to go to the same Centra) Committee of the Communist Part#IJust as after the arrest of Cohn the a"tist* Cesus began His "ub)ic "reaching in the same ")ace and 1ith the same 1ords for 1hich Cohn the a"tist suffered2 ?Re"ent* for the !ingdom of heaven is at hand@ F8atG,24'H$ 0ins and Horev as!ed 1here the arrested de)egation 1as and demanded their re)ease$ These t1o courageous brethren sim")# disa""eared$ 9fter1ard* ne1s 1as received that the# 1ere "ut in Leftorovs!aia "rison$
Were these Christians of the Underground Church afraidM :oL Others immediate)# ris!ed their )ibert# again* "ub)ishing the manifesto that 1e have before us* te))ing the stor# of 1hat ha""ened* sa#ing that to them* ?=or to #ou it has been granted on beha)f of Christ* not on)# to be)ieve in Him* but a)so to suffer for His sa!e@ FPhiG42&5H$ The# e%horted the brethren ?that no one shou)d be sha!en b# these aff)ictionsK for #ou #ourse)ves !no1 that 1e are a""ointed to this@ F4ThG(2(H$ The# a)so ;uoted HebG4&2& and ca))ed the be)ievers to )oo! ?unto Cesus* the author and finisher of our faith* 1ho for the Jo# that 1as set before Him endured the cross* des"ising the shame$@ The Underground Church o"en)# o""osed the atheistic "oisoning of #outh in Rostov and 8osco1Iand a)) across Russia$ The# fought against the Communist "oison and against the treacherous )eaders of the officia) church* about 1hich the# 1rite in one of their secret manifestos2 ?In our da#* Satan dictates and Othe church> acce"ts a)) the decisions 1hich are contrar# to the commandments of <od@ F;uoted in 'ra(da .!raini of October ,* 4566H$ 'ra(da Vosto!a "ub)ished the tria) "roceedings against the brethren 9)e%ei :everov* oris <armashov* and 9%en Tubov* 1ho organiBed grou"s to )isten to gos"e) broadcasts from 9merica$ The# recorded these messages on ta"es* 1hich the# circu)ated after1ard$ The# 1ere a)so accused of having organiBed secret gos"e) meetings under the forms of ?e%cursions@ and ?artistic circ)es$@ Thus the Underground Church 1or!s Just as the Ear)# Church 1or!ed in the catacombs of Rome$ 6o(iets!aia Molda(ia of Se"tember 4.* 4566* 1rote that the Underground Church mimeogra"hed boo!)ets$ The# gathered in "ub)ic ")aces* a)though this 1as forbidden b# )a1* and 1ent from ")ace to ")ace to 1itness for Christ$ This same ne1s"a"er recounts that on the train from Reni to Chisinau* three #oung bo#s and four gir)s sang a Christian h#mn* ?Let us dedicate our #outh to Christ$@ The re"orter "rofessed himse)f revo)ted* because these be)ievers "reach ?on the streets* in stations* in trains* buses* and even in state institutions$@ 9gain this 1as the Underground Church at 1or! in Russia during the Communist era$ When at the tria) of these Christians the sentence 1as announced for the crime of singing Christian h#mns in "ub)ic* the condemned fe)) on their !nees and said* ?We surrender ourse)ves into the hands of <od$ We than! thee* Lord* that Thou hast a))o1ed us to suffer for this faith$@ Then the audience* )ed b# the ?fanatic@ 8adan* sang in the courtroom the h#mn for 1hich their brethren had Just been sentenced to "rison and torture$ On the first of 8a#* the Christians of the vi))ages Co"ceag and Taharov!a* having no churches* organiBed a secret service in the forest$ The# a)so organiBed meetings under the "retense of having a birthda# "art#$ F8an# Christian fami)ies 1ith four or five members had thirt#/five ?birthda#s@ a #ear as a cover for secret meetings$H :either "rison nor torture can frighten the Christians of the Underground Church$ Cust as in the Ear)# Church* "ersecution on)# dee"ens their dedication$ 'ra(da .!raini of October ,* 4566* said about rother Pro!ofievIone of the )eaders of the Russian Underground ChurchIthat he had a)read# been in "rison three times* but as soon as he 1as re)eased* he began to organiBe secret Sunda# schoo)s again and 1as re/ arrested$ He 1rote in a secret manifesto2 ?Submitting to the human regu)ations Dthe Communist )a1sE* the officia) church has de"rived itse)f of the b)essing of <od$@ 9nd never imagine a "rison as in the West 1hen #ou hear about a sentenced brother in a restricted nation$ Prison there means starvation* torture* and brain1ashing$
Nau!a i Religia FScience and Re)igionH :o$ 5 of 4566 re"orted that the Christians s"read gos"e) )iterature inside the covers of Ogonio!Ia "eriodica) )i!e 5oo! or Time$ The# a)so handed out boo!s that had the cover of 7nna Karenina Fa nove) b# Leo To)sto#H* but inside had a "ortion of the ib)e$ In addition* the be)ievers sang Christian songs in "ub)ic$ To the tune of ?The Communist Internationa)*@ the# sang 1ords "raising Christ F Ka$a!stans!aia 'ra(da* Cune (-* 4566H$ In a secret )etter "ub)ished in +u)unda FSiberiaH* Christians sa# that the officia) ? a"tist@ )eadershi"* ?has destro#ed the church and its true servants in the 1or)d* in the same 1a# as the high "riests* scribes* and Pharisees betra#ed Cesus Christ to Pi)ate$@ ut the faithfu) Underground Church 1or!s onL The ride of Christ continues to serve Him$ The Communists themse)ves admitted that the Underground Church 1on Communists for Christ$ The# can be 1onL 3a!ins!ii Rabochi FThe Wor!er of a!uH of 9"ri) &'* 4566* re"roduced a )etter from Tania Ciugunova Fa member of the Communist Aouth OrganiBationH 1ho 1as 1on to Christ$ This )etter 1as seiBed b# the Communist authorities2
Dear 9unt :adia* I send #ou b)essings from our be)oved Lord$ 9unt :adia* how much 4e lo(es me% We are nothing before Him$ 9unt :adia* I be)ieve that #ou understand these 1ords2 ?Love #our enemies* b)ess them that curse #ou* do good to them that hate #ou and "ra# for them 1hich des"itefu))# use #ou$@
Once this )etter 1as seiBed* Peter Serebrenni!ov* the brother 1ho brought her and man# other #oung Communists to Christ* 1as sent to "rison$ The Communist ne1s"a"er ;uoted from one of his sermons2 ?We must be)ieve our Savior as the first Christians did$ =or us the "rinci"a) )a1 is the ib)e$ We recogniBe nothing e)se$ We must hurr# to save men from sin* es"ecia))# the #outh$@ He stated that the Soviet )a1 forbids te))ing #outh about Christ* adding2 ?=or us the on)# )a1 is the ib)e@Ia ver# norma) ans1er 1here a crue) atheistic dictatorshi" ru)es the countr#$ The Communist ne1s"a"er then described a ?savage@ "icture2 ?Aoung bo#s and gir)s sing s"iritua) h#mns$ The# receive the ritua) ba"tism and !ee" the evi)* treacherous teaching of )ove to1ard the enem#$@ The artic)e a)so stated that man# #oung bo#s and gir)s 1ho carr# membershi" in the Communist Aouth OrganiBation are in rea)it# ChristiansL It conc)uded 1ith the 1ords2 ?Ho1 "o1er)ess must be the Communist schoo)* ho1 boresome and de"rived of )ight$$$that the "astors are ab)e to snatch a1a# its disci")es from under the nose of their indifferent educators$@ In Ka$a!stans!aia 'ra(da of Cune (-* 4566* Communists e%"ressed horror u"on discovering that the "u"i) 1ith the best grades 1as a Christian bo#L Kirgi$s!aia 'ra(da of Canuar# 4'* 4566* ;uoted an underground Christian )eaf)et to mothers2 ?Let us Join our efforts and "ra#ers to dedicate to <od the )ives of our chi)dren from the time the# are in the crad)eL$$$Let us save our chi)dren from the inf)uence of the 1or)d$@ These efforts have been successfu)$ The Communist ne1s"a"ers bear 1itness to the fact that Christianit# advanced among the #outhL 9 ne1s"a"er from Ce)iabins!* Russia* described ho1 a Aoung Communist OrganiBation gir)* :ina* became a Christian b# entering a secret Christian gathering$ 6o(iets!aia Justitia :o$ 5 of 4566 describes such an underground meeting$ ?It is he)d at midnight$ Hidden* 1ar# even of their o1n shado1* men came from different "arts$ The brethren fi))ed the dar! room* 1hich has a ver# )o1 cei)ing$ The# 1ere so man# that there 1as no ")ace to !nee)$ ecause of the )ac! of air* the )ight in the "rimitive gas/)am" 1ent
out$ S1eat ran from the faces of those "resent$ On the street* one of the servants of the Lord 1as 1atching for "o)icemen$@ :ina said that in such an assemb)# she 1as received 1ith embraces* 1armth* and care$ ?The# had* as I have no1* a great and en)ightening faith Ia faith in <od$ He ta!es us under His "rotection$ Let the +omsomo)s 1ho !no1 me "ass near me 1ithout greeting meL Let them )oo! at me 1ith des"ite and ca)) me* as if s)a""ing me* O a"tistL> Let them do soL I don>t need them$@ So man# other #oung Communists* )i!e her* have made the decision to serve Christ to the end$ Ka$a!stans!aia 'ra(da of 9ugust 47* 456'* described the tria) of the brethren +)assen* ondar* and Te)eghin$ We are not to)d 1hat sentence 1as given to them* but their crime 1as "roc)aimed2 the# had taught chi)dren about Christ$ 6o(iets!aia Kirghi$ia of Cune 4.* 456'* com")ained that Christians ?"rovo!e the a"")ication of administrative measures against themse)ves$@ So the innocent Communist authorities* being continua))# "rovo!ed to arrest Christians b# these obstinate Christians themse)ves 1ho are not content to remain free* have arrested another grou"$ Their crime 1as having an i))ega) "rinting "ress* 1ith fifteen hectogra"hs and si% boo!binding machines* on 1hich Christian )iterature 1as "rinted$ 'ra(da of =ebruar# &4* 4567* re"orted that thousands of 1omen and gir)s 1ere discovered 1earing be)ts and ribbons on 1hich ib)e verses and "ra#ers 1ere "rinted$ The authorities researched and found that the "erson 1ho had )aunched this ne1 fashion* 1hich I cou)d recommend a)so to the West* 1as none other than a Christian member of the Communist "o)ice* rother Stasiu! of LiubertB$ The ne1s"a"er announced his arrest$ The ans1ers Christians of the Underground Church give* 1hen brought before Communist courts* are divine)# ins"ired$ One Judge demanded* ?Wh# did #ou attract "eo")e to #our forbidden sectM@ 9 Christian sister ans1ered* ?Our aim is to 1in the whole world for Christ$@ ?Aour re)igion is anti/scientific*@ the Judge taunted at another tria)* to 1hich the accused gir)Ia studentIans1ered* ?Do #ou !no1 more science than EinsteinM Than :e1tonM The# 1ere be)ievers$ Our universe bears Einstein>s name$ I have )earned in high schoo) that its name is the Einsteinian universe$ Einstein 1rites2 OIf 1e c)eanse the Cudaism of the "ro"hets and Christianit# as Cesus has taught it from 1hat came after1ards* es"ecia))# from "riestcraft* 1e have a re)igion 1hich can save the 1or)d from a)) socia) evi)s$ It is the ho)# dut# of ever# man to do his utmost to bring this re)igion to trium"h$> 9nd remember our great "h#sio)ogist Pav)ovL Do not our boo!s sa# that he 1as a ChristianM Even 8ar%* in his "reface to 0as Ka"ital) said that OChristianit#* es"ecia))# in its Protestant form* is the idea) re)igion for rema!ing characters destro#ed b# sin$> I had a character destro#ed b# sin$ 8ar% has taught me to become a Christian in order to rema!e it$ Ho1 can #ou* 8ar%ists* Judge me for thisM@ It is eas# to understand 1h# the Judge remained s"eech)ess$ To the same accusation of having an anti/scientific re)igion* a Christian ans1ered before the court2 ?I am sure* 8r$ Cudge* that #ou are not such a great scientist as Sim"son* the discoverer of ch)oroform and man# other medicines$ When as!ed 1hich he considered to be his greatest discover#* he ans1ered2 OIt 1as not ch)oroform$ 8# greatest discover# has been to !no1 that I am a sinner and that I cou)d be saved b# the grace of <od$>@
The )ife* the se)f/sacrifice* the b)ood that be)ievers are read# to shed for their faith* is the greatest argument for Christianit# "resented b# the Underground Church$ It forms 1hat the reno1ned missionar# in 9frica* 9)bert Sch1eitBer* ca))ed ?the sacred fe))o1shi" of those 1ho have the mar! of "ain@Ithe fe))o1shi" to 1hich Cesus* the 8an of Sorro1s* be)onged$ The Underground Church is united b# a bond of )ove to1ard its Savior$ The same bond unites the members of the church 1ith each other$ :o one in the 1or)d can defeat them$ In a )etter smugg)ed out secret)#* the Underground Church said* ?We don>t "ra# to be better Christians* but that 1e ma# be the on)# !ind of Christians <od means us to be2 Christ)i!e Christians* that is* Christians 1ho bear 1i))ing)# the cross for <od>s g)or#$@ With the 1isdom of ser"ents* according to the teaching of Cesus* the Christians a)1a#s refused to identif# their )eaders 1hen ;uestioned before the court$ 'ra(da Vosto!a FThe Truth of the EastH of Canuar# 4.* 4566* to)d ho1 defendant 8aria Sevciu! res"onded 1hen as!ed 1ho had brought her to Christ2 ?<od attracted me in His congregation$@ 9nother* 1hen as!ed* ?Who is #our )eaderM@ res"onded* ?We have no human )eader$@ Christian chi)dren 1ere as!ed* ?Who has taught #ou to )eave the Pioneers and to ta!e off the red nec!tieM@ The# ans1ered* ?We have done it out of our free 1i))$ :o one taught us$@ 9)though in some ")aces the ti" of the ?iceberg@ sho1ed* in other ")aces* Christians "racticed se)f/ba"tism to "revent the arrest of their )eaders$ Sometimes ba"tisms too! ")ace in a river* 1ith the ba"tiBer and the ba"tiBed both 1earing mas!s so that no one cou)d identif# them in "hotogra"hs$ .chitels!aia -a$eta of Canuar# (-* 456,* to)d of an atheistic )ecture in the vi))age 0oronin* of the district 0o)necino/+ors!ii$ 9s soon as the )ecturer finished* ?The be)ievers began to "ub)ic)# attac! the atheistic teaching through ;uestions*@ 1hich the atheistic )ecturer cou)d not ans1er$ The# as!ed* ?Where do #ou Communists get the mora) "rinci")es #ou "roc)aim* but do not obe#Isuch as Odon>t stea)> and Odon>t !i))>M@ The Christians sho1ed the )ecturer that ever# such "rinci")e came from the ib)e against 1hich the Communists fight$ The )ecturer 1as entire)# confused and the )ecture finished 1ith a victor# for the be)ieversL
During the Communist era* the Soviet Union signed the United :ations dec)aration ?against discrimination in the s"here of education*@ 1hich sti"u)ated2 ?Parents must have the right to assure the re)igious and mora) education of the chi)dren according to their o1n convictions$@ In one artic)e* traitor +arev* 1ho 1as the )eader of the officia) a"tist Union of the Soviet Union* assured that this right 1as a rea)it# in RussiaIand foo)s be)ieved himL :o1* )isten to 1hat the Soviet "ress said$ In its Cune ,* 456(* issue* 6ow*ets!aia Russia recounted ho1 a a"tist 1oman named 8a!rin!o1a had her si% chi)dren ta!en a1a# from her* because she shared 1ith them the Christian faith and forbade them to 1ear the Pioneer nec!tie$ When she heard the sentence* she said on)#* ?I suffer for the faith$@ She had to "a# for the boarding of her chi)dren 1ho 1ere ta!en a1a# from her* so the# cou)d be "oisoned 1ith atheism$ Christian mothers* thin! of her agon#L .chitels!aia -a$eta re"orted that the same thing ha""ened to Ignatii 8u))in and his 1ife$ The Judge demanded that the# )eave their faith2 ?Choose bet1een <od and #our daughter$ Do #ou choose <odM@ The father ans1ered* ?I 1i)) not give u" m# faith$@ Pau) sa#s* ?9)) things 1or! together for good@ FRomG72&7H$ I have seen such chi)dren 1ho 1ere raised as Christians and ta!en from their "arents and "ut in Communist schoo)s$ Instead of being "oisoned b# atheism* the faith the# had )earned at home 1as s"read to the other chi)drenL The ib)e sa#s that ?he 1ho )oves son or daughter more than 8e is not 1orth# of 8e@ F8atG4-2('H$ These 1ords have meaning in ca"tive nations$ Tr# to )ive a 1ee! 1ithout seeing #our chi)drenL Then #ou 1i)) !no1 the sufferings of our brethren in restricted nations$ 9ccording to the 8arch &5* 456'* issue of 8namia unosti* 8rs$ Sitsh>s son* 0setshes)av* 1as ta!en a1a# sim")# because she brought him u" in the fear of the Lord$ 8rs$ Tabavina of Habarovs! 1as de"rived of her or"haned granddaughter Tania because she had given her an ?unnatura) DChristianE education@ F6o(iets!aia Rossia of Canuar# 4(* 4567H$ De"riving Christians of "arenta) rights continues even toda# in restricted nations$ It 1ou)d be unfair to s"ea! on)# about the Protestant Underground Church$ The Orthodo% Christians in Russia 1ere com")ete)# changed$ 8i))ions of them have "assed through "risons* 1here the# had no beads* no crucifi%es* no ho)# images* no incense* and no cand)es$ The )a#men 1ere in "rison 1ithout an ordained "riest$ The "riests had no robes* no 1heat bread* no 1ine to consecrate* no ho)# oi)s* no boo!s 1ith "re"ared "ra#ers to be read$ 9nd the# discovered that the# cou)d get b# 1ithout a)) these things* b# going to <od direct)# in "ra#er$ The# began to "ra# and <od began to "our forth His S"irit u"on them$ 9 genuine s"iritua) a1a!ening* ver# simi)ar to fundamenta) Christianit#* too! ")ace among the Orthodo% in Russia under communism$ So it ha""ened that in Russia* as 1e)) as in the sate))ite countries* there e%isted an Orthodo% Underground* 1hich 1as in rea)it# evange)ica)* fundamenta)* and ver# c)ose to <od$ It !e"t* on)# b# the "o1er of habit* a ver# )itt)e of the Orthodo% ritua)$ This Orthodo% Underground has a)so given great mart#rs$ Who cou)d sa# 1hat ha""ened to the aged 9rchbisho" Aermogen of +a)ugaM He dared to "rotest against the treacherous co))aboration bet1een the Patriarch# and the god)ess Communist government$ During seven decades of Communist ru)e unti) the end of the Soviet Union in the ear)# >5-s* the Russian "ress 1as fu)) of the trium"h of the Underground Church$ It "assed through uns"ea!ab)e hardshi"s but remained faithfu)$$$and gre1L We in Romania so1ed the seed b# our secret 1or! in the Russian arm#$ So had others in Russia and in other countries invaded b# the Russians$ That seed has borne much fruit$
Communist 9sia and other ca"tive nations can be 1on for Christ$ Our adversaries can become ChristiansL So can those o""ressed b# them* if on)# 1e 1i)) he)" them$ The "roof that I am right is that the Underground Church f)ourished under communism in the Soviet Union* is f)ourishing in Communist 9sia* and is gro1ing in the 8idd)e East toda#$ To sho1 the beaut# of our fe))o1 Christians under terrib)e circumstances* I give be)o1 a fe1 )etters from Russian gir)s* the )ast t1o 1ritten in Russian "risons$
First letter
$$$I continue to )ive here$ I am ver# be)oved$ I am be)oved a)so b# a member of the ce)) of the +omsomo) Dthe Communist Aouth OrganiBationE$ She to)d me* ?I cannot understand 1hat a being #ou are$ Here man# insu)t and hurt #ou and #et #ou )ove a))$@ I ans1ered that <od has taught us to )ove a))* not on)# friends* but a)so enemies$ efore* this gir) did much harm to me* but I "ra#ed for her 1ith s"ecia) concern$ When she as!ed me if I can )ove her* too* I embraced her and 1e both began to 1ee"$ :o1* 1e "ra# together$ P)ease* "ra# for her$ Her name is 0aria$ When #ou )isten to those 1ho )oud)# den# <od* it seems that the# rea))# mean it$ ut )ife sho1s that man# of them* a)though the# curse <od 1ith their )i"s* in their hearts have a great )onging$ 9nd #ou hear the groaning of the heart$$$The# see! something and 1ish to cover their inner em"tiness 1ith their god)essness$ Aour sister in Christ* 8aria
6econd letter
In m# former )etter I 1rote #ou about the atheist gir)* 0aria$ :o1 I hurr# to te)) #ou* m# be)oved ones* about our great Jo#2 0aria has received Christ as her "ersona) Savior* 1itnessing o"en)# to ever#one about this$ When she be)ieved in Christ and !ne1 the g)adness of sa)vation* she* at the same time* fe)t ver# unha""#$ She 1as unha""#* because before she had "ro"agated that there is no <od$ :o1 she has decided to atone for her gui)t$ We 1ent together to the assemb)# of the god)ess$ 9)though I 1arned her to be reserved* it 1as use)ess$ 0aria 1ent and I 1ent 1ith her to see 1hat 1ou)d ha""en$ 9fter the common singing of the Communist h#mn Fsinging in 1hich 0aria did not "artici"ateH* she came for1ard before the 1ho)e assemb)#$ Courageous)# and 1ith much fee)ing* she 1itnessed to those gathered about Christ as her Savior and as!ed her former comrades for forgiveness that she had had her s"iritua) e#es c)osed unti) then and had not seen that she herse)f 1as going to "erdition and )eading others to1ard it$ She im")ored a)) to give u" the 1a# of sin and to come to Christ$ 9)) became si)ent and no one interru"ted her$ When she finished s"ea!ing* she sang 1ith her s")endid voice the 1ho)e Christian h#mn2 ?I am not ashamed to "roc)aim the Christ 1ho died to defend His commandments and the "o1er of His cross$@ 9nd after1ards$$$after1ards the# too! a1a# our 0aria$ Toda# it is the ninth of 8a#$ We !no1 nothing about her$ ut <od is "o1erfu) to save her$ Pra#L Aour 8aria
Third letter
Aesterda#* the second of 9ugust* I had a ta)! in "rison 1ith our be)oved 0aria$ 8# heart b)eeds 1hen I thin! about her$ In fact she is sti)) a chi)d$ She is on)# nineteen #ears of age$ 9s a be)iever in the Lord* she is a)so a s"iritua) babe$ ut she )oves the Lord 1ith a)) her heart and 1ent at once on the difficu)t 1a#$ The "oor gir) is so hungr#$ When 1e !ne1 that she 1as in "rison* 1e began to send her "arce)s$ ut she received on)# )itt)e of 1hat 1as sent to her$ When I sa1 her #esterda#* she 1as thin* "a)e* beaten$ On)# the e#es shone 1ith the "eace of <od and 1ith an unearth)# Jo#$ Aes* m# dear ones* those 1ho have not e%"erienced the 1onderfu) "eace of Christ cannot understand it$$$ ut ho1 ha""# are those 1ho have this "eace$$$=or us 1ho are in Christ no sufferings and frustrations shou)d sto" us$$$ I as!ed through the iron bars2 ?0aria* don>t #ou regret 1hat #ou didM@ ?:o*@ she ans1ered$ ?9nd if the# 1ou)d free me* I 1ou)d go again and 1ou)d te)) them about the great )ove of Christ$ Don>t thin! that I suffer$ I am ver# g)ad that the Lord )oves me so much and gives me the Jo# to endure for His name$@ I beg that #ou "ra# for her$ She 1i)) "robab)# be sent to Siberia$ The# have ta!en a1a# her c)othes and a)) of her things$ She has remained 1ithout an#thing* e%ce"t 1hat is on her$ She has no re)atives and 1e must co))ect for the most necessar# things$ I have "ut a"art the )ast sum 1hich #ou sent me$ If 0aria is de"orted* I 1i)) hand it to her$ I be)ieve that <od 1i)) strengthen her and 1i)) give her "o1er to endure in the future* too$ 8a# <od !ee" herL Aour 8aria
Fourth letter
Dear 8aria* at )ast I am ab)e to 1rite #ou$ We arrived 1e)) at D)ocation omittedE$ Our cam" is ten mi)es from to1n$ I cannot describe our )ife$ Aou !no1 it$ I 1ish to 1rite on)# a )itt)e about me$ I than! <od that He gives me hea)th and that I can 1or! "h#sica))#$ Sister P and I 1ere "ut to 1or! in a 1or!sho" 1here 1e 1or! at machines$ The 1or! is difficu)t and Sister P>s hea)th is bad$ I must 1or! for both her and me$ I finish m# 1or! first and then I he)" m# sister$ We 1or! t1e)ve to thirteen hours a da#$ Our food is Just as #ours* ver# scarce$ ut it is not about this that I 1ished to 1rite to #ou$ 8# heart "raises and than!s <od that* through #ou* He sho1ed me the 1a# to sa)vation$ :o1* being on this 1a#* m# )ife has a "ur"ose and I !no1 1here to go and for 1hom I suffer$ I fee) the desire to te)) and to 1itness to ever#bod# about the great Jo# of sa)vation that I have in m# heart$ Who can se"arate us from the )ove of <od in ChristM :obod# and nothing$ :either "rison nor suffering$ The sufferings that <od sends us on)# strengthen us more and more in the faith in Him$ 8# heart is so fu)) that the grace of <od overf)o1s$ 9t 1or!* the# curse and "unish me* giving me e%tra 1or! because I cannot be si)ent$ I must te)) ever#one 1hat the Lord has done for me$ He has made me a ne1 being* a ne1 creation* of me 1ho 1as on the 1a# of "erdition$ Can I be si)ent after thisM :o* neverL 9s )ong as m# )i"s can s"ea!* I 1i)) 1itness to ever# one about His great )ove$ On the 1a# to the cam"* 1e met 1ith man# brethren and sisters in Christ$ Ho1 amaBing it is that #ou fee) through the S"irit that the# are chi)dren of <od 1hen #ou first see the brethren and the sisters$ It is use)ess to s"ea!$ =rom the first )oo! #ou fee) and !no1 1ho the# are$ Whi)e 1e 1ere on the 1a# to the cam"* at one rai)1a# station* a 1oman came* gave us food and said on)# t1o 1ords2 ?<od )ives$@
The first evening 1hen 1e arrived here Fit 1as )ateH* 1e 1ere ta!en to underground barrac!s$ We greeted those "resent 1ith the 1ords* ?Peace 1ith #ou$@ To our great Jo#* from a)) corners 1e heard the ans1er* ?We receive #ou 1ith "eace$@ 9nd from the first evening 1e fe)t that 1e are in a fami)#$ Aes* it 1as rea))# so$ Here there are man# 1ho be)ieve in Christ as their "ersona) Savior$ 8ore than ha)f of the "risoners are be)ievers$ We have among us great singers and good "reachers of the gos"e)$ In the evening* 1hen 1e a)) gather after heav# 1or!* ho1 1onderfu) it is to "ass at )east some time together in "ra#er at the feet of our Savior$ With Christ there is freedom ever#1here$ I )earned here man# beautifu) h#mns and ever# da# <od gives me more and more of His Word$ 9t the age of nineteen* I ce)ebrated the birthda# of Christ for the first time$ :ever 1i)) I forget this 1onderfu) da#L We had to 1or! the 1ho)e da# )ong$ ut some of our brethren 1ere ab)e to go to the river nearb#$ There the# bro!e the ice and "re"ared the ")ace 1here* during the nightIaccording to the Word of <odIseven brethren and I 1ere ba"tiBed$ Oh* ho1 ha""# I am and ho1 I 1ou)d )i!e that #ou* 8aria* shou)d be 1ith me* too* that I ma# atone at )east a )itt)e bit* through m# )ove to1ard #ou for the 1rong I committed in times "ast against #ou$ ut <od "uts ever# one of us in His ")ace and 1e must stand firm 1here <od has "ut us$ <ive greetings to the 1ho)e fami)# of <od>s chi)dren$ <od 1i)) rich)# b)ess #our common 1or!* as He b)essed me* too$ Read HebG4&24/($ 9)) our brethren greet #ou and are g)ad that #our faith in <od is so "o1erfu) and that #ou "raise Him in #our sufferings unceasing)#$ If #ou 1rite to others* te)) them our greetings$ Aours* 0aria
Fifth letter
Dear 8aria* at )ast I have found the o""ortunit# to 1rite #ou a fe1 )ines$ I can te)) #ou* m# dear one* that* b# the grace of <od* Sister P and I are hea)th# and fee) 1e))$ We are no1 in D)ocation omittedE$ I than! #ou for #our mother)# care for me$ We received a)) #ou have "re"ared for us$ I than! #ou for the most va)uab)e thing* the ib)e$ Than!s to a))$ When #ou 1rite to them* send m# greetings and than!s for 1hat the# have done for me$ Since the Lord revea)ed to me the dee" m#ster# of His ho)# )ove* I consider m#se)f to be the ha""iest in the 1or)d$ The "ersecutions that I have to endure I consider as a s"ecia) grace$ I am g)ad that the Lord gave me from the first da#s of m# faith the great ha""iness to suffer for Him$ Pra# for me that I ma# remain faithfu) to the Lord to the end$ 8a# the Lord !ee" #ou a)) and strengthen #ou for the ho)# batt)eL Sister P and I !iss #ou a))$ When 1e are sent to D)ocation omittedE "erha"s 1e 1i)) have the o""ortunit# to 1rite to #ou again$ Don>t 1orr# about us$ We are g)ad and Jo#fu)* because our re1ard in heaven is great F8atG.244/4&H$ Aour 0aria This is the )ast )etter from 0ariaIthe #oung Communist gir) 1ho found Christ* 1itnessed about Him* and 1as sentenced to s)ave )abor$ She 1as never heard from again* but her beautifu) )ove and 1itness for Christ sho1s the s"iritua) beaut# of the suffering* faithfu) Underground Church$
CH9PTER '
Western Christians can he)" us b# "ra#ing for the "ersecutors that the# ma# be saved$ Such a "ra#er ma# seem naive$ We "ra#ed for the Communists and the# tortured us the ne%t da# even 1orse than before the "ra#er$ ut the "ra#er of the Lord in Cerusa)em 1as a)so ?naive$@ The# crucified Him after this "ra#er$ ut on)# a fe1 da#s )ater* the# beat their breasts and five thousand 1ere converted in one da#$ =or the others* too* the "ra#er 1as not )ost$ 9n# "ra#er that is not acce"ted b# the one for 1hom #ou intercede returns to #ou 1ith great b)essings$ =u)fi))ing the 1ord of Christ* man# other Christians and I a)1a#s "ra#ed for Hit)er and his men$ 9nd I am sure that our "ra#er he)"ed to defeat him as much as the bu))ets of the a))ied so)diers$ We must )ove our neighbors as ourse)ves$ Communists and other "ersecutors are our neighbors as much as an#one e)se$ The# are the resu)t of our not ma!ing !no1n the 1ords of Christ2 ?I have come that the# ma# have )ife* and that the# ma# have it more abundant)#@ FCohG4-24-H$ Christians have not #et made this abundant )ife avai)ab)e to ever#one$ The# have )eft some on the fringe of ever#thing va)uab)e in )ife$ These individua)s have rebe))ed and constituted the Communist Part# and other fa)se be)iefs$ Often the victims of socia) inJustice themse)ves* the# are no1 bitter and crue)$ We have to fight against them$ ut Christians* even if the# fight against an enem#* understand and )ove him$ We are not gui)t)ess of the fact that some )ive in rebe))ion$ We are gui)t# at )east b# neg)ect of dut#$ =or this 1e have to atone b# )oving themI1hich is something entire)# different from )i!ing themIand "ra#ing for them$ I am not so naive as to be)ieve that )ove a)one can so)ve these "rob)ems$ I 1ou)d not advise the authorities of a state to so)ve the "rob)em of gangsterism on)# b# )ove$ There must be a "o)ice force* Judges* and "risons for gangstersInot Just "astors$ If gangsters do not re"ent* the# must be Jai)ed$ I 1ou)d never use the Christian "hrase about ?)ove@ to counteract the a""ro"riate "o)itica)* economic* or cu)tura) fight against Communists and other t#rants* 1ho are nothing but gangsters on an internationa) sca)e$ <angsters stea) a "urseK the# stea) 1ho)e countries$ ut the "astor and the individua) Christian have to do their best to bring to Christ rebe))ious nationsI1hatever crimes the# commitIas 1e)) as their innocent victims$ We have to "ra# for them 1ith understanding$
the Scri"tures$ It 1as signed b# thirt# vi))agersL The# had carefu))# cut the ib)e into thirt# "arts and e%changed the "arts 1ith one anotherL It 1as "athetic to hear a Russian begging for one "age of the ib)e to feed his sou)$ The# 1ere ha""# to e%change a co1 or a goat for a ib)e$ One man traded his 1edding ring for a battered :e1 Testament$ 8an# chi)dren have never seen a Christmas card$ If the# had one* a)) the chi)dren of the vi))age 1ou)d gather around it* and some o)d man might e%")ain to them about the bab# Cesus* his virgin birth* and the stor# of Christ and sa)vation$ 9)) thisI from one Christmas cardL We send ib)es* <os"e)s* and )iterature to Christians in these restricted nations$ This is one 1a# you can do something$ We a)so "rint and send s"ecia) )iterature to counterattac! the atheistic "oison being given the #outh from !indergarten to co))ege$ In the Soviet Union* the Communists "re"ared The 7theist+s -uideboo!* 1hich is the atheist>s ? ib)e$@ Sim")e versions are taught to !indergarten chi)dren* 1ith more advanced versions of the same guideboo! taught as the chi)dren "rogress$ The evi) ? ib)e@ fo))o1s a chi)d as he gro1s and advancesI "oisoning him 1ith atheism a)) the 1a#$ We "rint and send The 7nswer to the 7theist+s 4andboo! as the Christian ans1er to "oisonous* atheistic teachings$ Our "oisoned #outh must have an ans1erI<od>s ans1erIthe Christian ans1erIour ans1erL This is another thing #ou can do* b# he)"ing "rovide s"ecia) )iterature to nations 1here <od is ?i))ega)$@ Such )iterature inc)udes i))ustrated #outh )iterature and chi)dren>s ib)es$ We a)so must ?Join hands@ 1ith members of the Underground Church and give them the financia) means to trave) about 1ith the gos"e) in "erson/to/"erson evange)ism$ So man# of them are ?chained@ to their homes for )ac! of funds to use for trave) tic!ets* and for food 1hi)e trave)ing$ Thus the# are stranded* unab)e to move about 1hi)e vi))ages t1ent# to thirt# mi)es a1a# vain)# ca)) for them to come for secret meetings$ # "roviding funds for them each month* 1e can ?unchain@ them to ans1er those ca))s and go to distant to1ns and vi))ages 1ith the Word of <od$ =or e%am")e* 1e "urchase motorc#c)es for 0ietnamese and Chinese "astors 1ho go to share the gos"e) in ?forbidden areas@ of their nations$ We "rovide bic#c)es for evange)ists in 8us)im ang)adesh 1ho 1itness at great ris!$ Christian )a#men and )a#1omen must have financia) he)"$ eing Christians* the# earn bare)# enough to survive* )eaving nothing 1ith 1hich to go from vi))age to vi))age 1ith the gos"e)$ This is the ?mirac)e@ a fe1 do))ars a month 1i)) do for them$ Pastors of officia) churches 1ho conduct a secret* "ara))e) ministr# at great ris! must have funds secret)# "rovided them for such "ur"oses$ The 1i))ingness of these "astors to ris! their freedom b# ignoring regu)ations and "reaching the gos"e) to chi)dren* #outh* and adu)ts in secret meetings is not enough$ The# must have the means to carr# out their fruitfu) secret ministr#$ <iving funds for that "ur"ose 1i)) he)" such a member of the Underground Church effective)# s"read the gos"e)$ :e%t* 1e must broadcast the gos"e) into ca"tive nations b# radio$ Using stations in the free 1or)d* 1e can s"iritua))# feed the Underground Church* 1hich itse)f is in great need of the read of Life$ ecause the Communist governments use short1ave radio to disseminate their "ro"aganda to their o1n "eo")e* mi))ions of "eo")e in restricted nations have radios that 1i)) receive these broadcasts$ Doors remain o"en to broadcast into ca"tive nations b# radio* and this 1or! must be e%tended$ The Underground Church must have the s"iritua) food these broadcasts "rovide$ This is another 1a# #ou can he)" the Underground Church in these restricted countries$
:o1 I have de)ivered the message from the faithfu)* mart#red ChurchIfrom your brothers and sisters suffering in the bonds of atheistic communism* and under attac! across the 1or)d from Indonesia to 9frica$ Don>t abandon them$
EPILO<UE
Pau) e%")ains the re)ationshi" among members of the od# of Christ in 4CoG4&2&./&6 2 ?that there shou)d be no schism in the bod#* but that the members shou)d have the same care one for another$ 9nd if one member suffers* a)) the members suffer 1ith itK or if one member is honored* a)) the members reJoice 1ith it$@ The 1riter of Hebre1s adds* ?Re/ member them that are in bonds* as bound 1ith themK and them 1hich suffer adversit#* as being #ourse)ves a)so in the bod#@ FHebG4(2(* +C0H$ This verse has been the theme of The 0oice of the 8art#rs since 456'$ It becomes c)ear as 1e stud# the :e1 Testament that "ersecution is not* nor ever 1i)) be* foreign to the Church on this earth$ Therefore* 1e have an ob)igation as members of that od# to ?encourage one another and bui)d each other u"@ F4ThG.244* :I0H unti) Christ returns$ To do other1ise 1ou)d be to reJect our Christian res"onsibi)it# and the teachings of Cesus$ To this cause* The 0oice of the 8art#rs "resses on* serving in near)# ,- countries around the 1or)d 1here our brothers and sisters are s#stematica))# "ersecuted$ In 0ietnam* Laos* and China* Christians are beaten* !i))ed* or im"risoned$ Their churches are destro#ed and their ib)es burned$ Under Is)am in the )ast decades* an average of ,-Christians are mart#red each da#$ 8i))ions have "erished in Sudan 1here radica) Is)amic forces have crucified thousands of Christian men or dro1ned them in the :i)e River$ Others have been im"risoned a1aiting e%ecution b# hanging$ Sudanese 1omen are ra"ed 1hi)e their chi)dren are ri""ed from their homes to be so)d as concubines or s)aves to 8us)ims in the :orth$ 9nd to this traged# the Sudanese Christians state* ?Even though our homes are burned and our churches are destro#ed* 1e are "ersuaded no1 more than ever to "reach Christ to "eo")e$@ It is difficu)t to com"rehend that Jo# and freedom can coe%ist 1ith some of the 1orst sufferings !no1n to man* to reconci)e ho1 suffering can be granted to us as a ?gift@ on be/ ha)f of Christ FPhiG42&5H$ ut there is )itt)e ")ace for human understanding in the s"iritua) man destined to )ive eterna))# 1ith Christ$ The Voice of the Martyrs ne1s)etter continues to inform* and )ead to action* Christians throughout the free 1or)d of the ")ight of those 1ho suffer for their faith in Cesus Christ$ Through our net1or! of offices around the 1or)d* the ne1s)etter current)# is "ub)ished in over (- )anguages and distributed to over &.-*--- concerned be)ievers ever# month$ The ministr# has a)so deve)o"ed five main goa)s in serving toda#>s "ersecuted church2 4$ To "rovide Christians 1ith ib)es* )iterature* and radio broadcasts in their o1n )anguage in restricted nations 1here Christians are "ersecuted$ &$ To give re)ief to the fami)ies of Christian mart#rs in these areas of the 1or)d$ ($ To underta!e "roJects of encouragement to he)" be)ievers rebui)d their )ives and 1itness in countries that have suffered Communist o""ression$ ,$ To 1in to Christ those 1ho are o""osed to the gos"e)$ .$ To inform the 1or)d about atrocities committed against Christians and about the courage and faith of the "ersecuted$ We invite #ou to ta!e "art in this ministr#Ito ?remember them that are in bonds* as bound 1ith them@ FHebG4(2(* +C0H$ =ind encouragement in their overcoming faith* and ta!e the o""ortunit# to be an encouragement to those 1ho suffer for their faith in Christ$ If #ou 1ou)d )i!e to )earn more about toda#>s "ersecuted church or receive a free subscri"tion to The Voice of the Martyrs month)# ne1s)etter* ")ease contact us2
The 0oice of the 8art#rs P$O$ o% ,,( art)esvi))e* O+ ',--. F7--H ','/--7. 0isit our 1ebsite2 111$"ersecution$com