Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand
Week 2: Chapter 1 — Rumania: Mission Field Behind the Iron Curtain
Read Chapter 1 of Tortured for Christ. Key passages: Matthew 5:10–12; Acts 5:27–42.
Previewing Week 2 of Tortured for Christ
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 9-week guide when you’re ready.
Wurmbrand invites us into the world of underground Christianity in Communist Romania — a world where the church had to become invisible in order to survive, and in surviving, discovered an extraordinary vitality.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Wurmbrand describes the Communist takeover of Romania and the way the institutional church was systematically co-opted or crushed. What tactics did the Communist authorities use to neutralize the official church, and how did believers respond?
2.He recounts that some church leaders collaborated with the Communist regime, delivering sermons that praised the government and even naming informers within their own congregations. How do you process this? What pressures could lead a pastor or believer to compromise in this way?
a.Wurmbrand does not condemn these individuals with harshness. What does his tone toward compromisers reveal about his character and theology?
b.Are there subtler ways that contemporary Western churches can be co-opted by surrounding culture or political pressure?
3.One of the striking features of the underground church was the way ordinary believers — not just clergy — became the backbone of Christian witness. How does this challenge your assumptions about who is responsible for the mission and health of the church?