In a recent newsletter, Steve Cleary (Founder of RevelationMedia and co-producer of the powerful movie “Tortured for Christ“) shared the following story about the late Richard Wurmbrand:
Why Don’t They Ask Me About Jesus?
I remember during my years of traveling with Pastor Richard Wurmbrand (author of Tortured for Christ) there were times when I was able to invite a friend to meet with him, or I was asked through another acquaintance to secure a meeting. Pastor Wurmbrand was always happy to meet with anyone as much as his health allowed.
However, more often than not, the guest would ask a question about a commonly debated Biblical issue. They might ask about a prophecy, Cain’s wife, gifts of the Holy Spirit, which Bible version was the best or even when the rapture was going to take place. Richard never answered the questions but would typically, and graciously, steer the conversation in another direction.
After one such meeting with one of my friends, Wurmbrand asked me, “Why don’t they ask me about Jesus or about being a better Christian?” I was angry and sad at the same time. Here was a man, a spiritual giant, who had spent 14 years in communist prisons for his faith, had endured brutal torture for his work in the underground church, had learned the secrets of Christ’s love in the most horrific situations, and my friend wanted him to settle (or unsettle) a petty doctrinal debate.
When Pastor Wurmbrand was first arrested, along with other pastors, they found themselves debating, even arguing, doctrine and Biblical events. Then one day a guard told them, “Ha, you are the leaders and you can’t even agree among yourselves. And you want us to believe there is a God?!?”
Richard said they each repented and immediately agreed to focus on one thing only – Christ! They were no longer Lutherans and Baptists and Pentecostals. They were Christians and followers of Christ. And the harder prison life turned out to be, the more unified they became.
Cleary then observes…
Why would we want to debate an event that doesn’t point to Christ when we can embrace and overarching divine narrative that does?
Deuteronomy 29:29 states, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” – [ESV]
One devotional stated, the mysteries of God belong to God, but that which He has revealed belong to us and we are responsible for them.
The Apostle Paul writes in 1st Corinthians 2:2, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” [ESV]
Obviously, Paul was concerned about all Scripture and all doctrine. But above all was Christ and His crucifixion!
For a huge list of FREE pdf copies of books by Richard Wurmbrand and his wife Sabina, as well as to hear from their son Michael (Mihai) Wurmbrand, visit this site:
