Can you pass a true test of your Christianity?

Recently, I had the privilege of reading a book called “Tortured for Christ,” by Richard Wurmbrand. The book describes in vivid detail Christian life in the Soviet Union under communist rule.

As I read the book I marveled at how the work of these dedicated Christians — while being tortured, mutilated, starved and killed — continued in their faith. Although the author states very clearly that he could not relate the worst of the atrocities, he could relate some. At one point in the book it describes how the Christians, while in prison, would be beaten for preaching to the other Christian prisoners. One story stood out in particular. He describes how when one of the prisoners was preaching, the prison guards heard him. In the middle of the sermon they burst into the cell and dragged the man to what the author calls “the beating room.” After beating the man for some time the guards returned the bloody, beaten man to his cell. Then “he picked up his battered body, painfully straightened his clothing and said “now, brethren where did I leave off when I was interrupted?” That is dedication.

As a method to try to break his belief, he describes briefly how there are 18 scars on his torso from where the tortures carved holes in his body. He refused to waiver in his faith. Imagine yourself in the following situation. After being beaten and tortured for weeks to tell who else were Christians, one prisoner’s 14-year-old son was brought into the prison.

“The guards began to whip the boy in front of his father, saying that they would continue to beat him until the pastor said what they wished him to say. The poor man was half mad. He bore it as long as he could, then he cried to his son, “Alexander, I must say what they want! I can’t bear your beating anymore!”

The son answered, “Father, don’t do me the injustice of having a traitor as a parent, withstand! If they kill me, I will die with the words, ‘Jesus, and my father land.’ The communists, enraged, fell upon the child and beat him to death, spattering blood over the walls of the cell. He died praising God.”

The book relates how there were so many in the prison that the guards did not know them by name. When the guards would come into a cell and call the name sometimes the Christians would step forward and be beaten in place of the weaker non-Christian communists who could not survive the beating.

For a moment, think about how you would react if the man who had beaten your son to death were sitting next to you in a prison cell and his name were called. Would you have the courage and forgiveness to stand in his place, knowing you were taking a beating for the man who beat your son to death? Sometimes these were the same men who had beaten them in the past, but now were not communist enough for the communist system.

Of the 139 members and candidates of the central committee who were chosen at the 17th congress, 98 were arrested and later shot. These people were card-carrying, dedicated communists. Imagine how the “lesser communists” were treated.

Throughout the entire book there is a resounding message the author repeats over and over. The message should be fairly easy for Christians to understand — love the sinner, hate the sin. Though he was brutalized by these prison guards, he loved them, but hated the system. He loved the person, but not what the person did. This extends to every Christian in all facets of our lives.

A drunk driver killed my sister many years ago. Even as a Christian, I can hate the act of driving drunk, but not the driver. I hate the action, but not the person. This is a difficult concept for some to understand. Some people feel they have to either love or hate the sin and the sinner as a unit. Indeed, that is not the case.

As I finished reading the book I asked myself how many clergy and congregation alike would suffer like this for their belief in Christ in this country like Christians in communist Russia did? At the same time I asked how many in this country would be willing to suffer like this for any belief. Would the Christian community as a whole be willing? Would an atheist be willing to die instead of “changing” his or her belief?

Some time back I was watching a documentary on near-death experiences. I realize there is much debate over whether or not this happens, but for a moment I would like you to assume that these are factual.

In one case a man was attacked by a deadly jellyfish. The man struggled ashore trying to get help. Several times he approached people and they refused to assist him in getting medical assistance. Finally, he managed to get to the hospital and the help he needed. There, he physically died for a short period of time. He related going to Heaven and meeting God. God took him back to when he was injured. Showing him the men who had refused to help him. God asked him “do you forgive them?” At first the man said, “no,” to which God replied, “Then I cannot forgive you.”

Some may think this is ancient history; however, this is not the case. In Saudi Arabia, (considered to be the second most religiously oppressive country in the world) Somalia, North Korea, Nigeria and Mauritania, to convert to Christianity from Islam can carry the death penalty. Many other countries carry penalties from financial repercussions to imprisonment just for being a Christian and talking about Christ. Can this happen in this country? Many people in the oppressed countries didn’t think it would ever happen in their country either.

Mike Blodgett is chaplain of Lighthouse Chapel. Contact him at 373-5866 or e-mail lighthouse_chapelak@yahoo.com.