A Great Cloud of Witnesses

Recently the kids and I were watching an animated movie about Richard Wurmbrand. The movie is part of a series called "Heroes of the Faith", by Torchlighters, that I would highly recommend.

The movie came to a scene where Mr. Wurmbrand, who was a Christian pastor in Communist Romania during the 60's, is being thrown into prison simply because he believes in Jesus.
Ezra turned to me, accustomed to Justice League and Spider Man and said, "Isn't he going to fight the bad guys?"

I was kind of at a loss. I know we have talked many time about how Christians SHOULD respond when they are bullied, persecuted, or abused. We have spoke of the story of Jesus' crucifixion, and how he *gave* up his life for "the bad guys" over and over.
But, kids have a keen sense of justice and really, the idea of not fighting back doesn't come naturally to us.

"Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." Rom. 12:9
"Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Isaiah 35:4

The superheroes we watch so often on TV, always arrive right in the nick of time. Whereas God often doesn't seem to arrive at all, or way too late. Doesn't 14 years in prison seem too late?

After this exchange with the kids I got around to reading Wurmbrand's book "Tortured for Christ".
I was simply in awe at the love and faithfulness of God's church in Romania when for all appearances God didn't arrive on time. Many weren't saved from being tortured.

One heartbreaking story spoke about a man who was being tortured by the Communists. They became frustrated that he wouldn't give them what they wanted. So they brought in his teenage son and started beating him in front of his father. The man withstood as long as he could, but eventually broke down and said, "Son, I must tell them what they want! I can't bear your beating anymore!"
Who could stand to watch their children being tortured? The son's reply was, "Father, don't do me the injustice of having a traitor for a parent. Withstand! If they kill me I will die with the words 'Jesus and my father-land.'" They beat him to death after this.

Becoming a Christian was in most cases a guarantee that you and your family would be harmed. Many weren't rescued from death. Was God absent? Or late?

No, God's ways are higher than ours, and because of the saints beautiful testimony, many were saved, brought to Christ and given true light in a dark place, freed from the evil lies of Satan and Communism. Many even, who had formerly been the persecutors and torturers of the saints.

Fighting back wouldn't have produced that kind of result. Human anger, however justified, does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.

"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:18

Loving your enemy when your enemy has done atrocious thing to you, your family, and others, is only possible through Christ and the Holy Spirit. The Underground church in restricted nations is a shining light in dark places simply because they obey God's directive to love their neighbors and pray for their enemies, not trusting in themselves, but God, for their rescue and salvation.