Richard Wurmbrand writes in the preface of his book Christ On The Jewish Road (Living Sacrifice Book Company):
"When my wife and I became Christians, we found beloved brothers and sisters in all confessions; but no single one of these confessions constitutes the Christian Church. None of them possess the unadulterated truth, nor a truly burning love. Many Christian pastors are not what a pastor should be -- a person in whom Christ is present; a man through whom God Himself speaks. The sheep are not listened to. The gifts of grace possessed by members of the Church are not sufficiently utilized. They stand unemployed in the marketplace, or else their strength and their ability are not given full scope. The work of the Church lacks the coordinated action in which all God's children should take part.
We are the most poorly organized army. Jesus' melancholy remark, that the children of this world are wiser than the sons of light (Luke 16:8), has not inspired us to change things. During the Crusades, a misguided Christian army was recruited to win an empty tomb in Jerusalem. Why are we not inspired to organize our efforts today and win living souls?
When we, who were new to the Christian faith, raised these problems, Christian leaders became angry with us.
There is a club for dwarfs. Membership is open only to persons who are not more than four feet tall. Dwarfs say that they are closest to human perfection, because the first men were taller than those of today; hand in hand with progress, the human form has become smaller. We could in fact set up a club for Christian dwarfs, with a great many members. It is the dwarfs of Christianity who are regarded as the standard, while the giants are considered to be fanatics. The dwarfs, the cold and indifferent, are considered the ones who are wise. I find myself in opposition to people who think along these lines.
Even more, I was opposed to the atheist world. The bodies and souls of many Hebrew Christians bear the scars of wounds received in this struggle. But only the soldier who risks his life is a true soldier, and scars are a soldier's badge of honor.
For twenty-five years I have had one single task, because I knew that it is only the man who concentrates on one goal who can accomplish great things. Amateurs do not make great athletes; nor are those clergyman the best pastors who, apart from being clergymen, are also devoted stamp collectors, football players, chess players, musicians, and a great many other things. You may have many gifts, but they must all be subject to the same aim.
I have done only one thing: I have worked for Christ. I am not satisfied with what I have accomplished. If I were, I should not be able to make any progress. But I know that Jesus will forgive me if I have erred in my thoughts and sinned in my life. He has not abandoned me, and He will help me to do better in the future.
And because this is not the work of an individual -- the true Christian belongs to the assembly of God's children -- I have written this book, so that what has been right and wrong in what I have accomplished may serve as a lesson to the Church and to the Jewish people, in order that others may do better."
I am personally provoked to think that all of us must enlist ourselves to action, to war and get scars in the sacrifice of ourselves to Christ and His cross. We have the giants shoulders to climb up on for a vantage and an advantage. Matthew 5:20 was also brought to my memory: "For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
Instead, it seems that each successive generation has fallen asleep at the helm for Christ and forget and forsake the ground work and momentum gained by the previous one - we are much too similar to apostate Israel. Prime example is the Salvation Army. They once marched for Christ in alley ways where blood ran down their bodies with bibles in their hands and the Holy Ghost in their hearts! Today, they march for dimes and ring bells and call it evangelism. Oh, what apostasy! what atheism!
Is it our turn to sleep? While others fought to win the cross and sailed through bloody seas - have we now arrived and can do no more? Perish the evil thought! Forbid that adultery to flow in your marrow.
Christ is still a Mighty Warrior and leads a fighting band. He no longer tolerates sin and sounds Repent Command.
Pick up your sword and His cross; deny yourself and follow:
Christ accepts no coward nor keeps no servant to be idle.
"When my wife and I became Christians, we found beloved brothers and sisters in all confessions; but no single one of these confessions constitutes the Christian Church. None of them possess the unadulterated truth, nor a truly burning love. Many Christian pastors are not what a pastor should be -- a person in whom Christ is present; a man through whom God Himself speaks. The sheep are not listened to. The gifts of grace possessed by members of the Church are not sufficiently utilized. They stand unemployed in the marketplace, or else their strength and their ability are not given full scope. The work of the Church lacks the coordinated action in which all God's children should take part.
We are the most poorly organized army. Jesus' melancholy remark, that the children of this world are wiser than the sons of light (Luke 16:8), has not inspired us to change things. During the Crusades, a misguided Christian army was recruited to win an empty tomb in Jerusalem. Why are we not inspired to organize our efforts today and win living souls?
When we, who were new to the Christian faith, raised these problems, Christian leaders became angry with us.
There is a club for dwarfs. Membership is open only to persons who are not more than four feet tall. Dwarfs say that they are closest to human perfection, because the first men were taller than those of today; hand in hand with progress, the human form has become smaller. We could in fact set up a club for Christian dwarfs, with a great many members. It is the dwarfs of Christianity who are regarded as the standard, while the giants are considered to be fanatics. The dwarfs, the cold and indifferent, are considered the ones who are wise. I find myself in opposition to people who think along these lines.
Even more, I was opposed to the atheist world. The bodies and souls of many Hebrew Christians bear the scars of wounds received in this struggle. But only the soldier who risks his life is a true soldier, and scars are a soldier's badge of honor.
For twenty-five years I have had one single task, because I knew that it is only the man who concentrates on one goal who can accomplish great things. Amateurs do not make great athletes; nor are those clergyman the best pastors who, apart from being clergymen, are also devoted stamp collectors, football players, chess players, musicians, and a great many other things. You may have many gifts, but they must all be subject to the same aim.
I have done only one thing: I have worked for Christ. I am not satisfied with what I have accomplished. If I were, I should not be able to make any progress. But I know that Jesus will forgive me if I have erred in my thoughts and sinned in my life. He has not abandoned me, and He will help me to do better in the future.
And because this is not the work of an individual -- the true Christian belongs to the assembly of God's children -- I have written this book, so that what has been right and wrong in what I have accomplished may serve as a lesson to the Church and to the Jewish people, in order that others may do better."
I am personally provoked to think that all of us must enlist ourselves to action, to war and get scars in the sacrifice of ourselves to Christ and His cross. We have the giants shoulders to climb up on for a vantage and an advantage. Matthew 5:20 was also brought to my memory: "For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
Instead, it seems that each successive generation has fallen asleep at the helm for Christ and forget and forsake the ground work and momentum gained by the previous one - we are much too similar to apostate Israel. Prime example is the Salvation Army. They once marched for Christ in alley ways where blood ran down their bodies with bibles in their hands and the Holy Ghost in their hearts! Today, they march for dimes and ring bells and call it evangelism. Oh, what apostasy! what atheism!
Is it our turn to sleep? While others fought to win the cross and sailed through bloody seas - have we now arrived and can do no more? Perish the evil thought! Forbid that adultery to flow in your marrow.
Christ is still a Mighty Warrior and leads a fighting band. He no longer tolerates sin and sounds Repent Command.
Pick up your sword and His cross; deny yourself and follow:
Christ accepts no coward nor keeps no servant to be idle.