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"God will judge us not according to how much we endured, but how much we could love." - Richard Wurmbrand

This quote doesn't seem too spectacular at first glance. It's a pretty standard sounding quote about having the love of Christ. At least it seems that way, that is, until take a closer look at the man who penned those words.

Richard Wurmbrand came to know Christ in 1938, along with his wife Sabina. They then joined a mission to Jews in Bucharest, Romania, and Richard became ordained as a pastor. During World War II, Richard and Sabina saw an opportunity for evangelism among the occupying German forces. They preached in the bomb shelters and rescued Jewish children out of the ghettos. Richard and Sabina were repeatedly arrested and beaten and, at least once, nearly executed.

In 1945 Romanian Communists seized power and a million "invited" Russian troops poured into the country. Pastor Wurmbrand ministered to his oppressed countrymen and engaged in bold evangelism to the Russian soldiers.

That same year, Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand attended the Congress of Cults organized by the Romanian Communist government. Many religious leaders came forward to praise Communism and to swear loyalty to the new regime. Sabina said, "Richard, stand up and wash away this shame from the face of Christ." Richard warned, "If I do so, you’ll lose your husband."

"I don't wish to have a coward as a husband," she replied. Thus Richard declared to the 4,000 delegates, whose speeches were broadcast to the whole nation, that their duty is to glorify God and Christ alone.

Between 1945 and 1947, Richard distributed 1 million Gospels to Russian troops, often disguising the books as Communist propaganda. Richard also smuggled Gospels into Russia. On December 30, 1947, the People's Republic of Romania was proclaimed.

On February 29, 1948, the secret police arrested Richard while on his way to church and took him to their headquarters. He was locked in a solitary cell and labeled 'Prisoner Number 1.'

A Christian doctor masquerading as a Communist Party member discovered Richard alive in prison. In a general amnesty, Richard was released in 1956 after serving eight-and-a-half years in prison. He was warned never to preach again. While in prison, he went through horrific tortures at the hands of the brutal secret police. Despite the treatments and the warnings he received from his persecutors, Richard resumed his work with the "underground" churches after his release.

He was re-arrested in 1959 through the conspiracy of an associate, and sentenced to 25 years. He was accused of preaching ideas contrary to Communist doctrine. Due to increased political pressure from Western countries, Richard was granted another amnesty and released in 1964.

In December 1965, the Norwegian Mission to the Jews and the Hebrew Christian Alliance paid $10,000 in ransom to the Communist government to allow the Wurmbrand family to leave Romania. Reluctant to leave his homeland, Richard was convinced by other underground church leaders to leave and become a "voice" to the world for the underground church. Richard, Sabina, and their son Mihai left Romania for Norway and then traveled on to England.

In the text surrounding this quote, "God will judge us not according to how much we endured, but how much we could love," Richard Wurmbrand is talking about his feelings towards his captors. This quote is literally him saying that it doesn't matter all that he suffered, it doesn't matter how much he endured, it doesn't matter all the pain that they put him through. What matters is that Christ died so that ALL men may come to repentence, what matters is that "God so loved" and so should we, even those who persecute us.

(The History of Richard Wurmbrand's life was taken from The Voice of the Martyrs' web site, to read more about Rev. Wurmbrand's life and ministry, or to learn more about the Persecuted Church today and what you can do to help just visit www.persecution.com)