The Political Theology of Richard Wurmbrand: A Case Study on the Tension Between Christianity and Communism in Wurmbrand’s Life and Thought

The objective of this work was to answer the research question of: How did Richard Wurmbrand approach and manage the tension between Christianity and Communism, against the background of his Romanian experiences in the Communist era? An oversimplified answer to this question, which still encapsulates the essence of his political theology, can be, using his mission’s motto, "Hate the evil systems (communism), but love your persecutors (communists). Love their souls, and try to win them for Christ. Wurmbrand hated communism as a political system because of its devastating impact on Romania, his home country, upon the Christian Churches, and because of the devastating effect it had upon his family’s life. Also, Communism, for Wurmbrand, had profound metaphysical issues.
How could Wurmbrand hate communism as a political system and still love the communists and endeavor to win them for Christ? The answer to this question lies in Wurmbrand’s reflection on the Christian Church. Only in this context love for the communist persecutors could exist. The Christian Church had to adapt to the communist regimes in order to survive taking different shapes like the Official Church and the Underground Church. Still, according to Wurmbrand, the Underground Church with her lack of complacency, denial of collaboration, and cooperation with the communist regime was the correct way the Christian Church should respond to oppressive regimes.