When I first heard of this book I decided I would read it. A few months later I did. I wasn’t sure what to expect especially since forward notes that the book has “no literary value.” Before starting this book I only knew that Richard Wurmbrand had been in prison because of his religious beliefs.
Wurmbrand describes his early life by saying “I was an atheist but atheism did not give peace to my heart.” He tells the story of how a Romanian carpenter converted him to Christ. After his conversion the Nazis arrested him several times. “The Nazi terror was great but only a taste of what was to come under the communists… these Nazi times had one great advantage. They taught us that physical beatings could be endured.”
Once Romania became a communist country it became illegal to preach the gospel and Wurmbrand spent 14 years in prison. He notes “What the communists have done to Christians surpasses any possibility of human understanding. I have seen communists whose faces while torturing believers shown with rapturous joy. They cried out while torturing the Christians we are the devil. We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the principalities and powers of evil. We saw that communism is not from men but from the devil. It is a spiritual force, a force of evil, and it can only be countered by a greater spiritual force the spirit of God.”
Even while in prison Wurmbrand would continue to preach the gospel. He noted that the Christians and the guards had an understanding. He notes “It was a deal we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching they were happy beating us so everyone was happy.”
After his release from he has been asked if he hates the communists. He replies “Tortures endured in communist prisons have not made me hate communists. They are God’s creatures how can I hate them? But neither can I be their friend…they hate the notion of god. I love God.”
Overall this is a book that shows what humanity is capable of both in terms of brutality and in resilience and love. Overall I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Great literature should do more than entertain us. It should provide a roadmap to improving our lives.
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens introduced readers to Sydney Carton, one of literature's most compelling and deeply flawed characters. Dickens also gives him an unusual title: the Jackal.
His struggles raise questions that remain relevant today.
Are we defined by our past mistakes? Can we overcome our weaknesses? What separates the people we are from the people we could become?
Lessons From the Jackal is a 25-day character study exploring these questions through Sydney Carton’s life, decisions, relationships, and personal development.
This is not a traditional course on A Tale of Two Cities. Our reading assignments will focus specifically on Carton, with sufficient background provided to understand his story. No previous knowledge of the novel is necessary.
Each day will feature selected readings, historical comparisons, reflection questions, discussions, and practical challenges ...
Sydney Carton is intelligent, capable, compassionate, self-destructive, and deeply dissatisfied with his life.
His potential is evident, but his accomplishments are limited. His habits are troubling, but his character contains admirable qualities. His reputation is unfavorable, but Lucie recognizes something in him that others have overlooked.
Perhaps the greatest mistake we can make when judging another person is to assume that who they are today represents everything they are capable of becoming. Yet there is an equally dangerous mistake: assuming that possessing the potential for greatness is equivalent to achieving it. Potential without action remains unrealized. Character without conviction may fail when tested. Reputation without substance is little more than appearance.
The challenge is not simply to possess admirable qualities or to be regarded favorably by others. It is to develop the discipline, courage, and integrity necessary to become the person we are capable of being. When ...
