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Rabbi T. Tirschtiegel A
SALVATION TESTIMONY RABBI DR. T. TIRSCHTIEGEL by P. Hermsdorf One
day a well-educated Jewish man visited me. He had been brought up in a
religious home and had early in life decided to serve God. The services in the
large, beautiful synagogue of his home town made a tremendous impression on
him. As soon as he was able to read Hebrew, he said all his prayers in that
language. Afterwards he attended the rabbinical college at Breslau, Germany. Early
in life he became acquainted with the New Testament. He read about Jesus but
always tried to forget what he had read about Him. He was very interested in
the science of comparative religion and sometimes attended Christian services
which only strengthened him in his conviction of "the While
thus unsure of himself and doubtful he became a Rabbi but his spiritual
balance and his love of Judaism were severely shocked during his office. The
lack of religious interest of his congregation and the meager knowledge of
the spiritual priesthood revolted him. Chaos arose in his soul. He longed
fervently for the truth. Sometimes he asked himself: Is the Jewish faith the
genuine religion? Can a religion which has so little influence on the
disposition of its adherents really have any eternal value? Where does the
soul find redemption, peace and rest? The
terrible uncertainty in him increased. And thus he clutched at the formerly
despised Gospel and acknowledged with increasing assurance where rest and
security, salvation and peace could be found for the human heart. I am the
light of the world : he that followeth
Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life (John 8:12).
There was a struggle like Paul's in his soul, a kicking against the pricks.
At last, however, he saw the dishonesty of the struggle. He came to realize
that he was unable to fight against the fervent longings of his heart and
against the truth. He confessed to his congregation that he was unable to
continue in his office as their Rabbi. He resigned from the Rabbinate and
decided to be converted to the truth in Jesus Christ. Thus
Dr. Tirschtiegel came to me a seeking, longing and
broken man. Gradually he started to learn to find the truth in the New
Testament. It became very difficult for him as he experienced opposition from
his mother and other relatives to his acceptance of the Christian faith. He
was also aware of the fact that often anti-Semitism does not make things easy
for Jewish people who embrace Christianity. He knew all this, and yet his
heart was warmed as he searched in the Holy Scriptures, and by God’s
grace one day he could fall on his knees and confess: Thou, dear brother
Jesus, art also my brother and my Savior Who hast led me to thy Salvation. With his whole heart he could say as Paul did:
For no other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
Christ; 1 Corinthians 3:11. And then he was baptized. It is certain that he
was not persuaded by man or outward circumstances to come to the truth, but
that he followed only the urge of his heart and the wooing of the Spirit of
God. Well-equipped as he was with a knowledge of Jewish writings, sincere and
a lover of the truth, he was constantly drawn nearer to Christ. Dr. Tirschtiegel had a burning zeal for the salvation of his
Spiritually blind Jewish brethren to whom he preached Him Who ought to be
their greatest pride and joy for He is the Savior of the world and the only
one Who can give them salvation and peace, the Messiah. Who is also to them
the way and the truth and the life John 14:6. The
Lord richly blessed him and made him a blessing to many of the house of
Israel. For further information contact:
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