The Hiding Place: Staying Silent About the Gospel?

Lia Martinez

The Hiding Place

As a Christian it is your duty to spread the word of God, but at what cost. Would you keep sharing the truth even if your life was on the line?  In the book “The Hiding Place” Corrie Ten Boom is faced with this life threatening dilemma. While both sides agree that Christians are called to spread the love of God. Some believe Corrie should preach during her imprisonment, others aren't as keen on that. 

I believe that Corrie should not have preached during her imprisonment for three reasons: It could cause further division, It's risky, and the word of God will have a different influence in camp.

The first reason I believe that Corrie should not have preached during her imprisonment is because it could cause further division. These women come from all over europe and from many different religious backgrounds and factions within the judeo christian tradition, why would polarize people further by insisting that your faith is correct when these people are being murdered for their own beliefs.

The second reason I believe that Corrie should not have preached during her imprisonment is because it’s risky. If talking out of turn or stepping out of line is punishable by torture where is preaching and spreading the word of God going to get her. Also, what person would jeopardize and put their family in danger for tradition? By breaking the rules Corrie is putting her weak sister, her family, and all her acquaintances that have listened and participated in her ideas are now in danger. 

The final reason I believe that Corrie should not have preached during her imprisonment is because the word of God will have a different influence in camp. These people who were cruelly captured and days are numbered, just want hard facts, not ideas, and are less likely to believe, its an antidote not a treatment. Some people will also not want to hear her rambling and spreading the gospel during their downtime and if they're annoyed they are more liable to to tell. She also could anger the general population since they're mostly jewish and Corrie is spreading the word of Christians.

Some people claim that Corrie should be preaching during her imprisonment. They say that it is spreading light and hope and truth into these people's lives. But are they accounting that your giving them an idea not legitimate proof also if your saying that after they die they're gonna be much happier, how will that affect their mental health, instead of promoting life you're promoting something completely different.

In addition, they argue that it'll create a bond between very different people: thus stopping the fighting and uniting many different people from very different backgrounds. I don't know how to refute this statement i kinda need helpppp

Neither of these arguments: She's spreading hope or It'll create a bond would give Corrie any reason to preach during her imprisonment.

Corrie should not have preached during her imprisonment for three reasons: It could cause further division, It's risky, and the word of god will have a different influence in camp. This matters to the people who encounter Corrie because this will change the outcome of their faith and their lives.