Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus

“Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18)

   This verse discloses the prime interest of the church of Christ and the main objection of the world towards the church. The church or the Christian always wants to speak in the name of Christ and the world objects to it. The world says to the Christian – “speak anything without mentioning the name of Jesus”. But it is the most important thing for us to know that all our message and moral teaching is powerless, fruitless and meaningless if we do not proclaim the name of Jesus Christ.

   I want to tell you something interesting. All the teachings of the Holy Bible can be found from holy books of other religions. The same concept and the same perspective can be drawn from the teachings of other religions.

   We Christians talk about the need to have faith in God. Interestingly even Hinduism teaches the same principle. We have the story of Job in the Old Testament who suffered because of his righteousness. God was testing Job’s faith and demonstrating the genuineness of his godliness before the devil, the earthly saints and the inhabitants of heaven. We have a similar story, a story of Satya Harischandra, in Hindu mythology. The Bible and the Hinduism, both teach about the need for holiness. All the principles and the teachings of the Bible are taught in Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism either in letter or in figurative speech.

   We can spend our whole life talking about these spiritual, moral and ethical issues and still not enter into a personal relationship with God. Nobody objects when you talk about the need for faith, hope and love. No one objects when you talk about holiness. Every one appreciates when you talk about the need to help the needy and the suffering. Every one admires the story of the Good Samaritan. But when you begin to talk about Lord Jesus, suddenly the atmosphere is heated up. People begin to resist the message. They say “we don’t want to hear about that man, Jesus”!

   Let me tell you my dear brothers and sisters, all the spiritual principles and truth become meaningful and possible only after we receive Christ into our hearts. If Christ is living in us, we will be able to really live a holy life. We can love and serve the suffering and the needy only when Christ lives in us. We can implement and practice all the moral and ethical teachings of all the religions and also enter into a personal relationship with God only after we receive Christ into our hearts. This is so because the blood of Jesus cleanses us and the Spirit of Christ empowers us to live with right principles and in right relationship with God. Nothing and nobody else can do this for us. We as Christians must take this message to the whole world. May God help us fulfill this responsibility!