Standing for the Truth

Acts 4:19-20 But Peter and John answered and said to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you judge; For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

Acts 5:29   But Peter and the apostles answered and said, It is necessary to obey God rather than men.

A brother fellowshipped with me last week about the situation of a new church that was raised up last year. It was the father's family of one of the brothers in Manipur. They were from a Christian background with denominational teachings and concepts.  Through the study of the word of God, that brother and his family with another brother's family finally took the stand for the Lord's testimony in their village. Though only two families, they happily and boldly took the stand based on the truths they have been enjoying.  In fact, they also attended the combined meeting that I attended when I went to visit the churches in Manipur last year.

Last month, this family came to visit our family here in Gurugram. Out of a deep burden for the seeking believers in his village, I selected some of the ministry books from my collection. Though I have already used them, to provide them the means to study the truth, I have given them. Otherwise, buying them would be of great value and they may not be able to afford them all. While the family was in Gurugram visiting one of their sons, I also visited them to fellowship with them on some crucial truths and practices of the church life. Since then, a home meeting has been set up in their son's home here in Gurugram though they already went back to their village in Manipur.

This family in Manipur was forcibly asked by the village authority to sign a document to state that they will not set up another Christian denomination besides the already existing ones, the Baptist and the Catholic. But the brother who knew the truth stood for the truth and was not willing to sign. His standpoint was, "we are not in any denomination, nor starting one, but simply following the truth of the Bible." This matter was fellowshipped with the brothers in the churches in Manipur, and they concluded to leave the matter to the Lord in prayer and not take any action as of now.

As I heard this news, the Bible verses I have been reading these days confirmed the stand of the brothers. A similar situation was faced by the early churches as recorded in the book of Acts. Once we know the truth we must simply obey God and stand for the truth, come what may. The grace of the Lord will preserve the brothers and sisters who stand for the truth.

It is indeed a proper stand to say, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you judge; For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. It is necessary to obey God rather than men."

Perhaps, more and more testimonies of standing for the truth will occur in the coming days. May the Lord be gracious to all His saints.