Jesus Limited to English?

A conversation from earlier keeps running through my mind. Actually, what I keep pondering is a statement made by someone that the power of the name of Jesus lies only in the name as we, English speakers, know it. The point was made that people who speak other languages are to learn the English word “Jesus” just as someone would have to learn my name as “Amanda” in order for God’s power to be loosed.

Now, I understand that sometimes it’s hard to look outside our own cultural box when we’ve experienced little to nothing else, but to limit the power of God to only one culture or language is highly erroneous.

First of all, just to examine the origin of the books of the Bible—stemming from the Middle East to Asia, but nowhere in the western world—and the languages in which the scriptures were originally written—Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic—leaves little room for argument.

Secondly, God Himself created language. He created mankind to communicate in one language and then created diversity in language at the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9). And when the apostles spoke in a multitude of languages at Pentecost (doubting, by the way, that English was one of those languages), each of the men present could understand in his native tongue because it was God, the Holy Ghost, speaking through them (Acts 2:4-8). God created all languages and God knows all languages.

This is such a nonsensical belief that it is not only difficult to understand how someone could maintain such a thought, but it is deeply saddening. To say that if someone doesn’t use the English word, “Jesus,” then they are denied the power thereof is to say that all the Christians martyred for His name’s sake during the first 1300 years (before the 1st English manuscripts of scripture emerged) died in vain. And what about the millions more Christians who don’t live in English speaking regions? It is to say they are denied the power of God even unto salvation and that is a gross deception.

I can’t even begin to think I understand the fullness of the power of God. But I do know that the Word of God is alive—in every language. It is not confined to one or another. The Holy Spirit, which guides us into all truth, is alive. He’s not confined to one part of the world or another. God, the Almighty, the infinite Creator of heaven and earth, the Alpha and the Omega, without beginning or end, cannot be confined to the depths of our own understanding or even our imaginations. He is the fulfillment of omnipotence (unlimited power & authority) and omniscience (unlimited knowledge & understanding). No language barrier can bridle the power that lies in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.