The Lost Attribute of Boldness

American Christians have lost our boldness. Perhaps we were never bold to begin with. Look around at the number of Christians being intimated and silenced by society. Instead of being bold for Christ, we allow ourselves to be bullied by culture. By all means, there are some that are vocal. Some that we should look up to as role models of the faith in face of trials and tribulation. But often the loudest voices are those who want the spotlight pointed at themselves rather than Jesus.

What’s really sad is that sometimes those who are doing the silencing claim to be Christians themselves. Even when we agree on the controversial issues of the day, there are those that give in to cultural mandates…and try and force others to give in too. We may think our motives are pure of heart – we want to be loving, kind, tolerant. We want to extend grace. But then we cheapen that grace and wind up neglecting our first love, like the church at Ephesus (see Revelation 2).

We stop turning to see what the Holy Scriptures say. We stop listening to the Holy Spirit. We don’t want to hurt feelings, risk relationships, or lose our status. We want to be popular – never outgrowing out juvenile desire for everyone to like us. So, instead of being true to the Word of God, we listen to what others tell us we should believe. We buy into those lies and begin to perpetrate them ourselves, convinced that so many people can’t be wrong. After all, if Hollywood (especially Disney) says something is okay, then it is, right?!? Besides, we’re more enlightened and have a better understanding of Scripture than people in the past. (How’s that for pride)?

Listen – there have and continue to be sins committed in the name of God. People often twist the Bible into saying what they want it to say. Or they forget all about the parts that would convict them of their sin. At the same time, Christians are guilty of not speaking up for the truth. We talk a lot about truth in love, but more and more people are forgoing the truth part all together.

Ask yourself, “Am I one of those people?” You’ll know the answer is yes if you fear man more than God.

Not everyone is called to write and speak publicly. We’re not even all called to be vocal on social media. But we are all commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. If we are too afraid to share our faith with others, if we are more concerned about what other humans think of us than what God thinks of us, or if we are not willing to speak up for the truth of the Bible, then we are not loving God. In fact, we’re replacing Him with an idol – ourselves. And it takes no boldness at all to place ourselves on a pedestal.