Cowardice in the Face of the Enemy

Cowardice is not an attractive characteristic. It is a trait where fear and excess self-concern override doing or saying what is right. It is the opposite of courage where we do good and are of help to others or oneself in a time of need. As a label, "cowardice" indicates a failure of character in the face of a challenge. In the book of Proverbs we read,

“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Proverbs 29:25

How many young people have been drawn into the use of drugs or alcohol because of fear of what their friends will think of them if they abstain. How many girls have been drawn into promiscuity through the fear that they will upset and lose a friend?

When Jesus was alive on earth, it was the fear of what others might think that prevented many from nailing their colours to his mast. The apostle John recorded,

“Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.” John 12:42-43

Is this not true so often today? How many leading men in our society have had a Christian upbringing yet now are ashamed to talk about the Lord Jesus? It is even true for many clergy – they may occasionally mention God but seldom explain the necessity of everyone having a close personal relationship with the Lord Jesus.

A leader from another church visited one of our church services. I went up to speak with her before the service began to make her feel welcome. I started by saying how good it was to see her with us. Her reply shocked me,

“The trouble with your church is that you talk too much about Jesus!”

I didn’t know what had initiated this outburst and wondered how best to reply. I had just been studying Paul’s letter of 1 Corinthians, so I showed her the first ten verses of the opening chapter. The Lord Jesus is mentioned in every sentence. Paul was clearly concerned that the troubled church in Corinth should come back to being Christ-centred. We could have looked at other epistles. They are all full of Christ. Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, summarises the gospel as,

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27

Why have so many churches and Christian organisations drifted from this fundamental doctrine? Why have so many Christians stopped talking about the Lord Jesus with their friends and families? They may believe it quietly in their hearts but it is no longer on their lips.

Contrast the moral cowardice of those who fear men with the example of one Christian hero, St. Paul.

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.” 2 Corinthians 12:10

Here is a man who is insulted, has accepted hardship and all manner of troubles because of his love for the Lord Jesus and his longing that others should come to know him too. When Paul told the inhabitants of Lystra about the Lord Jesus and they stoned him and then dragged him outside the city. People thought he was dead. But he quickly recovered and returned to Lystra before moving on to Derbe. What did he continue to do?

“They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples.” Acts 14:21

Doubtless there would have been those who advocated a much softer approach. ‘We don’t want to be treated so harshly again,’ would be an understandable response. The problem is that if they followed that approach many people would never have the chance to hear the gospel. Furthermore such an approach can make it appear that a response to Christ is not urgent. This is why Paul can say that he delights ‘in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.’

To be a Christian who follows the example and teaching of Jesus and his apostles has always needed courage. The world does hate the message about Jesus, his divine kingship, his death as the only way to pay for our sin, and his coming back to judge all people. How many are courageous on the rugby pitch, in the boxing ring, in the armed forces and yet find it so difficult to be courageous for Christ.

This article gives some reasons why it is essential to be courageous for Christ.i

Confess Jesus because he is the Lord God of this world

We have a tradition in our church that when adults are baptised they give a brief explanation for their decision. Some find this harder than others. One young lady was obviously finding this very hard indeed. She hesitantly began, looking to the floor.

“I find this so hard, but there is one thing I am not ashamed of – that is the Lord Jesus who came and died for me.”

I suspect the large crowd listening were more moved by her short explanation that any of the other more erudite explanations that day.

Most of us would find it very hard not to mention to friends and family if we received an invitation from the Queen to dine with her in Buckingham Palace. How much more significant it is to have accepted the invitation to be adopted into the family of the King of Kings.

A friend was recently a member of a high powered government delegation to China, accompanying the Prime Minister. At a dinner their extrovert Chinese host asked those on his table if they were members of the Communist Party. When no-one answered he opened his question wider to other similar groups, mentioning the Labour Party. Still there was no response, so the host asked if they were members of any society. My friend then publicly exclaimed,

“I belong to Jesus Christ. I am a Christian.”

The effect of this was to encourage another Chinese lady at the table to open her mouth.

“I am also a Christian.”

What can be better than to follow the glorious Lord of the universe and to be his representative?

Confess Jesus publicly because you may influence others

Some people such as sports personalities and other public figures have an obvious influence over how others think. Unfortunately many of us think that because we are relatively insignificant we have no such influence - but this is untrue. We all influence others for good or ill. There are some who have the most attractive personalities, who lead people without having to try. Such people can easily lead others away from Jesus Christ. How many young people have drifted from their walk with the Lord because of an attractive non-Christian boyfriend or girlfriend?

In the nineteenth century there was a very popular tutor, Horace Bushnell, in Yale University. He was not a Christian but he did recognise the influence he had on many students. He knew he was preventing them from turning to Christ. He could see the integrity of other Christians and admired their stance. He wrestled with this, recognising that if he were a Christian he would influence many for Christ. The problem he had was that he did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. The problem disturbed him greatly. One day he asked himself what, if anything, he did believe in. He had always expressed what he didn’t believe in, but what was he convinced about? The one thing he was sure about was that there was an absolute difference between right and wrong. This was a major breakthrough. Why had he not publicly stood up for what was right, whatever the cost. After thinking this through he prayed,

“O God, if there is a God, show me if Jesus Christ is your Son and if you will show me that I promise to accept him as my Saviour and will confess him before the world.”

Horace started to investigate the evidence about Jesus and it wasn’t long before he became convinced both about Jesus and his own need for a Saviour. He committed his life to Christ it is said that nearly every student in Yale turned to Christ.

A similar story can be told about C.S.Lewis. He was most reluctant to become a Christian, but when he did he was unashamed and his influence has been immense.

But not every one is extrovert like this. I have a young Christian friend who is quite shy. Yet she has befriended another troubled very shy girl and has helped her get involved with groups within the church. The effect has been dramatic, her friend has not only become a Christian but is already far less withdrawn. There is no-one who does not influence others.

There is a phrase that has been wrongly attributed to St Francis of Assisi,

“Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.”ii

This suggests that to demonstrate the Gospel by example is better than to explain it verbally. Such an idea is contrary to Scripture. Jesus told his disciples,

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20

The proclamation and practice of the gospel cannot be divided. Clearly Christians must live in a way befitting of Christ. However not to pass on the news about Jesus means that others cannot know who he is and or what his death has achieved on their behalf. The gospel cannot be preached without words. It is the story about Jesus, the one historical person who was God himself. St Paul wrote,

“How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? . . . “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” Romans 10:14-15

St Francis himself was a passionate and animated preacher. He often preached five times a day so great was his concern to get the Christian message out. Researchers have found no evidence that he ever made such a misleading statement.

Confess Christ as it is the only way to grow as a Christian

Jesus himself said,

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33

What greater incentive can there be for going public in our commitment to Christ?

It is striking how a small vociferous group of people can change society. It was the small group who followed Lenin that introduced Communism into Russia and from there throughout the world. It was a small group of vociferous atheists who have introduced secularism into Britain and the west, whilst the churches slept. It was a small group of active homosexuals who are changing attitudes to homosexuality in the west. Yet if we Christians wake up and start again to acknowledge the Lord Jesus in all we do, there is no reason that we cannot change the world as the early apostles did.

When I was studying for the final Fellowship exam of the Royal College of Surgeons, I attended course in orthopaedics at Rowley Bristow Hospital. Mr. Graham Appley, a famous orthopaedic teacher who ran the course, demonstrated patients to the whole group. One patient was a retired soldier, General Sir Arthur Smith, who had a stable malunited fracture, a pseudo-arthrosis, of his left tibia which intermittently discharged. When Mr. Appley had finished discussing his case, the General, then aged 92, asked if he could say something to the large group of doctors there.

This is what he said in his military, public school voice,

“I sustained this injury when I was hit by a piece of shrapnel at Ypres, during the Battle of the Somme. My foot was just dangling about. I was taken to a field hospital, a Nissan hut, and was put in the last bed at the end. Everyone was very worried about my foot, they thought I would have to lose it, but I asked them to patch it up as best they could. I didn’t know what would happen. The next morning I read my ‘Daily Light’, which for those of you who don’t know consists of portions of the Bible, God’s Word to us, by which I live my life. I read for that day the words,

“The Lord is thy confidence, He shall stop thy foot from being moved.”

The whole group of us burst out laughing at this point, we were gripped by this story.

“At the base hospital,” the General continued, “a doctor said that it would have to come off. ‘Not so,’ I exclaimed, and to this day I have my foot to remind me of God’s faithfulness. I do hope that all of you young men here will come to find that God is faithful, and that you can trust him.”

We spontaneously erupted into a combination of applause and enthusiastic laughter. On the way back in the train we all talked about the testimony of that courageous old soldier who clearly loved Jesus. I shall never forget him.

It is vital that all Christians get over their embarrassment and learn to talk to others about Jesus. When first attached to a gynaecology firm as a medical student I found it extremely embarrassing to take a history from the ladies. How often I blushed and was tongue-tied. Yet because I had to learn the art, I slowly overcame the problems, so that now I am no longer coy, and subsequently I don’t think my patients feel so awkward either. It is just the same in talking about spiritual matters, where it is even more important that we learn to overcome being embarrassed. To be embarrassed about doing this is one thing, to be ashamed of Jesus and of the Bible is another. It has eternal consequences for us.

When anyone lets it be known that they are Christians, the result will be that their life will be scrutinised. This is a great incentive to live a godly life. It really does let our Lord down if we are known as Christians yet have not turned away from a sinful lifestyle. No wonder Paul reminded Timothy to pass on this message,

“Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” 2 Timothy 2:19

Jesus said,

“If anyone is ashamed of me and of my words, the son of man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory.” Luke 9 v. 26

What an awful thought - to be publicly rejected by Jesus Christ himself because I have not courageously acknowledged that I love the Lord Jesus.

Confess Christ as it is the only way to become a Christian

Salvation is a gift given to all who believe in the Lord Jesus. This word ‘believe’ is important. It is not just an agreement to certain doctrines. The English word ‘believe’ changed its meaning in the 18th century. It originally meant to be committed to a person. In German ‘liebe’ still means ‘to love’. Christian belief is to be committed to and love the Lord Jesus, nothing less.

Paul wrote,

“If you confess with your mouth and believe in you heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

Could this be why our churches are so weak – have we failed to teach that salvation is only given to those who openly confess Christ? There are now many in our churches who think it is enough to secretly believe in Jesus. It is not. It is a very dangerous path if we are not active and open about our commitment to Christ. Some may query this by asking whether a person is not saved by faith and faith alone. They are – but true faith is always associated with an open commitment to the Lord Jesus. If I am too ashamed to confess him, I do not really believe in him.

I well remember explaining the gospel to a student at a conference in Hungary. He understood who Jesus was and wanted to be forgiven. However he had been actively opposed to the Christian church and when I explained that becoming a Christian meant he would have to openly confess Christ and join the church; he went away – unforgiven.

Confess Christ out of decency

A poor farmer had a bright son. He and his wife scrimped and saved so that their son could receive a good education. They then struggled so that they could then send their son to university. They lived in a simple shack and only had bedraggled clothes, a sign of the sacrifices they had made for their son. The lad prospered both academically and socially in the new university environment. His letters home were so encouraging. His father longed to see his son and share his success so he made the long, arduous journey up to the university town. His visit was to be a surprise. As he entered the town he saw his son walking with some friends. He ran up to him full of excitement. ‘My dear son’ he exclaimed. The well dressed student stood high and said to his unkempt father,

“There must be some mistake. I do not know you. You are not my father.”

The father returned home a broken man. He had given so much and yet . . .

What would you say to such an ungrateful son? Yet is he so different to so many of us? The Lord Jesus has given everything for us. We have so much. How can we be so ungrateful as to not acknowledge him?

There is an alternative. A widow had a son who also did well at school and went up university where he became top student of his year. He longed for his mother to see him graduation but she refused because she had nothing fit to wear and all the other parents would be smartly dressed.

“You would be ashamed of me,” she exclaimed.

The lad replied,

“Ashamed of you, mother? Never! I owe all I have to you. What is more, I will not graduate unless you come with me.”

So she put on the best dress she had, then added a faded shawl and a simple plain hat. Arm in arm the two marched down the street towards to the university church where the graduation ceremony was to be held. He marched her proudly down the aisle in the centre of the church and sat her amongst some of the finest people present. When the time came he went up to deliver the valedictory speech for which he had been selected from all the students. He was then presented with a gold medal in recognition of his academic achievements. As the audience applauded enthusiastically he went up to his mother and pinned the medal to her old faded shawl and said,

“Mother, that belongs to you. You earned it.”

What sort of people are we going to be? Ashamed and ungrateful or overflowing in thankfulness to the Lord Jesus for all he has done for us.

BVP

i Based on ideas in article ‘Heroes and Cowards’, by R.A.Torrey in ‘Revival addresses’, James Nisbet & Co, London, 1903 pp245-262

ii http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/07/11/factchecker-misquoting-francis-of-assisi/