There are many tensions within the Christian faith we must wrestle with personally and live in the tension. I believe one of these areas to be in our boldness for Christ. I was reading the other day from Matthew 10:26-22:
“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
I love it! Jesus tells his disciples, shout it from the housetops! These things I (Jesus) am teaching you, the good news, shout it unapologetically with all boldness!! He tells his disciples not to fear man, but God, who knows more about you than you know about yourself. Who cares for you more than you or anyone ever could! He sees you and He knows you. He encourages us to speak up and acknowledge him before man so he will acknowledge us before God. There is a great calling to be bold in our faith. To not hide our faith in the closet or be Sunday only Christians, but boldly speak His name to whomever wherever.
It seems like there is great fear about saying anything concerning Christianity. Fear of what others say, think, or react keeps us quiet about our faith; at least until we warm up to them. But this is not what God calls us to. Brennen Manning says, “the dominant sin in my adult life has been my cowardly refusal to think, feel, act, respond, and live from my authentic self, because of fear of rejection. I don’t mean that I do not believe in Jesus anymore. I still believe in Him, but peer pressure has set limits to the boundaries of my faith.” He continues, “The opinions of others exert a subtle but controlling pressure on the words I speak…”. Simply being a Christian, we will always have these fear. Christians for generations across the world have expressed the same fear. We must have full confidence and boldness in proclaiming Christ and the good news of new life He gives to all.
In all likelihood though, Jesus did not have street preaching in mind as we picture it today. A couple months ago I was in D.C. for Together 2016, a huge outdoor gathering of Christians from all over. It was awesome!! As we were waiting in line to go in, there were several people with signs and telling us we were all going to hell if we didn’t repent. Did I mention it was a Christian gathering? And they were yelling at us? This is not the kind of boldness Christ is referring to. Boldness does not equal arguments and yelling.
It’s not being bold about our opinions, for Christ. It’s not about being bold about our preferences, for Christ. It’s not being bold about politics, for Christ. It’s being bold for Christ. It’s being bold about the love and good news of Jesus Christ. It’s being bold in our witness and in how we care and serve others.
Like the Pharisees though, it is very easy to have boldness to promote ourselves rather than Christ. It is never about us; it is always about Christ. Before we speak, or type anything, we must check our motives and make sure we are really being bold for Christ and not ourselves. We must make sure we are being bold for His good news of new life and not speaking for us and our need for recognition and attention.