Backing Down Or Being Bold

We read story after story in the news of Christians giving in to the culture. They are compromising the faith. When opportunities arise to boldly stand for the truth of God’s word they back down. This even includes some Christian colleges. At a time when Christians are being silenced there needs to be boldness in speaking up. Every time compromise is made the opposition gains more control and power.

In this article I am going to give three biblical examples of boldness in the face of opposition and severe consequences. The first example is from I Samuel 17. The Philistines wanted to go to battle with the Israelites. Goliath, the giant, said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” However, David spoke, “Who is this Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God”?  As he approached the giant, David said, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand.”

Next we read about Daniel. In Daniel, chapter 6, government officials went to King Darius and said he should establish an ordinance proclaiming that “whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O King, shall be cast into the den of lions.” When Daniel knew the document had been signed, he went to his house. Did he fear for his life?  No, he went to his upper window facing Jerusalem. ”He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.” He not only defied the king’s ordinance, he made it very obvious. Daniel was tossed into the lion’s den, but God supernaturally spared his life!

In the Book of Acts is the third example. In chapter 4 it is written that the people became very annoyed because Peter and John were proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus. They were arrested. They preached, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”(verse 12). They were warned not to speak any longer in the name of Jesus. So they quit and gave in? No, Peter and John answered, “we cannot help but speak of what we have seen and heard.” When Peter and John went and told the other Christians what had happened, the response was not one of fear or intimidation. They said, “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness.” They prayed together, were filled with the Holy Spirit, and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 

The Christian family of believers today needs to follow the examples of David, Daniel, and of Peter and John. In place of backing down, there needs to be more of us who, under the power of the Holy Spirit, move forward with boldness. In doing so, Luke 12:11-12 says, “When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

May we all be bold and obedient, leaving the results in God’s hands!