Courage
Proverbs 28 begins, “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”
Not all lions are born bold. You may remember the one in Oz, who sang:
Life is sad, believe me Missy,
When you're born to be a sissy
Without the vim and verve.
But I could change my habits,
Nevermore be scared of rabbits
If I only had the nerve.
I'm afraid there's no denyin'
I'm just a dandylion
A fate I don't deserve.
But I could show my prowess,
Be a lion not a mowess
If I only had the nerve.
(“If I only had the Nerve”, Sung by the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz)
In the Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis imagines the strategic planning sessions of two demons on an unaware human. In Letter 29, Screwtape tells Wormwood something true, “Cowardice, alone of all the vices, is purely painful—horrible to anticipate, horrible to feel, horrible to remember.” He goes on, “We have made men proud of most vices, but not of cowardice . . . there is still at least one vice of which they feel genuine shame.” (160)
• Have you ever been a coward?
• Do you ever let your fears control you?
• Do you wish you could be more bold-lion instead of dandy-lion?
In that same letter, Screwtape writes to Wormwood with another true observation, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” (161)
• Will your faith endure hardship and slander?
• Will your hope remain when despair and darkness looms?
• Will your love be steadfast when assaulted by trials and temptations?
Consider Philippians 1:27–28.
[27] Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, [28] and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
Notice how Paul describes a manner of life worthy of the gospel of Christ:
– Standing firm (v. 27)
– Striving for the faith of the gospel (v. 27)
– Not frightened in anything by your opponents (v. 28)
The Ordering of Fears
What is your greatest danger? What should you be most afraid of?
Is it the tribulations of the world? No, Jesus told us, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Is suffering or even death your greatest danger? No, Paul covers the whole gamut at once when he wrote, “Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword – separate us from the love of Christ? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:35–37)
Then what is there left to fear? Jesus said, “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.” (Matthew 10:28)
There it is. Your greatest danger is to fall under the wrath of God. The most dreadful thing is to have to pay for your own sins. That means it is God whom we should fear most.
Someone who has a phobia has, what we call, a disorder. A disorder of what? They have a disordering of fears. Their inner-frame is out of whack. In this sense we are all born with phobias. We all have “disordered fears.” Understood this way, Christian courage is not about eliminating fear altogether but about reordering fear in accordance with God’s design.
What Augustine wrote on the ordering of loves could also be applied to fears. For example, listen to this passage from his book, On Christian Doctrine, where I’ve substituted the word “fear” where Augustine had “love.”
“Living a just and holy life is . . . to fear things . . . in the right order, so that you do not fear what is not to be feared, or fail to fear what is to be feared, or have a greater fear for what should be feared less, or an equal fear for things that should be feared less or more, or a lesser or greater fear for things that should be feared equally.” (Adjusted, On Christian Doctrine, I.27-28)
I think this is why Proverbs opens up with “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” (Proverbs 1:7) Because it takes courage to learn something new. If you are afraid of math, or science, or literature then you will have a hard time learning those disciplines. But if you fear the Lord, then you have nothing else to fear, and you will have the courage to pursue mastery of the gifts God has given us to discover.
Freedom from Guilt
Now consider 2 Corinthians 5:6–10. See again the connection between courage and judgment.
2 Corinthians 5:6–21
[6] So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, [7] for we walk by faith, not by sight. [8] Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. [9] So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. [10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. [11] Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others . . . [19] that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. [20] Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. [21] For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
If our greatest danger is to fall under the wrath of God and our greatest fear is to face God in our sin, then when we are made right with God, by faith, and take hold of Christ, we are free from all lesser fears. Do you see how justification by faith alone is the foundation of Christian courage?
You can always be of good courage when you walk by faith because you no longer have to fear appearing before the judgment seat of Christ because, in Christ, God reconciled sinners to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.
Hebrews 4:14–16
“[14] Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us then with confidence (with boldness, with courage!) draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Courage is possible when you live in the blessing of forgiven transgression and covered sin.
Psalm 32, “Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity.”
Recommended Video: How the Gospel Produces Godly Courage
Here is the definition of Christian courage I’d like you to consider:
Christian courage “is the spiritual strength to overcome fears and face dangers with gladness and joy.” (adapted from Joe Rigney, Courage: How the Gospel Creates Christian Fortitude, Crossway, 2023)
Charge to Scholars
And in the spirit of this virtue, let us conclude with a charge, first, for ladies, then gentlemen, then the whole school.
Ladies of Summit Classical Christian School,
Take heart today, for Christ is with you.
Fear no man, nor accusation, nor fiery dart,
for there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
Be a child of Sarah in doing good and do not fear anything that is frightening (1 Peter 3:6)
Take up the boldness of Abigail who approached David with courage.
Sing the song of Mary, declaring the strength and victory of the Lord.
Fear not, for there is good news of great joy for all people.
The offspring of Eve has crushed the head of the serpent.
My beloved sisters, remember Psalm 31:24,
“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!”
Rise Gentlemen of Summit Classical Christian School,
Prepare your minds for action,
be sober-minded, (1 Peter 1:13)
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,
for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
For God gave us a spirit, not of fear, but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)
Men, look to Jesus, who for the joy set before him endured the cross. (Hebrews 12:2)
Obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29) and Speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)
Lose your life for his sake. For what will it profit you if you gain the whole world and forfeit your soul?(Matthew 16:25–26)
And give thanks to God, who gives you the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:57–58)
Summit Classical Christian School,
Blessed are you who fear the Lord,
You are not afraid of bad news,
Your heart is firm, trusting the Lord
Your heart is steady, you will not be afraid
until you look in triumph on your adversaries. (Psalm 127:1, 7–8)
May the Lord be your refuge and strength,
your very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1–7)
Finally, Summit Classical Christian School,
Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
[11] Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
[12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
[13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:10–13)