Holy Boldness

When it comes to sports teams we are bold with our enthusiasm – wearing T-shirts, ball caps, flying car window pennants and plastering our bumpers with various bumper stickers declaring our loyalty and commitment. We are very bold …

When it comes to our political affiliations we are bold … some extremely so. Here too we are quick to declare our opinions concerning various candidates, policies, legislation and positions – with little regard to who might be in earshot of our voices. Also, like our favorite sports teams, we place on our bumpers or signs in our front lawn declaring our intention and desires. We are very bold …

When it comes to our children and even more so, our grandchildren … friends and neighbors beware … we can be obnoxiously bold … and rightly so. We quickly pull out the pictures, stop total strangers (as a couple did recently at a local movie theatre when they took the seats behind us), willing telling any and all who would listen about their latest accomplishments, their over-all cuteness, how smart they are, etc. We are very bold …

But, when it comes to our faith we become timid, hesitant, reluctant, and afraid that we might offend. It is almost as if we are members of the SSCB (Secret Society of Closest Believers) … afraid that someone might discover that we are followers of Jesus. After all, we do not want to be identified as a Jesus-freak, one those “kind” of people, a Bible thumper or someone who would offend others because of our faith. Somewhat like a colleague of mine who always wore a silver cross, but normally carried the cross in his shirt pocket. No bumper stickers here. No proclamations, no declarations, no sharing … we are NOT very bold even though scripture calls us to a Holy Boldness.

M. Cocoris tells the following story in his book on evangelism: Hugh Lattimer once preached before King Henry VIII. Henry was greatly displeased by the boldness in the sermon and ordered Lattimer to preach again on the following Sunday and apologize for the offence he had given. The next Sunday, after reading his text, he thus began his sermon: "Hugh Lattimer, dost thou know before whom thou are this day to speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the king's most excellent majesty, who can take away thy life, if thou offendest. Therefore, take heed that thou speakest not a word that may displease. But then consider well, Hugh, dost thou not know from whence thou comest--upon Whose message thou are sent? Even by the great and mighty God, Who is all-present and Who beholdeth all thy ways and Who is able to cast thy soul into hell! Therefore, take care that thou deliverest thy message faithfully." He then preached the same sermon he had preached the preceding Sunday--and with considerably more energy.

Or, even better still, John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, would ask at the regular small group (called Class Meetings) gatherings, “Who have you offended, on behalf of the Gospel, since we last met?” I’m not sure how I would answer that question. I’m not sure if I would even continue to participate in a small group where that kind of question would be included in the general discussion. But, it does give me pause. Where is my Holy Boldness … if I truly believe in the empowerment of the Holy Spirit?

I am bold about my sports teams, about my grandchild and my political positions taken … but my faith. Dear Lord, allow me to be filled with the Holy Spirit so I can be Bold about my relationship with you! Amen.

Quote for today: The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meeting and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now. Commonly attributed to Goethe