Spiritual Cowardice
When Rev 21:8 says “the fearful (cowardly NKJV) … shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone,” it is not condemning people who are especially “scared of heights.” It is talking about someone who is too scared (for whatever reason) to do what’s right.
It is true we shouldn’t cast our pearls before swine (Matt 7:6), meaning there comes a time when we have to give up on teaching someone. But that shouldn’t be used as an excuse for spiritual cowardice. For example, if we are being accused of sin, we have an obligation to hear, seriously consider, and answer those charges or repent (Matt 5:23-24, Prov 10:17,12:1,13:18,15:10,15:32). Integrity demands we keep an open mind (Matt 13:15) to such criticism. After all, if they are right, they are certainly helping us (Prov 27:6), and if they are wrong, they haven’t hurt us. And on the other side of the coin – if we have a problem with another brother, we are obligated to go to him and explain it and “hear him out” (Matt 18:15-17, Acts 20:31). Even if we are nervous about doing such, we must force ourselves to do what’s right.
Once I was in a church business meeting where there was a disagreement over an important issue. When B said he would call R on the phone about it later, R said he wouldn’t answer that call. Not only was that not being “easy to be intreated” (James 3:17), it was also being a spiritual coward.
A related point is that a Christian should be willing to defend publicly what he teaches publicly (John 3:19-21, Acts 19:8-10). Why is the courage to do that so rare these days? Are men not studying enough to become “mighty in the scriptures” (Acts 18:24), and therefore don’t think they could successfully handle the arguments from the other side (Acts 18:28)? And is the fact that such religious debating is frowned upon by the brotherhood these days (II Tim 4:3) a contributing factor (in addition to the “fear factor”)? – http://www.bibledebates.info/Articles/Debating-HaveYouEverHeardASermonOn.doc
Ask yourself this question: If we don’t even have enough spiritual courage to face those we are accusing of sin, or to face those accusing us of sin, or to defend publicly what we teach publicly, do we really think we would have had enough courage (like those “valiant” priests did) to rebuke King Uzziah when he did wrong (II Chron 26:16-21), or to go into the king with a petition when death would be a possible outcome (Esther 4:11,16), or to tell Herod his marriage was unscriptural if beheading was the likely result (Mark 6:17-27)? I don’t think so.
And why is diligent personal evangelism practiced by so few Christians these days? Some even admit they are too shy to make an attempt. But if we are commanded to do it by Matt 28:19-20 and we have a super approved example of all Christians doing it in Acts 8:1,4, is such work any less optional than being baptized?
When a person is being spoken against unjustly (Amos 5:10), we should have enough courage to take up for them (II Tim 4:16), even if it means we are going to be lumped in with him (John 15:18), or even if we have to buck peer pressure (Gal 2:13). Some Christians are too cowardly to take such a stand (Prov 17:15).
A person close to my family was too scared to obey the gospel for several years. He knew he needed to do it, and I am sure he wanted to do it. I can’t even really explain the reason he kept putting it off. But finally he got up enough courage to be baptized, and has been a model Christian ever since.
That brings me to perhaps my most important point. How do we overcome this temptation and the sin of spiritual cowardice? How can we develop spiritual bravery? The short answer is – we have to face our fears (James 4:7b “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” is applicable here). If we fall off a horse, we should get back on. Not too long after I was converted out of the Baptist church, the South Tuscaloosa congregation asked me to preach a sermon. That was the last thing on earth I wanted to do. My Dad had urged me to take speech in high school, but I was way too scared of public speaking to heed his advice. However I accepted the sermon assignment because I felt it was the right thing to do (II Tim 4:2). About five years later when I was challenged to my first debate, Carol can tell you my hands were literally shaking so badly I could barely hold my notes in my hand. I didn’t want to do it, but realized if I had taught something publicly, I needed to be willing to defend it publicly (I Pet 3:15). Whatever you are scared to do spiritually, face it head on; make yourself do it (Rom 7:18-19, Jonah 1:2-3,3:2-3). The second time and each succeeding time you do it will be a little easier.
Conclusion: It takes courage to follow through on all the things a faithful Christian should be involved in. But the Lord tells us to be strong in I Cor 16:13 (and this applies to the ladies also) – “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit (conduct – dictionary.com) you like men, be strong.” And Phil 4:13 assures us – “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Back to the verse I started with: Don’t forget where Rev 21:8 says we will end up if we let our fear keep us from performing our spiritual duties.
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