Speaking the Truth with Boldness Pt.1
My last article stated that I would be dealing with the old man within my soul – the evil part of me that wars against my spirit. Among a list of things, the Holy Spirit led me to deal with being bold for God rather than being a coward. There is a coward in me that I must overcome.
While there exist both cowardice and boldness in all of us, my goal is to complete eradicate any trace of cowardice. So this is a study of how to begin to overcome cowardice. I don’t expect to be changed overnight, but I do expect to grow in this area as I become more like God and less like the devil. I hope this article energizes you as much as it does me.
When I talk about being bold, I’m talking about boldly preaching the gospel, telling the truth, exposing lies, and not backing down from opposition and religious bullies who intimidate or attack you for doing so. I’m talking about speaking and writing the truth without apology.
This article assumes that you know not to speak the truth in pride, or in an attempt to put another person down. This article also assumes that you are led by the Spirit and can understand when you should keep your mouth shut as in the midst of people, as Jesus called, “pigs and dogs” (Matt 7:6).
Jesus commanded us to go and teach people to observe all the things that he commanded (Matt 28:19-20). Jesus commanded us to call people to repentance (Matt 4:17) and to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them (Eph 5:11). The gospel is preached so that people may be saved, and to remove any excuse from those who reject God to claim that they didn’t hear the truth to be saved. I believe everyone will hear the gospel at some point in their life.
Cowardice is defined as:
One who lacks courage in the face of danger, pain, or hardship. Other words: chickenhearted, gutless, unmanly. One who lacks resolute which is: firmness, determination and often loyalty.
Boldness is defined as:
Fearless, daring, courageous, exhibiting bravery. Unduly forward and brazen which is: a loud sound. Clear and distinct to the eye. Therefore, boldness stands out, moves forward and is clearly seen and heard.
Cowardice and its root
When the time comes to speak the truth, this is what we think: “I’m scared. I don’t want to be hated or hurt for going against those people or that person.” We all want to be accepted, therefore there is a people-pleaser in us and it cares more about what people think of us, rather than God. Something in us fears more about what people will say and do, rather than the God we represent.
World and Harlot Church programing. If you know anything about the False Church, you know that they’ll teach you that being “nice” and non-confrontational is considered “Christian”. But confronting sin, being bold and speaking the truth is considered disrespectful, judgmental and even unloving.
These lies are pounded into Christians every time they attend church, and if you have any kind of need to please the people in your church and be accepted by them, (like most of us do) you’ll cower down and fall in line and become a person who seldom speaks-up to rebuke error, or to tell the truth – claiming, “I don’t want to judge.” You’ll believe that offending people with the truth is somehow sinful – which it is not. And when given the microphone to preach, you’ll give heavy, sugar-coated, watered-down messages instead of the bitter truth.
You may think that cowardice is a little thing to God, but just know that he lists cowards among liars, murderers, fornicators, sorcerers and idolaters, all of which will be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev 21:8, Rev 21:8 KJV). Because boldness has no fear but cowardice does, cowardice shows our level of love (1 John 4:18). If we really love people enough, we would tell them the truth because love rejoices in the truth (1 Cor 13:6).
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Brother, I commend , applaud and admire your zeal and boldness for the truth. I will do likewise. I encourage you in your sojourn in this sin-filled world and the sin-ladened false church and false converts. Gods blessing and will be done.
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This series showed me some things that have troubled me. I have been a coward, and while I speak truth on a blog, it is a lot harder to say it to someone’s face. I have listened to the scoffers and the mockers that said I was being judgmental and have compromised and stayed in Babylon. My gosh it is a lonely road and maybe just maybe Jesus meant it when He said few there be shall find the narrow gate. But on the other hand we need to be watchful of being snared by spiritual pride. I have been both places but am beginning to realize why God tells us to come out and be separate. If we stay in the middle of people practicing sin, we ourselves will succumb to sin and even our silence gives hearty approval to others that practice sin. It is like some wise man said one time, we become the average of the people we hang out with.
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