The Components of Courage [Part 1]

PART ONE

Stories of heroic actions of others are typically very inspiring to me. I have recently finished reading a biography about the Wright brothers, Wilbur and Orville.  Their ingenuity, tenacity, perseverance, and courage in the midst of public ridicule (“man was not meant to fly or he would have wings”) was remarkable.  Have you ever wondered what is or are the components, or sources of a person’s courage? Is it his/her noble well-bred character? His or her ethnicity or religious values? Is it based also or instead on that person’s convictions? The hijackers of the planes used in the 9-11 disaster-were they of noble character and that prompted their actions? Some who perhaps believed in what those hijackers believed might think so.  But those, like me, who do not and did not agree with or believe in the same ideology might have to admit that something prompted their willingness to sacrifice themselves.  Perhaps they were offered financial or ‘heavenly’ incentives? Would such ‘incentives’ be sufficient for most of us to risk our lives as did they?

The signers of the Declaration of Independence put their lives on the line despite the threat of death for treason from the king of England.  Did their conviction of the extreme value of freedom energize their actions? Were they simply of more ‘noble’ character than others who cherished their lives and property more than independence and freedom from the yoke of England?

When Jesus was arrested in the garden (Mark 14:50) his disciples vanished from fear of loss of their own safety.  Peter, who had promised that he would never deny Christ, did so three times before the next morning arrived. And yet, weeks later, when the Holy Spirit of God fell upon and empowered those same remaining apostles, (see Acts 2:4, 4:13,29-31) great courage and fearlessness appears to arise within them.  How so? Convictions, e.g. convinced of the reality of Jesus’ resurrection? What role do convictions play versus the empowerment of the Holy Spirit? Does the Spirit act in conjunction with our convictions, i.e. alongside us so to speak? Does the Spirit strengthen and empower our convictions but does not necessarily act independently of them?

TRANSFERABLE COURAGE?

It seems very likely that someone acting with courage when facing a difficult, awkward, or even dangerous circumstance, can and, I suggest, usually does prompt a response of admiration and sometimes even courage within the heart/mind of the observer. The apostle Paul records such an example in his letter to the Philippians: “and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear” (Phi 1:14).  I am often amazed and inspired by my wife’s bold initiative in relating to others, including strangers.  She embodies the bondservant trait of seeking to “encourage, comfort, and strengthen others” and has become skillful in asking penetrating questions of people in a gentle and gracious way. 

COURAGE AND OUR TEMPERAMENT

Most of us would agree that the apostle Paul was a bold, adventurous person, with strong personal convictions.  Those traits about him existed even prior to his confrontation by the resurrected Jesus and his coming to faith in Him. Paul was hell-bent to destroy Christians and persecute as many of them as he could find. His allegiance changed after seeing the risen Christ, but his boldness and courage continued unabated.

Paul’s understudy, Timothy, however, seems to have been a rather timid soul, and one whom Paul felt the need to strongly encourage including mentioning how important is the Spirit of God’s role in providing courage: “For God has not given us a Spirt of fear but of power (Gk=dunamis, transliterated in Eng via the word dynamite)… (II Tim 1:7). Are some people just born ‘courageous’, while others are not? Is the ‘solution’ to fear to connect more deeply with the Spirit and draw power and courage from Him?

CAN COURAGE BE COMMANDED?

In the Old Testament God is quoted as saying to Joshua: “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land…(Joshua 1:6)…”Only be strong and very courageous…(vs7)..”.  “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (vs9). If a command of God set forth in scripture requires courage on our part to fulfill that command, then is the real issue courage, or is the real issue obedience? Or is it Both?

HUMILITY AND COURAGE

Is humility the antithesis of courage? Or is it fear or timidity? Both humility and courage were demonstrated in the life of Jesus, so clearly both belong together.  The ‘proud, but courageous’ man will, likely sooner or later spoil his contribution to the greater good by his bravado, arrogant speech, derogation of others, and resistance to being instructed by them. The scripture says that God has chosen the ‘weak’ to confound the strong. Does ‘weak’ include the timid? The Greek word for weak simply means ‘without strength’. I assume that could include weakness of mind, perhaps weakness of body and even weakness of ‘soul’.  Surely courage displayed by a so-called timid follower of Christ results in a greater awe of God and His power than would otherwise occur.

COURAGE AND PRAYER

Can prayer impact someone’s courage? The apostle Paul believed so since he asked for the prayers of the believers in Ephesus be offered to God on his behalf:

“…and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains” (Eph 6:19) In some ways it could be said that ‘courage is a team sport’! We pray for one another to grow and be emboldened with courage.

COURAGE AND LOVE

Jesus said that the two greatest commandments are to love both God and our neighbor (Luke 10:27).  I suggest it takes courage to obey both of those commands.  It takes courage to approach God and seek Him and His direct intimate involvement in our lives. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to “approach the throne of grace with boldness” (Heb 4:16). The basis for that encouragement appears to be that Jesus has been tested in every way as have we and therefore He fully understands our struggles and weaknesses. (vs 15). We can therefore have confidence (courage) that God will not belittle us when we come before Him and ask for His grace to help us.

It also can take substantial courage to approach a ‘neighbor’ as did the good Samaritan in his seeking to minister help to an injured stranger in the midst of (apparently) a dangerous robber-infested environment. It takes courage to reach out to others, greet others and look for opportunities where we can be of some practical use to them especially in seeking to direct them to coming to know the Savior.

PHYSICAL COURAGE VS MORAL COURAGE

Some people may find it a bit easier to experience courage when facing a physical danger. But that same person may find it very difficult to muster the courage to stand up against moral injustice.

IS COURAGE ACTUALLY ESSENTIAL?

I suppose it could be said that living with ‘minimal’ courage but with perhaps an ‘adequate’ sense of duty or responsibility will enable the majority of people to live out their lives with some degree of ‘normalcy’. However, it seems obvious that in order to live a more ‘useful’ life, the greater the degree one possesses of courage, especially moral courage, the better.  Proverbs says: “A righteous person who yields to the wicked is like a muddied spring or a polluted well’ (i.e. useless in resisting evil-Prov 25:26). Thus, if we wish to be useful in God’s Kingdom, i.e. useful in promoting good and resisting evil, we need to embrace the essential need for courage and take the steps necessary to increase the courage we do have. Is that even possible to do? If yes, what steps can we take to enhance our depth of courage?

‘Why do you call me Lord, Lord, but do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)

CJS