Courage: to be valiant (brave)
It has come to my special attention that lately, courage is a thing that is constantly talked about. Courage. Yes, courage. It's not as if courage hasn't been a topic of conversation before (for courage is often talked about). What people consider to be "courageous" nowadays isn't really courageous; not only that, but what God considers to be true courage isn't anywhere near what we (in the 21st century) have decided is courage. So, I've decided it was high time for us to take a look at the different forms of courage there are. I would like to share two stories with you - both are fictional - and I would like you, as the reader, to decide for yourself which is truly courageous...and not by your standards, but by God's standards.
Story #1:
This was it. This was the day that I knew was coming. This was the day that I had been warned about when I got onto the plane to go to the darkest part of China. I knew this day would come, I just didn't think it'd come so soon...so fast and violently. Though I suppose I've known from day one that this sort of thing, was going to happen one way or another. But God told me to go to China, and to China I would go. It had been my dream since I was just a boy to travel the world, but only a month ago had God told me to travel the world and share His Good News. When I found out what He wanted me to do, it was like a door had been open and a burst of light streamed into the room, landing directly on me. It was as if the veil had been lifted and I could see clearly, after all this time in the darkness. So, I followed God's orders and went to China.
I had been told by many people that my trip could be dangerous, and I always responded, "Maybe so, but letting people go to hell would be dangerous too." My trip started out fairly well. I made friends in China; I preached the Gospel. Until one day, when all of that changed. I had been on my way to an underground church when I was grabbed by soldiers. They shouted at me, telling me that I had offended the government by preaching my "false learnings" to their people. I said nothing...because saying something would be wrong. In that moment, God somehow kept me quiet, despite my usual flaming temper. One second the men were yelling at me, and the next, everything went black.
The day I died, wasn't a sad day. Yes, I suppose some of it was indeed very sad. It would be hard on my family, once they received a letter from the underground church stating that I had been killed as a martyr for the Gospel and for my God. It would be hard on my friends, whom didn't understand why I had felt the need to tell people about the Lord if it could get me killed. So yes, I died a week later from being taken by the soldiers. I was taken to a prison, where I was beaten and yelled at for my faith. After each beating, they would ask me to renounce my faith so that the beating would stop and I could have an honorable death. But each time they asked, I always replied, "Hallelujah! Thank you Lord, for blessing me." Which, never turned out very well. I died of collapsed lungs and blood loss...not a stab wound or a gun shot. The soldiers beat me so hard that my ribs broke and punctured both of my lungs, and had broken my leg so badly they severed a major artery. Upon my deathbed, I didn't feel pitiful, or even sorry for myself; I didn't even regret my decision to come to China. Why? Because I had been courageous in God, and if even only one other person learned about God from me, then that was a victory.
In the story above, we see the short life of a martyr. A young man whom decided to visit China in hopes to preach the Gospel to people that most needed it. But in the end, he was snatched away and murdered because he wanted to stand up for his faith. Because he wanted to stand up for God. I know it's a sad story...and I know it's sad to read. It's sad to imagine someone that went through something so cruel. But to imagine someone so courageous? I don't think that's very hard at all.
Story #2:
I had always had a rough life growing up as a kid. I mean, we were financially well off for the most part. We had no problems paying the bills or anything...and we always had enough money to go shopping. Outside of my home though, life was hard. I would get bullied constantly because people thought I was "different". In the third grade, kids made fun of me because I could draw and even liked to. It wasn't just the fact that I could draw, but what I drew. I liked to draw princesses and unicorns - they were pretty, and you can't blame a guy. That, and they all had excellent taste in fashion. I also got made fun of once, because my uncle came to pick me up one week from the school, and the kids noticed he was a little weird too. They called it "gay".
Junior high was boring...I had no guy friends, but I had a bunch of girls that were friends. We did everything together, my friend Veronica and I. We went shopping, bought clothes, looked at perfumes, painted our nails. Like I said, we did everything together. In junior high though, things began to change. I knew I was different, I just couldn't wrap my brain around how. Then one day, Veronica and I were sitting together and she asked, "Ben, do you think you're gay?" There was that word again...gay. I just turned to her and asked, "Is gay where a guy likes other guys?" Veronica took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair. She said, "Yes, that's what it is." Had this been what I had been waiting for? A sign to tell me who I was or needed to be? Finally, I answered her. I said, "Yes, I think so."
My freshman and sophomore year of high school were hell in high heels. People made fun of me left and right, because I dressed way too nice and talked a little strange and walked a little feminine. While the boys never seemed to like me (though I really liked them), the girls still loved me more than ever. They said I was easy to be around...they said I was a "package deal" because I was like a girl in boy form. "Best of both worlds" they used to say. I went into hiding in my junior year, because bullies aren't as nice as they used to be. I pretended I wasn't gay anymore, because being gay could be a serious issue in high school. I was about ready to switch schools because the bullying had gotten so bad when something happened. As soon as gay marriage was legalized, the next morning I went to school, everything was different. I saw people I hadn't even know were gay, coming out of the closet and boldly stating who they were. I, of course, participated. I even made some friends in the process!
By the end of all of our gay speeches, the kids and I sat around at a lunch table, chatting about how nice it was for us to all be who we really were. While we were standing about, some freshmen students came up to us, shaking our hands and hugging each one of us. They told us were were brave and courageous for standing up for who we are. I think we're courageous too.
In the second story, we see a struggling boy that eventually comes to the conclusion that he is gay. He is bullied through school and wrestles with who he thinks he might be. In the end though, he stands up for who he is and publicly announces it, along with a few other kids that go to his school. The people around him consider it "courage".
So, which story seems more courageous to you?
I've spent almost seventeen years studying "courage". Not like I'm a psychologist or scientist or something (because I'm not - I'm just some crazy teenager!) studying actual courage...I'm just a people watcher. That, and my most favorite aspect of any movie, is the courage the characters have. For example, take Lord of the Rings and you'll notice courage left and right. I think one of the most perfect examples of courage is Aragorn. No matter what situation he is in, he leads his group of men in courage and bravery and humility. Never once does he back down in fear, nor shut down the bravery, or pull out a pride spirit in place of his humble one. Never once does he do that. You know who else is like that? God.
After looking at the different forms of courage, I have come to a rather disappointing conclusion. We, as humans, aren't actually very courageous. Yes, those soldiers fighting for our country are, and so are the police officers and fire fighters. But, the rest of us? I have a hard time finding any legit courage inside of us...at all. The things we fight for and are "courageous" about, are petty things that won't mean anything in five years. For example, if we as Christians ask public schools to let us pray in them and the school board says no, we decide we need to try to sue the school and be courageous with our beliefs. In all actuality, we are being sinful. Not because we want to pray in the school, but because we feel offended and we want to make these other people pay for their wrongs. Sure, our base line appears strong and for God, but the deeper we dig, the more we notice we aren't really fighting for God, just for our rights as Americans. Or, we think that standing up for who we are (i.e. being gay, being lesbian, having strong opinions, dressing a certain way, acting a certain way, liking specific things) makes us courageous. I have a newsflash for you...that doesn't make you courageous. That, makes you cowardice. Why? Because you are standing up for an idol. You decide you need to worship your idol and stand up for it, because "that's just who you are". Have you ever notice that "just who you are" hadn't occurred to you until you started falling away from God? I have, because that was me once.
Courage isn't standing up for who you are; courage is standing up for who He is. Legit courage is following God every step of the way. Legit courage is believing in Him, despite the lies satan tries to make you belief. Legit courage is telling your friends about God. Legit courage is praying for your enemy, because you know God loves them too. Legit courage is opening your bible out in public, and letting people see you reading it outside of church or your home. Legit courage is, like I said before, standing up for who God is, not for who you are. The second you start being "courageous" about who you are, you become a coward. So pray for courage. Pray for God's legit courage, not for a false form of courage that you think you might understand.
But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. - John 16:32-33
Well thank the Lord and sing me a worship song! God has overcome the world, and through Him we have courage. I guess that makes life, sort of awesome. Praise Jesus!
