Americans are known for their courage.  It was the colonies standing up to the most powerful military in the world (Britain) and winning the American Revolution.  It was Nathan Hale courageously walking to the gallows where he was hung as an American spy.  It was Stephen Decatur Jr., a lieutenant in Thomas Jefferson’s navy, attacking the Tripoli pirates in an undercover sea battle by night and using knives as his men’s only weapons.  Abraham Lincoln signing the Emancipation during WWI and WWII, and the brave men and women who fought in the wars in Iran, Iraq, and other eastern countries.

America is known for grit and rugged individualism.  We stand up for freedom and goodness.  When others are chained beneath despotism and dictatorship, we tell them to tear down their iron walls.  

America is not perfect.  Anybody who believes that is sadly mistaken.  But she is known for being courageous and standing for what she believes in.

Christian Courage

The majority of America’s Founding Fathers were Christians (a controversial claim but true nonetheless if one reads the Founding Fathers’ personal writings).  Much of America’s founding documents take a stance on Christian values. 

It would be wrong not to mention that courage is a Christian character trait.  It is certainly not exclusive to Christianity, but  Christians do find great courage in their foundation of sure salvation, a firm compass of moral right and wrong, and a relationship with their Savior.

Christians have been the target of severe persecution throughout all of history, yet Christianity has continued to grow and spread into unreached areas of the planet and into untranslated languages.  The legacy of courage in the Christian world is powerful.

Courage in the Culture

Eric Metaxas once said, “Courage is just faith in a crisis.”

Many speakers and political commentators on the conservative Right are saying we are in a crisis.  Today’s news revolves around Cancel Culture, Woke language, safe spaces, and fake tolerance.  In a way, it is a crisis, just like every other period in history has thrown people into situations where they have to choose right or wrong.

To be courageous, we have to break with the culture and turn our eyes back to Jesus and biblical values.  If we try to “dress up the Gospel” and “live in a way that will attract the culture”, we will simply be swallowed up by the very culture we are trying to evangelize.

Want more?  Also read Preserving America’s Rugged Individualism!

Biblical Courage

When Peter and the other apostles were imprisoned, miraculously released by an angel of the Lord, and then brought before the Jewish leaders and told not to preach anymore, they responded, “‘We ought to obey God rather than men’” (Acts 5:29, NKJV).

It is tempting to adapt God’s Word to the culture.  The culture says homosexuality is okay… so surely as Christians, we can “love” people enough to accept their sexual orientation.  The culture says abortion is okay… so surely we can claim “love” for women with unwanted babies as they “rescue” themselves and the child from an “unfortunate situation”.  The culture says we need to “feminize” everything… so surely we should accept cross-dressing and the feminization of all things masculine.

Right?

The Gospel is clear that the culture is sinful, and we are not to adapt God’s message so that it is pleasant to the world.  

“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5, NKJV).

John MacArthur showed great courage when he kept his church in California open, despite COVID-19 lockdowns.  When asked about courage, he said this:

“Christians can’t be afraid of offending the world with the truth. But don’t mistake that as an argument for cavalier boorishness. It’s not the work of the gospel if you’re looking to pick a fight. Instead, like John said, we need to cultivate a high view of Scripture, and take our boldness from our conviction that God’s truth alone can rescue sinners and save souls. Confidence in the Word of God is the key to courageous Christianity.”

“Be of good courage, 

And He shall strengthen your heart,

All you who hope in the LORD.”  Psalm 31:24, NKJV

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.  Let all that you do be done with love” (1 Corinthians 16:13, NKJV).

Paul found comfort when he said, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39, NKJV).

Courage Is Not an Emotion

Courage is not an emotion.  As Jack Hibss says,

“Our emotions order us to panic and fear and the results will always be a setback. Without God-centered thoughts we tend to embrace unrealistic, unreal, emotionally created realities.”

Courage Today

Courage doesn’t have to be ground-breaking.  It can be taking a firm stance against abortion in a conversation with a classmate.  It can be speaking out against racist “diverstiy training” at your job.  

Charlie Kirk described “Courage [as…] doing the right thing when you do not know the end result.”

There’s a reason we don’t know the future, but God does, and as we continue to watch our culture spiral downward morally, it is comforting to know that God sees ahead and will guide us on His path if we allow Him to do so.  Even when we can’t see the end result of taking a courageous stance, God can see exactly where that step will take us.

Take courage in your everyday life as you stand on the shoulders of American giants and the legacy of the Bible and Christian leaders of courage.