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I heard about a guy who was drafted into the military. He didn’t want to join. When taking his physical he was asked if he had any defects, he replied, "No guts." While I’m not sure if, “No Guts,” was grounds for disqualification, perhaps it should have been. From my vantage point, it seems courage in the lives of leaders is a becoming increasingly rare. Seldom, if ever, do we see political leaders come out and really say what they believe. Every decision seems to be made after a pole has been taken and the direction of the wind has been determined. By contrast the men who founded this country risked everything to declare their independence and fight the ensuing war. I really believe most compromise in the pulpit isn’t a failure to understand the truth as taught in scripture but rather a failure to take hold of that truth and practice, preach, and promote it in spite of what that stand will cost. In short, it takes courage to stand; and courage in our day is wanting.

Our lack of courage is manifested in several ways. You see it in our approach to keeping our rights. Christians act like a very small insignificant minority in America. We walk on eggshells. We accept trash in the name of not being offensive. We consistently forfeit our rights, usually with little or no fight. Whether it is praying in public, posting a bible verse in a civic place, or even saying “Merry Christmas”, Christians in America, as a group, have no guts. We spiritualize cowardice. We reward wordsmiths who can say a lot with out saying anything. Benjamin Franklin said, “A man without courage is like a knife without an edge.” Clearly the sharp edge is missing in most of Christianity.

Another way our lack of ‘guts’ is seen is in our astonishment with anyone who goes against the status quo or the accepted party line. Some are honest enough to admit that men who don’t bow to their college, or the spiritual Godfather in their circle are consistently attacked and labeled. Yet, historically, men of God have always been willing to stand, even to stand alone. Moses seldom had the backing of his own people. Elijah came to Mount Carmel without an entourage. Courage was a key ingredient in the lives of these men. Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm. Yet when a storm does come at sea, if the vessel allows the storm to hit its side, it will capsize. If it turns its back to the storm, the storm will drive it wherever the wind blows. Only by facing the storm is the ship safe. Let me encourage some man of God reading this article. If you are facing a storm, don’t turn, you must face it!

When Napoleon was an artillery officer at the siege of Toulon, he built a battery in such an exposed position that he was told he would never find men to man it. But Napoleon knew what was required. He put up a sign saying. “The Battery of Men without Fear,” and the battery was always manned. Likewise the call to the ministry should be understood as the same kind of call. A call for men with courage, men not governed by their fears. We should remember that real courage is the outgrowth of our walk with God. Only he who can say, "The Lord is the strength of my life," can truly say, "Of whom shall I be afraid?" Fear and trepidation belong to the wicked. Courage and strong confidence belong to those living in the light. Proverbs 28:1 tells us, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” God help us to get some guts.

Pastor Steven E. Mays – Faith Baptist Church, Laurens, SC.
BroMays@FaithBaptistTrumpet.org