No More Mr. Nice Guy: Saying Goodbye to Doormat Christianityናሙና

The Uniqueness of Christian Boldness

What is the difference between Christian boldness and “pulling your own strings,” “looking out for number one,” or “winning through intimidation”?

In Paul’s second letter to his young friend Timothy, Paul said, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). So, from the Scripture, there are four distinguishing marks of Christian boldness.

Christian boldness is courageous. Courage is not acting boldly without fear; it is, rather, acting in spite of fear. When Paul said that God hadn’t given the Christian a spirit of fear, he didn’t mean that there is no more fear. He means that the debilitating fear that often paralyzes the Christian is not sold in the store of God.

Too many Christians walk around with the feeling that to be human is a sin. So, we think Christians don’t get depressed, or angry, or afraid. That isn’t what Paul said. He said that Christian boldness is courage that comes in the face of real fear. We live in a fallen world where the dangers are very real. What Christ does with the Christian is to give him or her a spirit of courage.

Christian boldness is powerful. There is supernatural power in the boldness of the Christian. That power is not always successful, but it is always effective. God takes common men and women and sends them out with a powerful message anointed by a powerful God. The problem is that few people have seen that power because not many Christians are willing to exercise it.

Christian boldness is loving. Real love is as hard as nails. It is love that refuses to let go until the lover is loved and knows it. A Christian is bold, but if that boldness is not characterized by love, the whole point of boldness is lost. Anybody can be bold, but to be lovingly bold is no small thing. Love remembers that other person. Love looks out for the interests of others. Love sometimes is harsh, strong, and even angry, but it is never destructive.

Christian boldness has a “sound mind.” The Greek word Paul uses here for “sound mind” is not an easy word to translate into English. It doesn’t mean exactly (as some translations have it) self-control, but rather discipline or perhaps the ability to generate discipline in oneself and in others. It is the ability to control oneself in the face of pressure situations. Christian boldness is planned, directed, and controlled. It is not power without pressure, but power under pressure.