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

Our Call to Freedom and Boldness

Something has happened to the Christianity we have professed, something that smells like smoke and comes from the pit of hell. I believe that many of us have bought into a Christianity that is neurotic and weak because we thought it was true Christianity. In other words, we have accepted someone else’s neurosis as health.

Christians are called to biblical boldness. We need to get over our fear and become dangerous. I want you to be free of human restraints. I want you to be free to be who God wants you to be.

Paul, in discussing the difference between law and grace, pointed to the difference between Hagar (the slave) and Sarah (the free). He said that Christians are not children of bondage. “Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? ‘Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.’ So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 4:30-5:1 NKJV). Jesus said that if we obeyed Him, He would tell us the truth and the truth would make us free. And then, as if to put an exclamation on His teaching, He said, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

In Acts 5, you will remember that the apostles are in prison for standing for Christ, but “at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out” (Acts 5:19 NKJV). When was the last time you saw an angel? Probably it’s been a long time, if ever. Let me ask you another question: When was the last time you were in prison? If we went to prison more, we would see more angels.

The point is this: Our efforts to obtain peace by slinking off quietly into a corner, trying to stay out of the way of any problem or conflict, and keeping our mouths shut are fruitless. In fact, the best way to find peace is to stand boldly for Christ, because if you stand, He will stand with you.