What Is Courageous Christianity? by Rebecca K. Grosenbach Copyright Rebecca K. Grosenbach 2012  ISBN 9781301882533 Published at Smashwords All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the author. www.beckygrosenbach.com Unless otherwise identified, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version, Copyright 1984. For more from this author visit her website: www.beckygrosenbach.com. ~~~ “Theresa” married her high school sweetheart, “Tom,” when she was barely 19. He was the one who’d taught her what it means to be a genuine disciple of Jesus. They had three boys, who grew into fine, godly men with families of their own. Theresa and Tom held Bible studies in their home, led various ministries at church, and served their neighbors in a way that demonstrated God’s love. Shortly before their 35th wedding anniversary, Tom started having some chest pain. He was hospitalized for observation, but went home after a few days. Then, on a bright Saturday morning, Tom and Theresa went on their daily walk, and shortly after they returned home, Tom collapsed. Neighbors tried CPR; paramedics arrived and did their best to resuscitate Tom. But it was no good. Tom was dead. A year later, Theresa’s eight-year-old grandson died from a rare cancer. Soon after, Theresa was diagnosed with lupus, a disease that left her in constant pain and, at times, unable to leave the house. Despite days of incredible loneliness, times of almost unbearable sadness, the words that most often fell from Theresa’s lips were, “God allows nothing to happen except for His glory and my good.” This response to extreme hardship defines what it means to be a courageous Christian. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines courage as “the attitude or response of facing and dealing with anything recognized as dangerous, difficult or painful, instead of withdrawing from it.” Two significant things stand out in this definition. First, courage is only necessary in the presence of something difficult. When life is easy, no courage is required. Second, courage is only necessary when we choose to deal with difficulty. If we walk away from the difficulty, no courage is required. Jesus’ disciples faced a test of courage when they were sailing on the Sea of Galilee one day. Jesus was sleeping in the boat when a storm came up. The men feared for their lives, and, when things got bad enough, they awakened Jesus. Jesus, the creator and ruler of all, quieted the storm with just his words. Then, he turned to the disciples and asked, “Where is your faith?” (see Luke 8:22-25). This simple question further defines courageous Christianity: Courageous Christianity is responding to life’s storms with faith. The apostle Paul understood courage. He lived a life of almost constant difficulty and was always able to respond in faith. Consider the list of his hardships in 1 Corinthians 11: ~ imprisoned ~ flogged severely ~ exposed to death again and again ~ forty lashes minus one (five times) ~ beaten with rods (three times) ~ stoned ~ shipwrecked ~ in danger from bandits ~ often gone without sleep ~ hunger and thirst ~ cold and naked On one of those shipwreck-bound voyages, God had somehow told Paul that, while the ship would be wrecked, no lives would be lost. He tried to encourage the others on the ship, saying, “Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told” (Acts 27:25). In that one short verse, Paul explained the key to courageous Christianity: Believe God. Believe He is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do. So how do we do that? How do we respond to life’s difficulties with faith? We must know who God is and what He says He will do. As a first step in becoming a courageous Christian, post the following verses in a place where you’ll see them often. Better yet, select two or three to memorize so you can remind yourself of God’s promises whenever you’re tempted to fear. What promises has God made to us? God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22 But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. John 16:13 I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:18 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:14 The LORD watches over al l who love him. Psalm 145:20 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16 Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8 Those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 He rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 Believe God. Believe He is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do. ~~~ About the Author A former managing editor for Today’s Christian Woman, Rebecca K. (Becky) Grosenbach has been writing and speaking professionally for more than 30 years. She’s been married to Doug since 1981, and, after a 10-year wait, they had three children: Abby, Kate, and Eric. Becky is available to address your group at retreats and special occasions. Visit her website for more info: www.beckygrosenbach.com. All content copyright Rebecca K. (Becky) Grosenbach, 2012