Courage, Not Cowardice
By Rev. Monica C. Jones, PhD., Contributing Writer
The word “coward” stings a little. One pictures a person running away from a conflict or failing to protect in a time of war or violence. Yet, spiritual cowardice is very real too. When we fail to speak out against the wrong we see because we fear rejection, we are not showing courage. When we do not discipline our children because we want to remain popular with them, we are not showing courage. When we do not speak out against the onslaught of evil against the church and atheistic thought against the very fiber of our beliefs, we are not showing courage. When we allow the world to disrespect Christ Jesus in either media or commentary without a response, we are not demonstrating courage. Jesus has called us to be courageous. Our task is to answer the call.
Moses answered the call. He got over his lack of confidence and led the people out of Egypt. Deborah answered the call. She went into battle when a man would not and won. Job answered the call. He endured until the end and was richly blessed. Mary answered the call. Despite the risks, she became the Mother of God. Richard Allen answered the call. He refused to bow to racist practices at the altar and the AME Church is now his legacy. Martin Luther King, Jr. answered the call. He gave his life so that we could live free. Jamye Coleman Williams answered the call, asking, “Why not a woman?” A woman put on her purple robe. We have an honored tradition of social activism that must not die. We must respond! How? We can stay tuned, stay prayerful, and stay woke.
Stay tuned. I recall hearing newscasters saying, “stay tuned” when inviting the audience to remain locked on the station for more news. Today, we hear the same thing when someone does not want us to leave a situation or event. Staying tuned means staying put. For us, in our spiritual journey, we must “stay tuned” to God’s Word and expectations of us. We cannot turn a deaf ear to the trouble around us and pretend all is well. Dismissing a crisis with, “I’m going to let God handle it” when there is something we can do, is failing to act courageously. When we have done our best, God will do the rest. That means we must do our best first.
Stay prayerful. Enough said! Pray, as Paul commands, without ceasing. Seek godly guidance and wisdom in all things. Ask God for opportunities to serve and enlarge your territory so that you may be a true, justice-seeking servant for the Lord. Pray for the power to act and peace to be unafraid. Pray for yourself but always pray for others.
Stay woke. I love this declaration! Our church has embraced it and we should. Sleep is fine but there is a time to wake up. Let us not sleep through the murders of our children without a response. Let us not be fearful of praying whenever and wherever we can because someone may disapprove. Let us not fail to speak against anti-Christian movements because of complacency or fear.
As we witness a time in our lives that we have never seen before, we feel overwhelmed. Yet, our greatest Encourager is the One who never backed down, gave up, and never went to sleep. Jesus the Christ was tuned in to his Father and was obedient to the end. Jesus the Christ was prayerful throughout his ministry and even prayed for us. His ultimate prayer for God’s will to be done demonstrated his unwavering love for us. Jesus the Christ was woke right up to Calvary where he cried, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30). He was woke when out of the tomb, he declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt 28:18). In doing so, he saved the world. Now, it is our turn to save what we can of it. That takes courage.
The Rev. Monica C. Jones, Ph.D., is the director of Christian Education Ministries at Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
