CHAPTER TEN
BOLDNESS
We must not confuse boldness with arrogance. The essential element of arrogance is pride whereas boldness speaks of courage, confidence and certainty. Arrogance says I am better, I know better, I am always right, I can do no wrong. On the other hand, there is nothing haughty or presumptuous about being bold – it is having the conviction that you are doing the right thing – not because you are better but because that which you are doing is better, that which you are trying to achieve is greater. Arrogance tends to shift responsibility when things do go wrong – it is always someone else’s fault. Boldness, on the other hand, accepts responsibility. Arrogance decries punishment for any wrongdoing. Boldness accepts it and makes the necessary changes – even offering to take the punishment due to others. Boldness says, ‘The decision was mine, I am to blame’. Arrogance is strength of mind, boldness is strength of heart. Arrogance is exclusive whereas boldness is inclusive. Arrogance speaks of ‘me’, while boldness speaks of ‘us’.
Samson’s arrogance led to his downfall, he thought himself better than others. Saul, too, was arrogant when he brought a totally unacceptable offering to God. Cain’s arrogance cost the life of Abel.
In contrast, Abraham had the boldness to approach the Lord on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Moses interceded on behalf of the Israelites, even offering his own life for theirs. David’s boldness saved Israel on numerous occasions.
The prime example of arrogance is Satan, the father of lies, and his pride is described so –
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:
With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:
By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
(Ezek. 28:2-5)
Satan considered himself more than he really was – created by God, an angel or messenger of God, he tried to take the place of his Creator. Pride and arrogance got the better of him. He had the wisdom, the beauty, the status but he considered himself more important than the work he was doing. In his own eyes, he was greater than all, even God.
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (Prov. 16:18)
In contrast we have the boldness of John the Baptist:
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison. (Luke 3:1-20)
Multitudes came out to hear John and be baptized by him, his message was simple, his clothes were the bare essentials and his food was not natures best, but the boldness with which he presented his cause affected even the hallways of power.
Herod, the king of Judea, was a cruel, powerful man who was at the receiving end of John’s call to repentance. Boldly John proclaimed that a kingdom far greater that Herod’s was at hand, and Herod needed to acknowledge that, even if it meant the death of John.
John tempered his boldness with humility, acknowledging there was Another who was more than the wild man of the wilderness to look to – there was Another who had more that was much better than anything he could offer, there was Another greater than he:
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
He must increase, but I must decrease.
(John 3:27-30)
Jesus was the reason John was alive, it could have been quite easy for John to solicit money from his followers, to live the good life, to say the right things to Herod and win his favour, but he did not, and because he did not, Jesus could testify of him:
For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. (Luke 7:28)
Boldness requires consistency, irrespective of that with which you are faced. Boldness requires resilience to continue with that which was entrusted to you. Boldness requires love and dedication. Often leaders are faced with decisions that could turn their own followers against them, but if you believe with all your heart that it is the best for all, be bold.
The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. (Prov.28:1)