Boldness

Boldness- it is not a quality many Christians have these days.  Few of us feel assured or confident when talking about Christ.  In many ways, Christians have always suffered from a lack of boldness.  Even the New Testament contains reminders for believers not to be ashamed of Jesus.  In New Testament times, a lack of boldness might be associated with fear of persecution.  It is hard to speak for Jesus when that could cost you your property, your family, or your life. In America, we don't yet have such persecution.  Our lack of boldness has more to do with postmodernism and its attendant concern for virtues like pluralism and diversity.  Who are we to speak so confidently about Christ when we are aware that there are so many intelligent people, even "good" people, who disagree with us?  Boldness, especially in the service of religion, is a turn off in our society and so we avoid it.

The Corinthians were turned off by boldness, especially that which came from the Apostle Paul.  Not all boldness annoyed the Corinthians.  The epistles to the Corinthians made it clear that they could be bold (translate "arrogant" and "stubborn") on some points as well. What bothered the Corinthians about Paul's boldness is that it seemed inconsistent.  By letter, when Paul was safely tucked away from the Corinthian reach, was quite outspoken and aggressive.  In person, he was decidedly less impressive.  The Corinthians didn't appreciate Paul's epistolary boldness when his in person demeanor seemed so different.

In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul defends his boldness.  He says he can be bold because the message of Christ deserves boldness.  It comes with an increasing, eternal glory that deserves to be spoken and proclaimed.   AChristians we have a great hope.  (And hope in the New Testament means certainty not wish).  We have the hope that we will spend eternity sharing in God's glory because of Jesus' work.  That allows us to speak boldly of our savior.

Of course, bold does not mean rude.  It does not mean unloving or unkind.  Boldness des not imply a lack of empathy or an intellectual arrogance in a day of postfoundational thinking.  But it does mean that we can be unapologetic for our belief and that we need not question our right to humbly share the truth.  Like Paul, we can say: "Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold."