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T Timidity
"No coward has any right to be a preacher. If a preacher is afraid of anyone in his church, afraid to speak his mind or to do right, that man ought to pray himself out of that timid atmosphere or he ought to resign and go where he is not afraid."
—J.B. Gambrell (1841-1921), professor of preaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
We are reminded that the Apostle Paul's boldness produced positive change in the churches: "For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it (though I did regret it, for I see that I grieved you with that letter, though only briefly). Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance; for you felt a godly grief, so that you were not harmed in any way by us" (2 Corinthians 7:8-9).
Source: "Proclaim," 1980 #2, p. 4.
Topics/Tags: Confrontation; Fear; Timidity; Boldness
Ken Nash glances up one row of the parking lot and then another. And another. Suddenly he is gripped by a brutal truth: His car is an outcast.
"I can't believe this! Not a single other car with a bumper sticker?!"
"We're becoming a nation of drones," he said, shaking his head.
Nash isn't the only one who feels that way. Bumper stickers have declined noticeably in popularity in recent years—and the popular explanation is that Americans have lost their passion.
Truly, the recent [1998] White House scandals would seem to be a quick-and-easy source of bumper-sticker wisdom—but how many Monica Lewinsky bumper stickers have you seen?...
Writer Carol Gardner says, "I went to a luncheon at the height of the political campaigns this year, and out of 100 cars in the lot, I was the only one with a bumper sticker. I think people are less willing to take a stand in public."
____________
God expects His people to take a stand in public—and not just with bumper stickers, either. "Hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good" (Romans 12:9).
Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, December 1998, exact date unknown. Associated Press.
Topics/Tags: Conviction; Beliefs; Timidity
"Jesus didn't say, 'Take up your Twinkies and follow me.'
"If there IS a call for wimps, then the quota has already been filled."
-- Charles Lyons, pastor, Armitage Baptist Church, Chicago
Source: Heartland, Summer 1999, p. 10 (quotes from chapel addresses at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary).
Topics/Tags: Fear; Timidity; Sacrifice; Great commission
"For many Christians, prayer is like window shopping-- they spend much time looking but never buy anything."
-- Bill Bright
Let us remember that God not only permits, but actually commands, us to ASK for concrete things when we pray! This includes both intercession for others and petition for personal needs. Approach the throne of grace with BOLDNESS (Hebrews 4:16)!
Source: Bill Bright, "How You Can Pray With Confidence" (1995 Campus Crusade for Christ), pp. 30-31.
Topics/Tags: Prayer; Petition; Timidity; Intercession
Browse By Topic T Timidity