"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