One of the great gifts you can give yourself is Courage.
The Greek word parresia (παρρησία) is used 31 times in the New Testament. It means boldness, confidence, courage, and fearlessness. All words found in the Bible that relate to the concept of parresia.
Jesus spoke with parresia like no one ever had. He spoke with courage because He only spoke Truth.
His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking PLAINLY (παρρησία) and not using figurative speech!” (John 16:29 ESV)
Jesus answered him, “I have spoken OPENLY (παρρησία) to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. (John 18:20 ESV).
Because Jesus spoke with parresia, He inspired others to find their own Voice and speak in courage as well.
Now when they saw the BOLDNESS (παρρησία) of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13 ESV)
Parresia (παρρησία) is the truth spoken without shame. Unfortunately, parresia is in low supply, not just amongst our culture but sadly, in our church as well. The American church no longer influences our culture. Rather sadly, too many of our churches are influenced instead by the political correctness of progressive Marxism.
Parresia (παρρησία) is what the church needs to effectively preach the gospel and once again place its influence on our culture.
How important is Truth?
Scripture tells us to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11, ESV). Paul tells us (in Ephesians 6:14) that truth is the very first thing we should put on. When Paul mentions truth, he is clearly talking about the truth of Scripture (e.g., Ephesians 1:13; 4:25; etc.)
What truth is:
- Truth is universal. It is true for all people, all places, all times, all cultures
- Truth is absolute. It is not relative.
- Truth is timeless. It is true yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
- Truth is objective. It is not based on feelings or opinions. Truth is discovered, we don’t make it up or create it.
- Truth corresponds with reality, to the way things really are. Truth is ‘telling it like it is’.
- Truth is based on God. Only God provides an unchanging, universal reality upon which truth is based.
- Truth is knowable, unarguable, and self-evident. God has made us and the world in such a way that truth can be known.
“Here is the great evangelical disaster – the failure of the evangelical world to stand for truth as truth. There is only one word for this – namely accommodation: the evangelical church has accommodated to the world spirit of the age.” – Francis Schaeffer
We desperately need a “Church” which stands strong on truth; that will not knowingly support a lie.
“If we are not preaching the gospel well enough for the non-elect to reject it and us, then we are not preaching the true gospel.”
Sometimes it takes Courage to remain silent but often times it takes more courage to speak out when you know that what you are going to say is unpopular.
Finding men and women who are good is easy; finding good people who also have courage is unfortunately rare.
Find Your Voice:
Have the courage to stand up to lies and speak the truth.
Find the courage to share your thoughts not because you think it will change the minds of people who think differently than you but to show people who already think like you that they’re not alone and maybe inspire others to find theirs.
What are you willing to defend?
You either love truth or love lies – which are you?
Progressive leftism needs to constantly foment, hate, fear, resentment, oppression, class/group inequality, and ingratitude.
The progressive-left needs you to be ungrateful because happy people don’t vote LEFT.
Without the order of a Biblical Worldview, you get chaos.