Will You Be a Coward or Courageous Christian?

With the unprecedented escalation and celebration of homosexuality; steamrolling of same-sex marriage; apostasy and compromise in Christian churches, ministries and organizations; the unbelievable governmental assault on our religious freedoms and hostility toward biblical values; the epidemic of out-of-wedlock births, sexual abuse, pornography, divorce, promiscuity, cohabitation and human trafficking; plus continued execution of unborn babies in the womb every 26 seconds, isn’t it obvious that we are at a tipping point as a nation and in a state of moral crisis?

Can we sink deeper into the abyss of depravity? Of course, but how far must we plummet before we collectively rouse ourselves out of the slumber and any cowardice? Are you like the multitudes sensing that it is time to not only pray but to engage in Spirit-led action?

Remember what happens in the book of Revelation, when it lists the eight groups cast into the lake of fire at the end of the age. First in line are the cowards, ahead of the “unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars” (Rev. 21:8, NIV).

I’ve been a board member of the Intercessors for America national prayer ministry for almost four decades. While I encourage prayer and fasting, there is also an urgent need for courageous Christians and engaged churches to emerge who know “faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26). We are presently involved in a civil war for the soul of our nation, and it’s time for volunteers in the army of the Lord of hosts!

Words God spoke to Moses apply here: “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Quit praying and get the people moving!” (Ex. 14:15, LB).

It is not my purpose here to outline a 10-point action plan for every Christian to follow (my friend Ralph Reed does an excellent job of this in his just-released new book, Awakening) but rather to challenge all of us to seek God individually regarding what part we can play to foster spiritual awakening in the United States of America before it’s too late. Time really is of the essence, and I don’t say this to be dramatic but rather prophetic.

One life can truly make a difference. As shown in the magnificent film God’s Not Dead, one student in a class of 60 stood up courageously and served as a change agent on his campus and beyond.

The time for silence, neutrality and retreat must stop. The misguided idea that we must not offend anybody but bend over backwards to make sure everyone likes us has to go.

The cross is an offense (Gal. 5:11), and, as Paul says, “If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10, NIV). Overcomers in Scripture are those who “did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Rev. 12:11).

Of course, as Christians we are to be known by our love, our servant hearts and the winsome way in which we interact with people. Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matt 5:11)—not because we were obnoxious!

Every person who is going back and forth between knowing they should be bolder, engaged and vocal yet repeatedly succumbing to the fear of man would do well to reflect upon the words of Elijah on Mount Caramel: “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him” (1 Kings 18:21).

And every Christian church, ministry or organization should reflect on recent developments with World Vision International and ponder what they will do when their time of testing comes. James Robison said recently, “Churches and ministries across the country will be forced to face the pressures World Vision faced.”

In our generation, every one of us is called to be salt—holding back decay—or as Jesus said, we become “no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot” (Matt. 5:13). We’re also called to be light—bringing hope in the darkness: “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house” (Matt 5:15).

Stay tuned for part two of this article on how God is looking for heroes.

Larry Tomczak is a best-selling author and cultural commentator with more than 41 years of trusted ministry experience. His passion is to bring perspective, analysis and insight from a biblical worldview. He loves awakening people to today’s cultural realities and responses needed for a restored, influential church. Please visit LarryTomczak.com.