What is Cowardice?

Unlike Fear, Cowardice Involves Betrayal

Take 1.5 minutes to hear how scientifically “Lying in Not Natural” in our Nature Narrations segment. (clicking link from email will also show the Devotional there).

Unlike Fear, Cowardice Involves Betrayal

What is cowardice? It is very different from fear or anxiety. We all experience fear of the future, of consequences, of the unknown, of threats, bad news, and more. To say "lack of bravery" is meaningless because both words; cowardice and bravery, are not well understood. 

Cowardice is refusing to not take a stand for what you believe is right and instead to knowingly choose to be unfaithful to your own convictions. 

A less detailed way to explain cowardice is considering the price of integrity more than you want to pay. 

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8 KJV

Most modern Bible versions translate the Greek word deilois as cowardly, rather than fearful as in the KJV. Of 8 sins listed as condemned, cowards are at the top. Why is cowardice so bad to God?

“But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” NASB 1995

Fear Leads to Cowardice

Biblically, we are commanded to not fear. How do we view a person filled with fear? I would say a Christian living in fear may actually be a person not believing all the wonderful promises of God.

For example, when Isaiah told Hezekiah he was not going to recover from his sickness. Hezekiah cried to God to be merciful. God sent Isaiah right back to tell Hezekiah he would be healed in 3 days and live another 15 years. 2 Kings 20:1-10

Now, if the Bible said Hezekiah remained fearful about dying after Isaiah promised healing, that would mean Hezekiah did not believe, right?

Do you see this connection? Do you see how unbelief can lead to fear for the Christian? And the opposite; do you see how confidence (faith) can shrink or eliminate fear?

Courage is Always the Solution

This problem of breaking from the crowd, breaking from our friends, breaking from our assumptions, breaking from a church doctrine, breaking from our own pride, is nothing new. Courage is the only way out. You must often be willing to sacrifice something to embrace what is true. Who knows the outcome? You might confirm what you originally believed what was true but now with multiplied confidence. Either way, it is not as important as your character defeating cowardice and developing a braver you.

Survival Over Love

In stories and movies, we have resented those who betrayed friends and family to save their own skin, choosing survival over love. Fear is something we must all overcome but cowardice is doing what we know is wrong and hoping no one finds out. We know it is shameful. I have been cowardly more than a few times in my life and I am ashamed I was ruled by fear.

Sin is Wrong and Stupid

Like cowardice, sin is wrong and stupid, and we must all intentionally overcome it.

God’s Call to Courage

We applaud the one tempted to do wrong, but who still chooses to do the right. In light of eternity, isn’t this God’s call? Not to be famous, popular, talented, or powerful, but in God’s eyes, to be called any one of these: faithful, dependable, loving, committed, brave, resolved, unrelenting, determined . . . all of these require muscles we must flex often to gain strength of character. 

This is the whole thing with "all have sinned" versus "sinners will perish". It is not the event of sinning or the event of a good deed. It is the practice: What are we fighting? Are we fighting sin or fighting God for the license to sin? Are we fighting cowardice or fighting to justify our cowardice? In our practice to overcome good or evil, who are we? Whoever we are, we are contagious, whether courage or cowardice.

Courage is a universally admired trait. No one admires a coward. 

Love Conquers Fear

When we are filled with love and motivated by love, it displaces self-preservation enough to choose courage. 

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 NIV

Write Your Life

If you are cowardly about something now, choose courage and it will be hard. Choose courage a 2^nd time, and it will be easier than the first time. By the 10th time pushing cowardice aside and choosing the right, you are already changing who you are becoming. You are the author of your life and you can become a habitual person of courage. I promise it is possible. Ask for God’s help.

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Thanks for sharing and thanks for feedback. Greatly appreciated. This crazy world needs your kindness and strength.

Don’t hold your status, increase your stature. Have a great and meaningful week.