A comparison between the spiritual concepts of “Faith” and “Courage”:
Posted on December 28, 2006 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
The dialogs under the post “Leaders who trust to the very end” has caused me to think deeper about the difference (if any) between the concepts of Courage and Faith. Surely they are related, but do they also stand alone? I would like to continue this dialog.My last post under “Leaders who trust to the very end” stated:
“I tend to believe faith and courage are related, but not the same. The two definitions given by Michael Chitwood at the end of his post reflect the difference."
Remember that God commanded Joshua over and over again to be “strong and courageous”. I am sure Joshua had “faith” in God - for he had seen the hand of God many times. Yet God challenges Joshua not to have more faith, but to have courage. Did Joshua struggle at times with courage? Maybe, for God exhorts him over and over in this way. Joshua is a great example of a person of faith - who then chose to move out courageously, despite risk and fear.
“I still personally believe many believers today have faith, yet lack courage - possibly for the reasons Kent mentions. I can relate to those.” I would like to add here – James writes “faith without works” is dead, seeming to imply that an individual can have faith, yet not produce any useful “works.” And Hebrews 11 champions individuals who added to their faith specific acts of courage.
I have met many Christians who have sincere faith in God – but I also see many of these same people living in such a state of fear that they remain forever stuck in a rut – living their life safely tucked away in their comfort zone. A life where they remain virtually the same for years and years… living a life where they do not realize their potential, but instead bury their “talents” out of fear. I struggle with these same temptations myself.
The key difference between living a fulfilled life and a life nestled in one’s “comfort zone” is courage. It takes courage to acknowledge truth, to acknowledge your calling, and even greater courage to then follow that calling. While many people have faith in what God can do, only a few courageously act out on that faith – in my opinion.
I do believe our courage should be rooted in faith. But faith without works (or courage?) is dead.
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I don’t disagree, but let me ask three questions…
1. Where does this kind of courage come from? ie Is it something leaders just have or is it developed somehow?
2. Is courage more important than wisdom as a critical componant of success?
3. In what ways (if any) is courage in leaders who are Christians different than courages in leaders who aren’t?
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COMMENT:
Thanks Mike. Really good questions. I am curious how others will respond… And each question could call for a long response, but I will try hard to be extremely concise…
Question 1: I believe courage comes from a strong belief, combined with a strong/compelling vision. A compelling vision, and belief, that sustains a leader through the fears which precede almost every act of change or growth.
So a first step in harnessing courage is to develop a vision that represents your authentic calling and heartfelt goals, and then align specific actions steps toward that vision/goal.
When a leader talks about courage, they almost never point to their heads. They point to their chests. I read that the word “courage” comes from the French word for heart, “Coeur”, meaning the ability to stand by one’s heart or to stand by one’s core belief.
Basic steps that develop courage in a leader are:
1. Specifically name and then face your fear – “Everyone is afraid of something”
2. Explore your vulnerability – what will be lost if you give into your fear
3. Lean toward the risk – take a small courageous step into the fear
4. Celebrate your failure – do not fear failure, learn from it
5. Take action - again, and again, and again – Keep taking bigger steps into your fear
Question 2: Too short of an answer here… but just as faith (or our belief) is useless without action steps (works) – so wisdom is useless if it is not combined with courage. For instance, if one has wisdom but not love, that wisdom is useless (1 Corth13) – acts of love are many times acts of courage.
There are people who do not have high IQ’s who are successful (either spiritually or professionally) because they acted courageously on whatever level of wisdom they had. There are many others who are gifted with high IQ’s and wisdom who remain on the sidelines. I would pick courage over wisdom (ever so slightly) as a key ingredient of success.
Question 3: Again, I believe a leader’s courage comes from a strong belief, combined with a strong/compelling vision. A non-believer can live a courageous life driven by a belief that is founded on something other than God. A Courageous Christian leader (hopefully) bases their belief on the sovereignty of God, plus a compelling vision based on the Great Commission, or other calling given to them by the Lord.
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COMMENT:
What I hear you saying (even more simplified) is:
1. Courage comes from a strong, heartfelt belief, greater than just a mental acknowlegement. Could we call that faith? And then combine that faith with vision.
2. Courage is developed as we overcome our fears (other beliefs) that are contrary to our strong, heartfelt belief (faith) by taking actions (small steps) which are courageous.
3. Consequently if someone doesn’t act couragously wouldn’t it follow that either their strong, heartfelt belief (faith) is not strong enough or heartfelt encough to overcome the fear or other beliefs? Or that their vision is lacking?
4. Therefore, I would focus someone on Ron’s first couple steps of development, which seem like faith. If faith is strong enough to overcome fears then you get courage. Vision and wisdom directs it well and can help, but faith is still where it’s at!
On the wisdom side, I wouldn’t equate wisdom with intelligence. Wisdom is the ‘right’ thing to do. Just because someone has intelligence doesn’t mean they do the ‘right’ things.
If you measure success by God’s wisdom, then there are many things that would seem foolish to the intelligent. There are also courageous acts, fueled by faith, but lacking wisdom that are deadly.
Big conclusion for the day…
When faith (essential ingredient #1) is strong enough to overcome fear, and vision is clarified and guided by wisdom (essential ingredients #2 and #3) then courageous steps are taken. If successful, you go back repeat. If you fail, you refuel your faith and adjust your wisdom or vision and try again.
At the point where someone acts courageously, I don’t believe the person even sees themselves as courageous, but rather (pointing at their chest) they see something greater inside them, which is that heartfelt belief or faith.
Other people see the action and call it courageous. For example, Peter stepping out of the boat to walk on water. Did he say, “I’m going to be courageous!” No, he said, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come.” His wisdom by asking the question and his faith in Jesus let to a courageous act. His belief overcame his fears and led to courage to step out. If you ask Peter, “Were you courageous?” He might say I acted courageously, but it was becuase I believed (had faith) that Jesus would let me walk on water. If you ask him, “When you sank, did you need more courage?” I believe he would say, “What I need is more, real faith.”
We need to develop courage in leaders. But in order to do that we need to help them solidify their faith and clarify wise vision.
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COMMENT:
More faith, in reading through the Bible this year, my antenna are tuned to faith and courage… here’s what I have so far…
Matt 1 - courage of Joseph, angel said don’t be afraid, why? the baby is from the holy spirit, Joseph’s courage came from his faith
Matt 8 - the courage of the roman officer to come to Jesus and Jesus praises his faith
Matt 8 - the lack of courage and fear of those who wouldn’t follow Jesus, why not? Lack of faith.
Matt 8 - fear of the disciples during the storm, no coruage, what does Jesus say, “where is your faith?”
OT
Genesis - every time there is a courageous act it is because people have faith that is God at work. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Every time they get fearful and don’t act courageous, which is often, they show that they are trusting (have faith) only in themselves and therefore can only have as much courage as they can muster. Muster, that’s a fun word…
When their faith is small, their courage is small. Not the other way around. Doesn’t this make sense? No one has great courage that then leads to faith, but rather as Ron put it so well, we develop courage through our convictions (faith), which the greatest of these acts are through Christ.
Maybe it would be helpful Ron or others to share a current example where you need courage and let’s see how it develops. Can it happen without faith. Or share an example where your fiath is growing… does it lead to a courageous act or fear? Or does growing faith come from fear or come from courage? Anyone?
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COMMENT:
Mike, (from your previous post)
** In general, I think you imply if a person has enough faith, then courageous steps will naturally occur… that when a person’s “faith (ingredient #1) is strong enough to overcome fear, and vision is clarified and guided by wisdom (ingredients #2 and #3) then courageous steps are taken.” - “If someone doesn’t act courageously wouldn’t it follow that either their strong, heartfelt belief (faith) is not strong enough or heartfelt enough.”
I personally believe you have left out THE key ingredient – which is a person’s power to choose. I do not believe high levels of faith directly guarantee high levels of obedience. Having faith does not necessitate obedience or the taking of courageous steps. I believe in between one’s faith, and courageous actions – is our power to choose.
When temped by Satan, Jesus had all the faith in the world, but what made him courageous what the CHOICE He made to obey God. His faith did not necessarily guarantee this “courageous step” or choice. The tension in the story is not if Jesus has enough faith, but if He will choose to obey despite the temptations. It was His choice to obey, in addition to His faith, that gave Him victory.
** I think you also equate belief with faith. I believe they are different. In general terms, “belief” provides evidence to people’s questions about life, abortion, death, salvation – while “faith” does not necessarily do this. People believe so as to find assurance, a solution, and answers to their questions so they can fashion for themselves a system of beliefs. Faith (biblical faith) is different.
Belief interprets where we stand. In contrast, Faith waits, picks up signs, it listens patiently to the silence until that silence is filled up with the presence and peace of God – despite all we still do not understand.
For “belief” things are explained: God is almighty. God is good. God is the creator… But it only “faith” that can appreciate the immensity of God, and be at peace with all we do not understand - with the mystery of His actions. Belief acknowledges the known, Faith embraces the unknown. Both are good and necessary.
Our beliefs are grounded in reality. Faith is not necessarily so easy. It is about taking risks, leaving behind safety and security, scorning guarantees, stepping out of the boat onto the Sea of Galilee.
** But back to my first point… Faith/Belief are pretty much futile, unless combined with the Choice to act upon them. Then you have courage. Our ability to choose (or not to choose) makes one courageous, or not.
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COMMENT:
Others… Chime in! Mike & I are boring each other. In all seriousness, I do appreciate your thoughts Mike.
Ron B.
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COMMENT:
With faith only the “size of a mustard seed”, one can move a mountain. The size of the faith is not what matters, it is Choosing to act on our amount of faith, however small, which is the key.
Just having a certain level of faith guarantees nothing. It is in the choosing to act on one’s faith (however small) that brings the miracle. And in this Choice are the seeds of courage.
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COMMENT:
I know belief and faith are different… when you began taking about strong belief, is when I equated that with faith. Faith is more than belief, but faith, by my definition, leads to action. It’s in that courageous action that we can look back and see what was necessary… faith.
Faith is much more mysterious and your definition is as good as any I’ve heard. However, I would add to the definition that faith leads to actions that are more courageous than any other kind of courage.
And any amount of faith, even the smallest can lead to the most incredible of courageous actions.
You seem to be contradicting yourself when you says that even the smallest faith can move mountains, but having a certain level of faith guarantees nothing.
It’s not like everyone has faith and only a few choose. It’s more like everyone would like to choose well (courageous), but only those with faith even a tiny amount can move on their desires.
Maybe we should just have lunch. I’m thinking everyone else agrees with me : )
Or let’s talk more about vision… I need help with that…
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