#Fear brave church full

To be sure, David exhibits anger (Ps 4:4), but he exhibits it in healthy proportion to the full range of other emotions.ĭavid’s example to young men is to be courageous poet-warriors – possessing the willingness to bravely face conflict-despite having fears-with a reliance upon God (Ps 23), the willingness to courageously pour out our shame, shortcomings, and sin in confession to God (Ps 51), and the courage to share our lives with others (1 Sam 18:1).ĭavid is a great role model for the young men of our current generation. One cultural lie today says that the only acceptable male emotion is anger and all other emotions should be channeled into it.

We do well to seek similar relationships with the men we share life with. He was known on a level far deeper than the water cooler fodder of an office friendship. His relationship with Jonathan was more than a surface level bond, but a transparent sharing of life together (1 Sam 18:1-4). He fears (Ps 34:4), experiences sadness (43:5), shame (69:19), and joy (4:7), despairs (69:20), loves (18:1), and showcases a myriad of other emotions. He exhibits the full range of human emotion. In those verses, we peer into the heart of a man who was not afraid to be vulnerable. If the life and war stories of David show his bravery, it’s in his Psalms that we see his courage.

His battle victories were so numerous (1 Sam 18:7) that he was barred from building God’s temple because of his reputation as a “man of war” (1 Chron 28:3). He faced the giant Goliath when he was still a boy (1 Sam 17:33). Since humans are image bearers of God and courage refers to the heart, we shouldn’t overlook the man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). If we are looking for models of male courage, David is an example par excellence. But even more so, I desire that the next generation of men will exhibit courage. He willing expresses the broad range of emotions.Īs someone who ministers to teenagers, I desire that this next generation will exhibit bravery. On the other hand, a man who is afraid of heights because his father died in a plane crash and openly shares his wounds, fears, and tears showcases courage.Ī courageous man is not afraid to be vulnerable. On one hand, a man with an over-realized fear of heights who summits Mount Marcy showcases bravery. Courage admits imperfection, exposing our hearts as needy. If bravery is to outwardly face what intimidates us, courage is being transparent enough to admit that inwardly we have many fears and wounds. The roots of the word courage mean “the heart, or the innermost feelings.” Courage takes bravery one step further admitting fear is not our only imperfection. Bravery admits its fears but faces them regardless. But fearlessness isn’t bravery it’s posing, which is dishonest. It is tempting for men who desire to be macho to act as if they are fearless. But if we were to trace them back to their roots, the words mean different things.īeing brave doesn’t mean you are fearless it means you are willing to face your fears. Nowadays we use the words brave and courageous interchangeably. In the opening chapter of Joshua, God’s people are commanded to be strong and courageous four times (1:6, 7, 9, & 18).

I’m not asking if you are brave, although you should be.