The Sin of Cowardice

Numerous Western Movies include tense face-offs with cowboy hat wearing, cigar smoking men staring each other down, fingers tapping or hands hovering over a holstered revolver.  Sometimes the better gunman tries to goad the other into drawing his pistol by insulting him:  "You're a coward!"  Among these Hollywood depictions there seems a code of honour foreign to my experience, that even a cold blooded killer waits for his opponent to make the first move lest it not be a "fair fight."  To kill a man in cold blood before an audience that cowered behind curtains seemed more dishonourable than being "Wanted Dead or Alive" or hanged by a sheriff for murder.

In school I read about people in the U.S. Civil War era who were literally branded on their face for deserting or cowardice.  Whilst armies defined this as deserting in the face of an enemy, being called a coward today is more an insult than a dereliction of duty.  It may be surprising to know the Bible speaks of cowards objectively and condemns cowardice as a sin.  Cowardice is totally opposed to God's character as demonstrated by Jesus Who was courageous, compassionate and resolute in the face of adversity and torture.  The contrast between born again believers and those who die in their sins based on their relationship with God is seen in Revelation 21:7-8:  "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. ⁸ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."  A person guilty of cowardice is one governed by fear for himself rather than the fear of God.  The cowardly is one who lacks courage, is timid and fearful.  In this motley assortment of sins common to all men, surprisingly cowardice is the first mention.

Cowardice and unbelief are sins in this grouping that always lead to additional sin.  I wonder how many times it was cowardice that prompted someone to lie in the hopes of avoiding trouble.  Now I have heard many sins warned against, but cowardice has never been one of them.  It is always good to put a face to our sin, to recognise its ugly mug and call it by name.  Rather than railing against sin as any hypocrite can do, we ought to repent of it.  A person who is born again by faith in Jesus continues to live in flesh that tends toward sin, and thus we must be sober and vigilant to not allow fear and timidity to rule our lives instead of obedience to Jesus.  Since my cowardliness once condemned me to the eternal flames of hell like unbelief, hatred (akin to murder), sexual immorality, idolatry and lies, I am to confess and repent of it.  True repentance compels me to walk by faith to serve Jesus and fear Him--rather than fear over what man thinks or can do to me.

Looking to Jesus provides an example of humility, boldness and courage that ought to continually inspire and guide us.  Rather than seeking to disgrace or condemn us for our cowardice, God would have us confess our idolatry of feelings that permits fear to rule us.  Cowardice is a sin Jesus has conquered, and thus there is hope for us in Him for all infected and afflicted by it.  We need not be ruled by it any more.  May God's words to Joshua echo in our hearts concerning our divine duties in Joshua 1:9:  "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."  By faith in God we can be courageous like Jesus who will never leave or forsake us.