Courage Exemplified

"I hate all your show and pretense – the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won't even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living."

–Amos 5:21-24

"You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow. "You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."

–Matthew 5:38-48

Boston Trinity's Board Chairman, Mr. Robert Bradley, spoke to Chapel attendees about courage and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Wednesday morning.

He began by calling attention to the word virtue, pointing out that it is a word we don't hear much in our modern culture. What is virtue? It is behavior that shows high moral standards. Mr. Bradley told students there are many virtues; he wanted to talk to them about one: courage. He quoted C.S. Lewis, saying, "Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point" (The Screwtape Letters).

Mr. Bradley told students that courage called for living according to our morals and Christian values, even though this might cost us something (ridicule, etc.). One such example of courage is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There are many kinds of courage, for example: physical, moral, or overcoming the fear of failure, Mr. Bradley said. "In battle, everyone is afraid," he continued. "Courage is not 'not being afraid.' It is overcoming fear."

Giving students an overview of the life of Dr. King, Mr. Bradley talked of Dr. King's stand against injustice, his fight against segregation, and the courage it took to face threats, acts of violence against him and his family, and ultimately, the loss of his life.

"We all have fears; each one of you has fears," Mr. Bradley said. "Are you willing to confront that awful fear of failure? Are you willing to stand up for your belief in Jesus Christ? Will you have the courage to stand against injustice?"

In closing, he urged the students to, like Dr. King, have the courage to overcome fear and stand against injustice, and also, like Dr. King, to pray and ask God for strength and guidance.