Be audacious. Wondering what I mean by that? I know personally I’ve only heard the word as “so and so had the audacity”, and it is usually said with a negative connotation. To be audacious means to be “extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave or unrestrained”. So how do you get a good connotation? By having a good reason to be audacious, and I can't think of a better reason than being a Christian.
In Acts 16:16-40 we have the incredible account of Paul and Silas being arrested for their faith, beaten, then thrown into prison only to take the situation as one to praise God and eventually lead their very own jailer to being saved. Now that’s bold. But Paul wasn’t just bold. He was audacious. In vs. 36 when they were released, Paul was outraged that it was being done secretly while their punishment was so public. He demanded that the magistrate that wronged him come and publicly apologize and escort himself and Silas out of the prison.
I could just picture Christians still young in their faith saying, “Paul are you crazy!!! Get out of here while you have a chance.” So why did Paul take that extra step? Personally, I think he wanted to make sure everyone knew that being a Christian was no crime. He used his Roman citizenship to his advantage and took that next step past bold for Christ’s sake. It put him face to face with people bigger than himself. Face to face with a challenge to his faith, and guess what? He didn’t blink, they did. He was extremely daring in the name of the Lord. Now that is audacious.
- Matt Olguin serves as youth minister for the Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson, MO. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.jacksonchurchofchrist.net
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