What does it mean for a missionary—or any Christian in the world—to live with courage? That is the question CMS International Director Peter Sholl asks here, as he turns to the Bible for answers. 

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) 

One of the joys of being an active partner with CMS missionaries around the world is that we get to hear stories of courage, both from them personally and in the lives of those they minister to. However, as we will see in this edition of Checkpoint, these individuals often don’t see themselves as inherently courageous. Those sharing the gospel in their own communities or re-thinking long-standing ministry traditions are not relying on their own courage. Rather they look to the Lord who is worthy of their courageous service. We might call this ‘mission courage’. 

Consider how such ‘mission courage’ relates to our four CMS values: Gospel Priority, Cross-Shaped, Long-Term and In Partnership. Each requires a courage that is based on the Lord. 

• Sending people to express gospel priority by acting as witnesses in a gospel-poor people group in the Middle East requires a courage based on the Lord’s promises for the gospel to go to the nations. This courage is needed both by those who go, and those who send and care for them.

• Asking our missionaries to live cross-shaped lives in a culture that has a completely different value system, such as in South East Asia, requires a courage and steadfastness rooted in a deep trust in the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness. 
• Investing in people long-term, asking for a difficult language to be mastered, for cultural norms to be re-shaped, such as is required in Japan, takes courage from those who go and those who send, because a careful and courageous conversation needs to be had about the expected outcomes and the definition of fruitful ministry.

How should we think about courage? 

When you think of ‘courage’, who do you think of? Maybe your mind turns to great military stories—like John Simpson Kirkpatrick. For four weeks, unarmed and exposed, he used his donkey to rescue dozens of wounded ANZAC soldiers, often himself coming under enemy fire. The Australian War Memorial says Simpson became ‘the most prominent symbol of Australian courage and tenacity on Gallipoli.’1  

Or perhaps, given this year’s events, you think of a paralympic athlete like Alexa Leary. After suffering a major brain injury while riding her bike in 2021, she spent over 100 days in hospital, re-learned how to walk and swim, and won two gold medals in Paris in S9 swimming events, including setting a world record. 

These people are wonderful examples of courage, harnessing their personal convictions and tenacity to perform extraordinary acts in the context of terrible circumstances. 

What about courage in the world of mission? Early CMS Australia missionary Katie Millar left Sydney in 1905 to serve in Tanganyika (now Tanzania), spending 39 years evangelising and teaching. Neville and Vera Langford Smith served in Tanganyika and then Kenya for a total of 45 years. Courage is certainly a word that comes to mind when describing their ministry. 

Biblical courage 

When you think of courage in the Bible, who comes to mind? There are many examples, often involving presenting an unpopular opinion to a powerful audience. Moses standing before Pharoah, demanding that he release Israel from their slavery in Egypt. Caleb, giving the dissenting opinion to the fearful report from the Israelite spies as they return from checking out the promised land. David, refusing to harm Saul, even though Saul is pursuing David and seeking to kill him. Ezekiel, faithfully pronouncing the destruction of Jerusalem, even though it caused him such unpopularity. Paul, preaching on his missionary journeys—despite the regular riots, beatings and imprisonments that resulted.

The Lord Jesus himself, who in the face of known impending suffering and rupture of a perfect relationship with his Heavenly Father, shows great courage and submits himself to the authority of earthly rulers who ultimately crucify him.

As we think about this list of examples, and the courageous ones held up in our society, can we see any differences between ‘biblical courage’ and the courage displayed on the battlefield, the sporting field, or in society? Are people inherently courageous, expressing this trait in different contexts?  

Or is there something fundamentally different about biblical courage? 

We might answer by thinking about one significant example of biblical courage: Joshua. 

Joshua comes to prominence at the end of Deuteronomy, with the impending death of Moses. We’ve met him briefly in Numbers 13 and 14 where he is a co-dissenter with Caleb. His name emerges again in Moses’ final address. As readers we are thinking of him as someone who is faithful to the Lord. In the last chapters of Deuteronomy, Moses recounts his life’s journey with Israel. After leading the exodus (humanly speaking), receiving the word of the Lord at Mt Sinai, suffering the people’s disobedience and faithfulness, and shouldering the burden of their rebellion during their desert wanderings, Moses knows that he will not enter the promised land.  

As Moses concludes his speeches to prepare the people of Israel for their new life on the other side of the Jordan, he hands the baton of leadership to their new leader, Joshua. He exhorts his protege to be courageous, and in the process reveals the source of that courage.    

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you… Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:5-8) 

This theme of courage and strength continues in the book of Joshua, where the Lord speaks directly to Joshua, frequently re-iterating the instruction to “be strong and courageous”.  

 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) 

These exhortations make it clear that the source of Joshua’s courage is not his own character, his personal inner strength, or even his commitment to the cause. It is the Lord—specifically, the Lord’s promises, his presence, and his action.  

Joshua knows that the Lord has spoken words of promise to his forefathers and has proved himself faithful to those promises. Therefore, he can be courageous, knowing that the Lord will continue to be faithful to his promises. 

Joshua knows that the Lord has been present with his people—a reality he has seen with his own eyes, as the Lord has spoken to and guided Israel during their desert wanderings. Therefore he can be courageous, knowing that the Lord will continue his commitment to his people. 

And Joshua knows that the Lord has acted on their behalf, rescuing them from Egypt and providing for them in the desert. Based on this ‘lived experience’ of the Lord’s action and provision, Joshua can look to the Lord in faithful expectation and be courageous. 

It is abundantly clear that the source of Joshua’s courage is not his personal inner strength or determination. If that were the case, perhaps Moses might not have needed to exhort him at all! Joshua’s biographer is not going to look back on his childhood and say ‘he was always a risk-taker’. The source of his courage is the Lord. 

We too can be courageous 

And so, as we pray for our missionaries serving around the world, reflect on the exhortation that Joshua received to be strong and courageous, know our Lord, and seek a world that knows Jesus, we can together with confidence receive Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians. 

‘Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.’  (1 Corinthians 16:13)

GO

Do you have the courage to GO to a mission location, learn a new culture and live a long-term cross-shaped life? Or, can you support others who are taking this step? Click here to find out more.