The Courage to Speak: Lessons from the Early Church

In a world where religious persecution is a daily reality for many, we're reminded of the courage displayed by the early Christian church. While some of us may face verbal opposition or legal challenges for our faith, countless believers around the globe risk discrimination, imprisonment, and even death for following Jesus.

The book of Acts paints a vivid picture of this reality, recounting a pivotal moment in the early church's history. Peter and John, two of Jesus' disciples, found themselves at the center of a conflict that had been brewing since Jesus' ministry. After healing a man crippled from birth - a miracle that drew widespread attention - they were arrested and brought before the ruling council.

This was no ordinary group. Comprising 71 men with both religious and civil authority, this council had the power of both the U.S. Congress and Supreme Court combined. More troublingly, these were the very people who had condemned Jesus to death just weeks earlier. Peter and John could hardly expect a fair hearing.

Yet, in the face of this intimidating assembly, Peter spoke with remarkable boldness. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he declared, "Let it be known to all of you and all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well."

Peter's words cut to the heart of the matter: Jesus is unique. He is not just one way to God, but the only way. This claim, then and now, often provokes strong reactions. To many, it sounds arrogant or exclusionary. But is it?

Consider the story often used to argue that all religions lead to the same truth: the blind men and the elephant. In this tale, several blind men touch different parts of an elephant, each describing it differently based on their limited perspective. The moral? That each religion sees only part of the spiritual truth, but none has the whole picture.

Yet this illustration has a fatal flaw. It's told from the perspective of someone who can see the whole elephant. As philosopher Alvin Plantinga points out, how can you know each blind man only sees a part unless you can see the whole? The very claim that no one can see the whole truth is itself a claim to superior knowledge - the very thing it seeks to deny.
The Christian claim about Jesus' uniqueness isn't born of arrogance, but of humble recognition of our own inability to bridge the gap between our sinfulness and God's holiness. We dare to say Jesus is the only way because we've experienced His power to do the impossible in our own lives.

This doesn't mean we should be combative or condescending when sharing our faith. On the contrary, the gospel calls us to humility, patient listening, and respect for others' views. We're commanded to speak the truth with both courage and respect.

As the early church faced growing opposition, they didn't retreat into silence. Instead, they gathered to pray, turning to Scripture for strength and guidance. They recognized the hostility they faced as a continuation of the opposition Jesus Himself had experienced, quoting Psalm 2:

"Why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed."

Their prayer reminds us of a powerful truth: persecution may refine the church, but it cannot destroy it. As Tertullian boldly declared to Roman emperors, "The more you mow us down, the more we grow. The seed is the blood of Christians."

The early believers didn't pray for an end to opposition, but for boldness to continue speaking God's word. Their prayer was answered dramatically - the place where they gathered was shaken, they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they went out to speak the word of God with boldness.

This account challenges us to examine our own prayer lives. Do we, as A.W. Pink observed, "expect little from God, ask little from God, therefore receive little from God, and are content with little"? The early church's example encourages us to pray Scripture back to God, to ask boldly for His Spirit's empowering, and to seek courage in our witness.
Their story also reminds us of two essential elements in spreading the gospel: preaching to non-Christians and praying collectively for boldness in witness. These, coupled with demonstrating the kind of deep community and hospitality that can't be found in the world, have been at the heart of revivals throughout history.

As we reflect on this powerful account, let's consider:

1. Are we allowing fear or intimidation to silence our witness?
2. How can we cultivate both courage and respect in sharing our faith?
3. Are our prayers shaped by bold expectations, or are we content with little?
4. How can we create spaces of genuine community that demonstrate the transformative power of the gospel?

The early church's example challenges us to step out in faith, to speak boldly of what we have seen and heard, and to trust in the power of God to work through our witness. May we, like them, be filled with the Holy Spirit and continue to speak the word of God with boldness, no matter the opposition we may face.