“When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.”
~Dietrich Bonhoeffer
What does it mean to be tough? This past week at work has certainly been a different one. I was surrounded by people who thought to be tough meant to push others around. To have their will done on others. This really tripped me up in my faith. I found myself feeling insecure, and it was certainly not a good thing. But it’s through research that I’ve realized what it truly means to be tough — rather you’re a man or woman, boy or girl.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a famous Christian theologian during Hitler’s time. Bonhoeffer knew Hitler was a bad guy even before he raised to power, and he tried warning Germany of this danger. Of course, no one listened. Dietrich would go on to being hung for his convictions to save the Jews. It’s through the teachings and lessons from Bonhoeffer that we now know to stay away from ‘cheap grace.’ We are to not simply go through the motions as a Christian. We are to have a religion-less faith. Don’t be like the Pharisees during Jesus’ time. Rather, be like Jesus.
Real confidence doesn’t come from boasting of ourselves. To have courage isn’t the lack of fear. It’s simply experiencing the fear, and then doing it anyway. To have courage is to prioritize a noble cause above your own well-being. So back to the definition of being ‘tough.’ What does this mean? When I pondered about this, a song came to my mind. “Worlds Apart” by the band, Jars of Clay. It’s in this song that they talk about self-sacrifice. Giving ourselves up for our love in Christ. That’s what it means to be tough; that’s what it means to have confidence and courage. May I remind you it is better to suffer for what is good than it is for evil. 1 Peter 3:17.