psalm 119:46

46 - I will speak of thy testimonies

also before kings,

and will not be ashamed.

"Men of greatest holiness have been men of greatest boldness." 
~ Thomas Brooks

The "seeker-friendly" movement that has swept the church world in recent years will find no support in this passage.  The movement has sought to eliminate altar calls and "church-speak" from the vocabulary of church services in order to make guests feel more comfortable.  This school of thought suggests to limit or eliminate altogether the references to sin and hell and anything that could make an unchurched guest feel uncomfortable.  You want them to come back, after all, so make sure they leave feeling good about themselves.  

This would be great if the church was a public relations firm. 

However, it is not.

This thought process is not really new, however.  Charles Spurgeon must have also been familiar with a form of it when he wrote:

"David claimed religious liberty, and took care to use it, for he spoke out what he believed, even when he was in the highest company.  In what he said he took care to keep to God's own word, for he says, "I will speak of thy testimonies."  No theme is like this, and there is no way of handling that theme like keeping close to the book, and using its thought and language.  The great hindrance to our speaking upon holy topics in all companies is hame, but the Psalmist will "not be ashamed"; there is nothing to be ashamed of, and there is no excuse for being ashamed, and yet many are as quiet as the dead for fear some creature like themselves should be offended.  

When God gives grace, cowardice soon vanishes.  

He who speaks for God in God's power, will not be ashamed when beginning to speak nor while speaking, nor after speaking; for his theme is one which is fit for kings, needful to kings, and beneficial to kings.  If kings object, we may well be ashamed of them, but never of our Master who sent us, or of his message, or of his design in sending it."

"An honest life makes great boldness to speak without fear or shame." 

~ William Cowper

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock