Cowardice is the first sin named in the list of those excluded from the New Jerusalem: "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone" (Revelation 21:8). That placement is not accidental. Cowardice is a decisive sin for Christians because the whole Christian life requires standing for Christ in hostile territory. Adam was a coward in Eden when he stood silent while the serpent deceived his wife. Peter was a coward in the courtyard of the high priest, denying Christ three times. The ten spies were cowards who brought back an evil report. Pilate was a coward who washed his hands of a verdict he knew was unjust. Cowardice is not merely being afraid; every man is sometimes afraid. Cowardice is letting fear govern when it should be overruled by duty, love, or faith. The cure is not willpower but fear of the LORD — the right fear that drives out all lesser fears.
COW'ARDICE, n. Want of courage to face danger; dread of harm; timidity; pusillanimity.
COW'ARDICE, n. Want of courage to face danger; dread of harm; base fear of danger or of pain; timidity; pusillanimity. Cowardice is always a defect or vice, never a virtue, unless renamed by the world "prudence" for the sake of excuse.
Revelation 21:8 — "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral... shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone."
2 Timothy 1:7 — "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
Proverbs 28:1 — "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion."
Modern culture has rebranded cowardice as "prudence," "self-care," or "not wanting to make a scene."
Cowardice wears many masks in the modern church. It calls itself "gentleness" when it should speak hard truth. It calls itself "humility" when it should confront sin. It calls itself "wisdom" when it should take a stand. It calls itself "peacemaking" when it should name an enemy. A generation of pastors has taught men that silence before evil is virtue — it is not. "He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD" (Proverbs 17:15). The silent pastor is justifying the wicked by his silence. The conflict-avoiding father is condemning his children to confusion. The coward is not safe; he is simply delaying the reckoning.