Duncan Clark unpacks the theme for this year’s Elim Bible Week

 

I am a cricket fan and I am in mourning. The last six months have been some of the most depressing in living memory for an England supporter. We have been out-thought and out-played. Defeat has been followed by embarrassment, which has been followed with humiliation. We have become familiar with the word ‘whitewash’.

This winter of pain has had its effect on the team. Commentators, those with great cricketing know-how, pin-pointed the problem: confidence. A lack of it. “There’s a lack of confidence in the dressing room.” “They’re playing without confidence.” “They’ve lost their confidence.” Some of the phrases they said. One defeat followed by another gradually eroded any belief that the England cricket team could succeed. Confidence had been sucked out of them like a hoover.

“Do not throw away your confidence.” That’s the instruction from the writer of Hebrews. Christians who had experienced significant persecution were starting to waver. Doubts were creeping into their minds. Would God deliver them? Would God remember them? Heads had gone down. Confidence was draining away. The writer of Hebrews wanted to plug the leak. “Keep believing.” “Remain hopeful.” “Hold on to your confidence.”

Confident. It can be an uncomfortable word for a Christian. It sounds like a close relative of arrogant, egotistical and pride. The brother of big-headedness? The enemy of humility? We are wary of over-confident, self-confident Christians who might slip into self-importance and self-centredness. We are wary – because that’s not us.

But neither are we pessimistic, cynical, despairing or ‘glass half-empty’ Christians. Our heads are up. We are thinking positive. We are confident. Not a worldly-confidence. A Godconfidence.

During uncertain times, when economies fail, governments falter and leaders fall, our God remains faithful, dependable and worthy of our trust. We are confident that God is for us and his steadfast commitment to us never changes.

And this confidence in God creates a confidence within us. We become a confident people. Secure in our God-given identity, calling and purpose, we’re not afraid to try and fail, to take risks, to push boundaries and take faith-steps. We confidently embrace change, pioneer new initiatives and live forward-reaching lives, because our God inspires us toward confident action.

We are confident in the gospel. Confident that the ancient message of a crucified Saviour still has power in contemporary culture. It still has power to transform lives, to heal communities, to give hope to the hopeless and new beginnings to the broken. We confidently believe that Jesus still saves, heals and restores.

And this ‘gospel-confidence’ produces a confident Church. A Church with a clearly articulated vision, a defined purpose and a significant future. Our togetherness produces a boldness which moves us out of our buildings and into our communities, confidently proclaiming Christ through word and deed.

This confident Church has confidence in the Bible. Confident that unchanging truth can be found in the words of Scripture. Confident that when we open its pages, God will speak. Confident that its words will comfort, motivate, teach and guide. And when its relevance is challenged and cultural norms change, we remain confident that it still has authority for life today.

And on dark days and during challenging times, when suffering, disappointment and pain are present, we still maintain a confident hope. Confident that God is present. Confident that he hears. Confident that he has a plan. Confident that he will deliver us. We have confidence in God. We are confident people. We form a confident Church. We are confident in the gospel message and the Bible’s authority. We have a confident hope.

And so, we will pray bold prayers, dream big dreams, create forward momentum and believe that we will prevail. We will plant churches, reach communities, teach passionately and love outrageously. We will take Spirit-empowered action, break new ground and pursue a ‘God-adventure’. We will not shrink back. We will not throw away our confidence.

We’re not conceited or smug. Neither are we arrogant, egotistical or proud. We are confident.

 

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