I heard the term used today “are you a wish bone or a back bone Christian?” I guess I never really thought about the two or how they apply to Christianity before. To me having a wish bone personality means always hoping for the best, but failing to perform. A back bone personality means you have strong convictions and are willing to proclaim them to everyone no matter what they think. When you have two distinctly different personalities representing Christianity, which one favors Gods will for our life?
Isaiah 41:10 NASB “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Isaiah tells us that that God will strengthen us and we should not be afraid. So if we have fear about sharing the gospel, then do we not trust God? I believe so. We can believe in God while at the same time not believe God. A little confused? Well let me explain. We can believe that God is the creator of all. Our minds may not wrap around the fact that what God says is truth, meaning we don't trust what he says. We have doubt that he will do what he says he will do.
James 1:6 NASB “But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”
Do we find ourselves like a wish bone, weak and brittle? Or do we find ourselves like a back bone, strong and supporting of the body?
Time to grow a back bone.
If you find yourself being a wish bone at proclaiming the word of God, I would tell you to grow a back bone. Being soft on the word of God does not promote the Kingdom in the way God wants us to promote it.
Hebrews 4:12 NASB “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Do we proclaim God in a bold way to show others his glory? When you do some self reflection, you will either see yourself as a weak follower or a bold follower. If you have lacked in boldness, it is not to late to change your approach. We are called to be the salt and the light of the world. If we are not being seen in the world, then how can we call ourselves the light? If we do not add a unique flavor, how are we the salt? Being the salt and the light transforms us from a wish bone to a back bone. When we boldly proclaim Jesus's name, we are fulfilling our purpose of being the salt and the light in the world.