The Courage to Stand: Facing Your Fear without Losing Your Soul by Russell D. Moore

The Courage to Stand: Facing Your Fear without Losing Your Soul Reviews

• 
  Ivan

  Classic Russell Moore book: beautifully written, personally honest, and uncomfortably convicting. The use of Elijah’s story throughout makes this theological-memoir a compelling and profound read. And in 2020, it seems especially timely.
• 
  Sarah Fowler Wolfe

  "The arc of history is long, but it bends toward Jesus."
  
  A strong book filled with personal stories as well as lots of biblical narrative exposited from both Old and New Testaments. It's cheesily funny, strongly encouraging, and an enjoyable read. It came out last fall so knowing the decisions Moore later announced regarding the SBC, it strikes me as a deeply learned and felt book.
  
  Moore examines different aspects of fear: anxiety, shame, integrity, vulnerability, community, justice, and the future. This is mostly helpful and poignant, though a bit rambling at times. I really appreciated many of his literary examples (Poe, Tolkien, Lewis, Wendell Berry).
  
  My one criticism is in the second chapter he conflates fear with [clinical] anxiety, and completely ignores commonly known poly-vagal information. This may be an unhelpful "man up" call for some, but keep reading as later chapters are much stronger.
  
  "Elijah was courageous because he learned how to be afraid in the right way. And so must you. You, like he, will walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and the only way you can learn to fear no evil is to conclude that someone is walking with you, someone is, in fact, shepherding you (Ps. 23), even when you cannot see him. We walk not around that valley but straight through it. That's how we learn that we can trust him. That's how we learn to be brave. The demons are there in the dark, that's true, but they are not the only things chasing you. Goodness and mercy are too."
  
  "Good news: Judgment Day is coming. Even better news Judgment Day has already come. And here you stand, hidden in Christ, hearing the verdict pronounced over you that was pronounced long ago over the waters of Jordan and again at an empty garden tomb: "This is my beloved child, in whom I am well-pleased." The criterion is not the strength of your faith—weak and wavering as it no doubt is—but rather, the criterion is the Life to which that faith has joined you, the crucifiable but irrepressible life of Jesus."
  
  {I received a copy of this book on NetGalley to review from B&H Books.}
• 
  Sharon

  Thanks to my son for giving me this book for my birthday.
  
  This is a beautiful book. The hardcover jacket is a two color ink or pencil drawing by Stephen Crotts and the whole inside of the jacket is an amazing illustration/drawing. Without the jacket, the book cover is equally impressive, with a black and white ink drawing.
  
  This book is very different than I thought it would be. It is based on Elijah, as an example of courage, but also of someone who feels the loneliness of speaking words from another, and wonders if it is worth it when he doesn’t ever appear to be successful. The chapters explore how Elijah’s experiences illustrate how courage relates to crisis, anxiety, shame, integrity, vulnerability, community and justice. You will also find brief bookish insights, featuring Narnia, hobbits and Flannery O’Connor.
  
  Some of the explanations were over my head. I found I really needed to focus and keep reading in small chunks to be able to get his points. (Nothing to do with his writing!) I have never been great at following philosophical discussions, and there were quite a few here. But I gave it my best shot and actually fairly heavily marked up my book. I went back after each chapter and wrote down the main points of each, that spoke to me. It was well worth the effort and I believe it is a book that will be a yearly read. Some of the points made were ones that I really needed to hear, and I think a yearly reminder will be very helpful. Here are a few that spoke to me. (More than a few!)
  
  “Courage is needed not to do radically important things, but to live out a quiet ordinary life, with integrity and with love.”
  
  “Courage begins with an actual cry for help.”
  
  “The church is freed from acting as rulers and judges of the outside world. The church should look to itself.” 1:Cor 5:12-13
  
  “Don’t be pulled into conformity. No one will please everyone all the time.”
  
  “We don’t need to find approval from the crowd around us, or the crowd inside our head.”
  
  “Whatever mission in life God has called you toward - God will usually see to it that most of what he does through you is invisible to you. Sometimes it will even look like you are failing.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  J. Alfred

  Here is a story: I was talking to a guy who is a pastor in a certain denomination and brought up Russell Moore as a topic of conversation. Russell Moore, I was told, is a Bad Guy. He is Off the Rails, though the details on this were unclear. (Here are some specifics, from Moore's perspective:
  https://religionnews.com/2021/06/02/r... )
  After reading this book-- and keeping the other books I've seen by him in mind-- I affirm the following: If Russell Moore is a Bad Guy, I want to be Bad too. If he's Off the Rails, the Rails are stupid and not helping us live like Christians.
  This book is a long meditation about the prophet Elijah, and how his story goes from dramatic victory, to embarrassing lonely terror, and how that was God's way of getting his, and our, attention. It's about the difficult act of standing up against our friends and social groups for their, and our, own good. It's about not letting our pursuit of acceptance become an idol.
  Here are some quotes:
  
  What it means to "stand" for Christ, is not, it turns out, to evacuate our internal lives of all fear, or to humiliate our enemies with incontrovertible "winning," but instead to live out in our very lives the drama of the cross.... The courage to stand is the courage to be crucified.
  
  We find safety in the herd, and we just choose different herds. The problem is that much of what is actually defined as courage in Scripture--the bridling of the passions, kindness, humility-- is seen as timidity, while many who feel themselves "courageous" because they "tell it like it is" are really just seeking to be part of their protective tribes, even when those tribes are boisterous and angry.
  
  Notice how, inside and outside the church, people are loudly denunciatory of the evil behavior of their political, religious, or cultural opponents, and yet, when the same thing is true of their allies, they are muted or even attempt justification for the behavior. Whenever this is the case, you can be sure that these people don't believe in morality or truth or justice, but in their allies. They believe in power. They believe in themselves. That's not the way of Christ.
  
  Preach, brother Moore.
  
• 
  Andy Garcia

  This is a work of hope. For me, it’s one of those books that is exactly what I needed at exactly the right time. This book helped rip down more idols in my life, and usher in the courage only found in Christ.
  
  
  “We walk not around that valley but straight through it. That’s how we learn to be brave. The demons are there in the dark, that’s true, but they are not the only things chasing you. Goodness and mercy are too.”
  
  
  “Those who are walking by the Spirit, on the other hand, feel scared, and probably seem to be those lacking in courage, because they have given up on their internal resources or external resources; they scream out in desperation “Abba! Father!” (Rom 8:12-17) Courage begins with an actual cry for help. That’s why Elijah was driven to the wilderness, and that’s why you will be.”
• 
  Jonathan

  The Courage to Stand is ostensibly a meditation on the life of the prophet Elijah. But after a year in which courage was in such short supply, it was a balm to me. Possibly a right place/right time book, but this was just what I needed to read.
• 
  Michelle Kidwell

  The Courage to Stand
  Facing Your Fear without Losing Your Soul
  by Russell D. Moore
  B&H Publishing Group (B&H Books, Holman Bibles, B&H Español, and B&H Kids)
  B&H Books
  Christian | Religion & Spirituality
  
  
  
  I am reviewing a copy of The Courage to Stand trough B&H Publishing Group and Netgalley:
  
  
  
  
  We live in a time of fear, and cowardice, there are some that are anxious and withdrawn, seeking to hide from whatever has them scared. Others mask their fear by resorting to bullying and quarreling. The root of all our fear if that we lose our belonging in whatever tribe in which we seek safety, the fear that we might have to stand alone.
  
  
  
  
  
  We face a crisis not of clarity but a crisis of courage. It is not so much that we lack knowledge but the fact that we often lack courage, despite the fact that Jesus told us to stand with courage. Standing with courage does not mean we will be fearless though, it means that we will know how to face our fear and keep walking toward the voice that calls us homeward. The courage we find through the Gospel, through his word is nothing like the Bravado we find in an an anxious world.
  
  
  The call to courage is terrifying, because it is a call to be crucified.
  
  
  
  
  
  Russell D Moore calls readers of The Courage to Stand to a Christ-empowered courage by pointing the way to real freedom from fear—the way of the cross. The way of the cross means integrity through brokenness, community through loneliness, power through weakness, and a future through irrelevance.
  
  
  
  If you are looking for a powerful read on what courage is and what it isn’t, I highly recommend The Courage to Stand!
  
  
  
  I give The Courage to Stand five out of five stars!
  
  
  
  Happy Reading!
  
• 
  Panda Incognito

  I have greatly enjoyed Russell Moore's work for years, and this book was no exception. Like his other books, this is vivid, biblical, and counter-cultural. This book focuses on the biblical story of Elijah, and Moore draws parallels between Elijah's situation and struggles that Christians face today. He emphasizes that the answer to Elijah's fears and despair lay ultimately in Christ, and helps his readers consider the ways that the cross of Christ transforms their fears, their terror of not belonging, their shame, the complexities of community, and the emotional baggage that we all carry from living in a broken world.
  
  Although this book uses Elijah's narrative as a consistent thread throughout, each chapter addresses a different topic. Some chapters will resonate more with some readers than others, but they all share vivid insight into the Christian life, pushing back against secular and culturally Christian ideas of power and success to align with the Bible's vision for faithfulness. I particularly appreciated Moore's reflections on the seduction of power, and admire how he was able to write about issues related to our current cultural moment without naming names or sharing specific examples that would become swiftly dated. He focuses on the heart issues and spiritual dynamics behind twisted and contorted ideas of success and power, and writes with the past, present, and future in mind, instead of only focusing on specific controversies or political issues facing the church today.
  
  Vivid and Personal
  
  This book is like a memoir at times, while at others, it focuses on biblical teaching. I think that Moore did an excellent job of using personal stories to illustrate his points, and was deeply moved by his writing in early chapters about the spiritual crisis that he experienced as a teenager because of the hypocrisy that he saw in the American church at large and in Southern culture. He writes with great vividness and personal vulnerability, and because of the way that his writings have impacted my life, it was especially meaningful for me to learn about his struggles and appreciate God's faithfulness to him.
  
  As always, Moore writes with great humility, sharing about his foibles, weaknesses, and regrets, and something else that I noticed in this book is that he often refers to conversations with other Christian public figures without mentioning their names. He does this so naturally and smoothly that I didn't pick up on it at first, but then I realized that he was deliberately choosing not to name-drop, focusing on the message of the conversation rather than trying to impress the reader with his personal connections. I really appreciate this. It wouldn't have been wrong for him to name which speaker or author had shared this important point with him or encouraged him in a particular way, but his choice to keep these people anonymous reflects well on his character and priorities.
  
  Conclusion
  
  Unlike some of Moore's previous books, this does not have a tightly focused thesis, but "The Courage to Stand" is full of meaningful insights and reflections that can encourage Christians as they navigate an increasingly polarized world and grapple with disappointment over their personal fears and weaknesses. Moore's vulnerability and piercing insight into both earthly and spiritual realities are a gift to the church, and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to review this. It is a wonderful book, and even though I finished it a while ago, I have continued to remember and reflect on different points that he made through his vivid personal stories. I would highly recommend this to fans of Moore, and to any Christian who would appreciate encouragement on a variety of different timeless and ever-pertinent issues.
  
  I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Curtis

  This book was absolutely fabulous! I only became familiar with the work of Russell Moore with the release of the fabulous short film from the American Enterprise Institute Faith and Public Life Initiative. Feel free to check out the film here:
  https://faithandpubliclife.com/flon/
  
  This book covers some topics that are so important in contentious days like today in the western world. How do Christians find the courage to stand with integrity in an increasingly secularism society, even when it may be not only hard to do so as Christians, but also when doing so means going against the grain of popular Christian stances that are not centered on the Gospel of Jesus Christ? This book offers so many helpful ideas that are well worth the time. I will try to put a lot more of my thoughts onto words in this review when I have more time to write. In the meantime, please get a hold of this book and prepare to be inspired.
• 
  Michelle

  The Courage To Stand is a Christian church leadership book by author Russell Moore.
  
  The Courage To Stand features the biblical Elijah. The Courage To Stand made me think of a famous quote. “Do it afraid.” When readers are afraid to step out in faith, do it afraid. Sometimes we have to walk through fear to get to where Jesus is.
  
  The Courage To Stand is a well-written deep book. I will need to re-read The Courage To Stand to really grasp it. The Courage To Stand also features thoughts of Christ as any good Christian book should.
  
  I recommend The Courage To Stand to church leaders.
  
  God Bless and Thank You for reading.
  
  Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
• 
  Zak Schmoll

  A lot of my favorite authors are putting out new books lately. Russell Moore highlights an important dimension of courage. It is easy to have courage when you are Elijah staring down all the prophets of Baal. These mountaintop experiences are not the measure of true courage. Courage comes after those high points. Courage comes when we are in the cave like Elijah, afraid to stand but knowing that God is calling us to do so. Bearing our cross takes courage. We often times associate courage with being fearless, but courage is shown most powerfully when we are at our lowest and need to rely on God for all of our strength.
  
  This is a worthwhile and encouraging read.
• 
  Mariale & Pieter Dros

  It's a great book. I came to know Russell Moore through the release of this book. His honesty and writing style really cultivate me. In the Courage to Stand he talks about courage using the example of the life of Elijah in a way i have never considered before. With a healthy biblical view he helps the readers to face their fears and pointing them to Jesus Christ which is the one who gives the Courage to Stand. He exposes "issues" that we are facing every day as a Christian in the midst of our church community that so many people dont dare to talk about and sadly these issues have hurt so many resulting in either abandoning their churches or even the faith. Throug his beatiful testimony Russell Moore encourages you to keep walking with integrity keeping your eyes on Jesus. I totally recommind this book as a study book in churches or small groups.
• 
  Christine

  I'm not terribly familiar with Dr. Moore, to be honest with you. I know him by reputation, but this book was my first careful encounter with this work. I appreciated his honesty, transparency, and analysis of ongoing situations. There is certainly much to consider in matters of courage these days, and Dr. Moore touches on several of them. There were times when the jumps from one chapter to the next didn't flow for me as much as I would have liked, but the conclusion did bring it all together very nicely. The book is certainly Scripture-filled and thought-provoking. A solid read.
  
  I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley to enable me to provide an honest review.
• 
  Spencer Williams

  An excellent book, with much that is needed for thoughtful, honest Christian life against a backdrop of confusion about what it means to be a Christian, especially against the backdrop of pervasive "means-to-an-end" Christianity - Moore points back to the reality that our lives *are* the means, and the end is Christ Jesus...not the other way around.
  
  The one weakness of this book is its persistent attachment to the framing device of Elijah at Mount Horeb -- while that's a good reference point for *some* of the principles in this book, others leave an impression of being squeezed into the suitcase of this story, jammed just a bit noticeably out of shape to fit in there.
• 
  Paola Barrera

  I found this book delightful and profoundly helpful. Dr. Moore’s words are theologically robust and deeply human and honest. His treatment of fear and courage, against the backdrop of Scripture, left me feeling the type of courage that isn’t based on mere emotion, but more like that quiet peace, Paul described, surpassing our understanding. In other words, the book helped me understand courage outside of myself. Because so often, we are afraid and can't find it in ourselves to not be. But the notion shifts when seen as something found in God, given by him. Grateful for this book!
• 
  Stephanie

  Really a 3.5. It’s solid and good, but not my favorite Russell Moore. It has more of his characteristic humor about his southern Baptist upbringing I felt myself chuckling at. It felt more like a group of essays—how the story of Elijah encourages us to Be bold in different circumstances— vulnerability, loneliness, the future, etc…the church is having a crisis of fear, he asserts, and Elijah gives us encouragement. It is an interesting frame, but I couldn’t connect with some of the chapters. My favorite was the last chapter by far.
• 
  Anna

  “Courage is needed not to do radically important things, but to live out a quiet, ordinary life, with integrity and with love”
  
  
  I love Russell Moore’s honest, heartfelt writing, the insights he brings out from the life of Elijah, and how he weaves quotes and ideas from literature and secular writers while still being thoroughly grounded in Scripture. My Word of the Year for 2021 is Courage, and this book was a blessing to read.
• 
  Christina Mansfield

  I sincerely appreciate and respect Dr. Moore’s voice and his ministry—but this isn’t the clearest or most compelling of his books. In reading it, you can tell that the subject matter is deeply personal to him, and he certainly followed his own advice after it was published. (While there is some veiled foreshadowing, this book does not explicitly mention any of the drama that unfolded with the SBC in 2021. Too classy for that.)
• 
  Andrew Wolgemuth

  So timely, so wise. We need courage...we need the right type of courage, courage based on the right things and utilized for the right ends. In this age of vigilante social media justice, vociferous hot-taking, and politicized everything (including faith), this is a book I needed and will go back to.
  
  (full disclosure: the literary agency I'm a part of represents Dr. Moore and this book)
• 
  Mark Youngkin

  Russell Moore is one of the great Christian authors of our time. Using the stories of Elijah in the Old Testament and the Transfiguration in the New Testament he presents an ultimately hopeful cases for facing earthly fears confidently. Highly recommended.
• 
  Scott

  For some reason, I had a hard time getting through this book. Don't get me wrong; I love Russell Moore, and all of his books have been excellent so far. There wasn't anything wrong with the content of this book, but it felt different in style than his other works.
• 
  Esther

  I didn't finish this book because it needs to go back to the library. I read half of it and skimmed the rest.
  I appreciate Moore's study of courage through the life of Elijah. I do wish the book had been better organized/broken down into sections within each chapter.
• 
  Hope Boothe

  A book for this time (or my time) of life. A guide for sorting out church life today. If you’re wandering or wondering about the next step in your faith journey, this book encourages you in that expedition. Step out and be courageous!
• 
  Laura S

  This book has a good message. Courage is not about being fearless, but of facing daunting scenarios and trusting that God will provide the strength we need to make it through. “Integrity is not a matter of ‘holding it together’, but of breaking down the right way-and then standing back up.”
• 
  Brandon

  It’s the writing. So jumbled and scatterbrained. There’s not rhythm or flow. You jump from one thought to another to another and it’s hard to know where you started and how the threads connect. More snack than substance.
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  Kyle McC

  This was an enjoyable book. Russell Moore writes about his own life and the lives of believers as we wrestle with questions of courage, integrity, cowardice, humility and cross-bearing. Cleverly throughout the book Moore overlays the story of Elijah. This was a nice way of enhancing the personal anecdotes of Moore’s experience as a young man and in ministry.
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  Andy Febrico Bintoro

  This is not a motivational book about how to stand tight in the storm, this is more on a book which try to answer the existence of us in this world.