So what is courage?

Cour’age: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. – Merriam-Webster

This week current NBA player Jason Collins announced he was gay. Collins is 34 years old and a 12 year veteran of the NBA. The response in the media has been overwhelming in support of Collins’ courageous decision to “come out” with his sexuality. Several current and former players tweeted or announced their support, citing Collins’ courage (see link here). One player called for the commissioner of the NBA, David Stern, to make sure Collins has a contract next year. Another journalist called him a hero. Even the president called to say Mr. Collins to say he was impressed by his courage. Courage was the theme seen over and over again in the media yesterday about Collins’ announcement.

It begs the question, what is courage? Webster’s dictionary definition is listed above. The words are simple enough to understand. But what does courage look like? Firemen are called courageous for running into a burning building to fight a fire and save others. Soldiers are people of courage because they risk their lives to protect others and their country. The policemen in Boston during the recent terrorist attack were people of courage because they faced dangerous circumstances to help people after the initial attack and were in danger as they tracked down and caught the terrorists responsible. Martin Luther King Jr is considered a courageous man because he fought for the civil rights of African Americans against overwhelming odds and negative forces which eventually took his life. All of these examples involve men and women who faced difficult situations that could cause them harm, injury, or loss of favor or support.

This brings me back to Collins. He was praised as courageous for announcing his sexuality. His announcement was surely one made with some trepidation and fear because he didn’t know how his announcement would be received. Then again there are gay singers, athletes, actors, actresses, comedians, politicians, and businessmen all over the country. These men and women have already been accepted and praised for their sexuality, so Collins had to have some idea of how his announcement would be received. Also there is no indication Collins’ career will suffer because of his declaration. Last year Collins averaged 1.1 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. He hardly played last year as a member of the Boston Celtics. He is 34 years old and his career is nearly over as a heterosexual or homosexual athlete. Therefore there is no concern he will not have a job next year due to his decision to “come out”. His decision may even help his career as some NBA team could hire him simply for publicity and good will. There is little concern his social life will be impacted since several years ago Collins ended his 8 year relationship with his fiancée. Quite possibly the publicity he will receive will increase his bank account and social profile. Yet despite all of this Collins is praised for his courage. What exactly did Collins risk? What exactly will he lose?

Courage is the “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty” You could say that every person acts with a degree of courage every day. It takes courage to go to work, make sales calls, parent your children, ask a person out on a date, ad infinitum. But people who are praised for their courage are those who risk something, who withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. The soldier who faces bullets, the fireman who fights fire, the policeman who confronts violence, or the businessman who faces the loss of a career for an ethical decision all take risks and thereby show courage. A person who declares he is gay shouldn’t be elevated to the same degree of courage as others.

So a professional athlete who will lose little financially, professionally, or socially, announces he is gay and the world praises his courage. Yet little to nothing is said or reported of the government official who has become a “whistleblower” about the events surrounding the attack on Benghazi, who took a far greater professional risk to “come out” against the government. Neither is the Christian praised for his courage for “coming out” against gay marriage as contrary to the Word of God or is the missionary praised who dies in the Middle East to tell another person about the love of Jesus. Nor are husband and wives praised for their courage who faithfully love each other and refuse to get divorced despite the temptation when times are hard. Schoolteachers who work for years in difficult areas or environments are seldom praised on the cover of magazines for their courage and perseverance. We, as a culture, are praising people for their sexuality, but ignoring men and women who exhibit a higher degree of courage in their lives, (and sometimes deaths).

We have lost our way as a culture. God help us! We praise what is trivial, wrong, or minor, but ignore that which is serious, right, and severe. I don’t know Jason Collins and I have nothing against the man personally. I expect it was difficult for him to “come out of the closet” about his sexuality. However, I wonder how saying “I’m gay” is a great exercise of courage when the world pats you on the back for your decision. I submit it takes far greater courage to say, “I’m a Christian and I believe Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven”. Is it courage if there is no risk? Is it courage if there is no danger? Is it courage if the majority applauds your actions? Is it courage if you don’t suffer loss? The way in which we use our words ultimately reveals what we value in our culture and what we think is important and lasting. In the case of this story, our culture does not look very promising.