Contrarian by Nature, Christian by Name?
It Doesn’t Work
Contrarian by Nature, Christian by Name?
It Doesn’t Work
There’s a scene in a late-night cartoon made for adults where a smug character is called out. He prides himself on being bold and principled, but someone finally tells him the truth: “You’re not brave—you’re just a contrarian.” He wasn’t standing for anything. He was just standing against whatever was popular.
That stuck with me. Because I see it in the church too.
I see Christians—well-meaning or not—who confuse being loud with being courageous. They think opposing culture makes them righteous. They think preaching hard sermons to already faithful brethren makes them bold. They think stirring up division online is a sign of strength. But when you look closer, you realize: they’re not taking a stand like Jesus did. They’re just being contrary.
Real courage looks like Jesus. It grows from Scripture and reveals itself through humility, consistency, and love. Many trying to be bold fall into the contrarian trap, mistaking noise and outrage for conviction. And while the posturing may look courageous from a distance, it rarely reflects the heart of Christ. Standing for truth in a dark world requires Christians to act with real courage—and Scripture teaches clearly what that actually requires.
Real Courage Looks Like Jesus
The standard for courage isn’t how confrontational you can be—it’s how Christlike you are. And Jesus didn’t build His identity around what He opposed. He built it on submission to the Father. He didn’t lash out to make a point. He taught, He served, He wept, He healed, He endured.
When Jesus rebuked, it was out of deep conviction—not pride or anger. When He confronted sin, it was to redeem, not to humiliate. He was strong, yes—but His strength was tethered to purpose and truth, not to reaction.
That’s the kind of courage Christians are called to. The kind that comes from knowing God’s Word, loving people, and acting with clarity and compassion. Courage that reflects the image of Christ—not just the opposite of whatever the world is doing.
Too often, we see people trying to be brave by being abrasive. They confuse imitation of Jesus with inversion of culture. But discipleship isn’t about being the opposite of the world—it’s about becoming like the Savior.
And becoming like the Savior means identifying the root sins that drive counterfeit courage—pride masquerading as passion, self-righteousness dressed up as zeal, and vanity disguised as boldness.
The Contrarian Trap
There’s a trap here, and more of us are falling into it than we want to admit.
Some Christians have built an entire identity on what they’re against. Their social media feed is just a stream of outrage, sarcasm, and condemnation. They’re not feeding sheep—they’re throwing stones. And they’ll tell you it’s courage. But it’s not. It’s performance.
You can always spot the contrarian. He’ll rage against whatever his circle hates and praise whatever it loves. But when the circle shifts, so does he. The issue isn’t righteousness—it’s relevancy. He’s not led by conviction. He’s led by the algorithm.
And worst of all, his boldness is usually aimed at his own brethren. I’ve heard sermons that sound like Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” preached at people who show up every Sunday and serve with sincerity. Instead of encouragement, they’re beat down. Instead of being reminded of their standing in Christ, they’re made to question it.
But Second Timothy 4:2 gives us a fuller picture of what preaching should look like: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Reprove means to confirm what is right—remind them of what they’ve already obeyed. Rebuke warns against drifting from that path. Exhort lifts them up, encourages them, and gives them strength to keep going.
There’s a place for confrontation. But if your rebuke never includes reproof or exhortation, you’re not preaching—you’re punishing. And if your preaching is more about punishing than persuading, you’re not leading souls—you’re hurting them.
Scripture speaks to this plainly. "Open rebuke is better than secret love" (Proverbs 27:5). Truth cuts, but only so it can heal. If there is no healing in your rebuke, it isn’t biblical. It’s personal.
What Courage Actually Requires
So what does true courage require?
It requires Christlikeness in word and action. It requires speaking truth, but speaking it in love. It means calling out sin when necessary—but doing it in a way that builds, not just blasts. It means addressing error, but doing so with care for the souls involved—not just the applause of your followers.
It also means knowing when silence speaks louder than outrage. Jesus stood silent before Herod. He didn’t perform to prove Himself. He let truth speak for itself. That’s not weakness. That’s wisdom.
Courage also requires discernment about what we post and how we engage. Let’s be honest—some Christians online are just throwing bombs. They post memes that wound instead of heal. They stir division and cloak it in righteousness. They attack the brethren as if they’re doing God a favor, ignoring the damage they leave behind.
And let’s not forget the virtue signaling. You’ve seen it—content that doesn’t help anyone grow, but sure does make the poster look faithful. It’s hollow. It’s shallow. It’s performative piety. And it’s the opposite of what we see in Jesus.
We need more Christians who will take the time to teach, to share, to challenge, yes—but to do so in a way that reflects the heart of the Lord. That’s courage. And that’s rare.
Conclusion
So here’s the question: are you brave—or are you just contrary?
Because real courage looks like Jesus. It’s not about standing against everything. It’s about standing in Him—firmly, faithfully, and lovingly.
It’s easy to fall into the contrarian trap. To oppose whatever’s trending. To aim your fire at the church instead of helping it grow. But Jesus didn’t do that. And neither should we.
If your courage doesn’t look like Christ, then it isn’t courage at all.