This article may be more for the young people, but also is of value to the older ones. I remember as a young man standing on a swinging bridge over looking the tug fork river in southern West Virginia. There were about five other young men standing with me looking down at the river, and one of the young men said, “Do you believe I will jump from this bridge?” “Of course not!” we said, You are to much of a chicken to do that.” He stood there for a while looking down at the river from the bridge, which was about fifty five feet above the river. The river was only two or three feet deep with one or two foot of sand at the bottom of it. He stood there about four or five minutes. He began to slowly walk out to the edge of the bridge and then jumps to the river below. That would have been one time I would have been honored to be called a chicken.

Both Jesus and Paul used common, everyday illustrations to teach lessons to their fellow man. The term “chicken” is used to belittle and slur one as a weakling who refuses to fall in line with the crowd. It takes real strength to stand for ones convictions against the crowd. Have you ever been called a chicken because you would not follow the crowd? God has said that we should not follow a multitude of people to do evil. (Exodus 23:2 ) It is pleasing in the eyes of God to refuse evil. And, what an honor to be called a chicken for the cause of Christ. Jesus says,”Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matt 5:11-12 ) It takes more strength and courage to be a Christian than it does to be anything else.

In all seven letters to the churches in Asia, Jesus emphasized on overcoming. He said, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Rev 3:21 ) It would be better to be called a chicken than to give in to evil. Adam was too weak to say no. Adam was a great lexicographer. He gave names to birds and beasts, but he could not say no. In substance the Old Serpent said, “Go on and eat don't be chicken.” It took less strength to eat than it did to refuse it, so they gave in to the temptation of following the path of least resistance.

Demas was someone else that took the road of least resistance. Paul said, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.” (2 Tim 4:10 ) The world says, “Everybody else is living this way. Enjoy yourself, Demas, don't be chicken.” Now, Demas knew better, but he showed weakness and James says that when he became friends with the world that he became the enemy of God. (James 4:4 ) Everybody has someone who is trying to get him to hear the voice of right, whether it be mother and father – teacher or friend. Pilate was one that would not hear the voice of right. His wife tried to get him to hear the voice of right. “When he set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.” But, he refused. Pilate was afraid some would say, “Pilate is chicken.”

There are times that it is an honor to be called chicken for the cause of Christ. Just because some may call you chicken does not mean you are. We need to be strong enough to go against the chicken-crowd weaklings. I would like for us to notice Vashti in the book of Esther. She was asked to expose herself to a drunken crowd by the King, but she refused. Her “no” meant dethronement and banishment. No doubt, some may have said go ahead Vashti, don't be chicken! But she counted the cost and refused. She was not chicken. (1 Tim 2:9 ) Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego chose to burn rather than to bow down to a heathen god, they were no chicken. (Dan 3:4-6 , 17, 18) We should pray for strength to overcome the temptations of ourself, of others, and of the world. (Matt 16:24 )