Skip to Main Content
Women of the ELCA
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
  • Ministry & Action
    • Discipleship
    • Justice
      • Human Trafficking
      • Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
      • Racial Justice Advocacy
      • Racial Justice Advocacy Network resources
      • Domestic Violence
    • Membership
    • Stewardship
      • Thankofferings
      • Faithful Friends
      • Katie’s Fund
      • Gift Planning
    • Special Initiatives
      • Rachel’s Day
      • Raising Up Healthy Women & Girls
    • Scholarships
      • Lutheran laywomen
      • Lutheran Ordained Ministry
  • Resources
  • About
    • History
    • Executive Board
    • Staff
    • Get Involved
  • Events
  • Belong
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
« Back to All Daily Grace

On being bold

2.18.2014
|
Daily Grace

Bold Women’s Day—observed annually on the fourth Sunday of February—celebrates all Lutheran women who have acted or are acting boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ. Martin Luther is known to have weighed in on boldness. While “sin boldly” is the popular Luther reference, Luther’s statement is often not understood in its full context.

Luther was writing to his friend, Philip Melanchthon, in 1521, admonishing him to “preach a true and not a fictitious grace; if grace is true, you must bear a true and not a fictitious sin,” as one translation puts it. Luther reminds Melanchthon that God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Luther recognized that we are sinful in this life even as we respond to our baptismal call to discipleship. “Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong,” says another translation, “but let your trust in Christ be stronger” yet and rejoice in Christ who conquers sin, death and the world. We Lutherans have a theology that gives us great freedom to be risk takers. Our ability to act boldly is rooted in our baptism and continually enabled, empowered and supported by God’s grace.

Be bold, take risks on account of the gospel, but believe more boldly still in Christ Jesus; that’s what Luther tells us. And that’s what Women of the ELCA celebrates through Bold Women’s Day: women who are bold, women who take risks on account of the gospel, women who believe more boldly still in Jesus Christ.

This is adapted from a resource, Celebrating Bold Women’s Day. Suggestions for ways to observe Bold Women’s Day are available. Today we remember Martin Luther, renewer of the church, who died on this day in 1546.

Share this post

Sign up for Daily Grace

Daily Grace is an on-the-go companion for your journey, offering a faith reflection every day. Encounter God’s extravagant, boundless and often surprising grace by signing up for a daily email message.

Back to home

8765 W. Higgins Rd.

Chicago IL 60631

800-638-3522

[email protected]

Stay In Touch

Sign up for the WELCA Newsletter

Explore WELCA
  • Ministry & Action
  • Daily Grace
  • Resource Library
  • Events
  • Blog
  • News
  • About WELCA
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Photos
Explore Publications

Bold Cafe

A Lutheran perspective for women of Christian faith or any woman who is interested in how faith relates to the issues facing women today.

Gather Magazine

A mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith.

Cafe Podcast

Subscribe to our podcast:

Click to subscribe

© Copyright 2025 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
© Copyright 2025 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.