The Problem with Passivity

Many people struggle with actively pursuing spiritual growth: they are passive and not active. Allowing life to just happen or, reacting to others rather than taking the initiative, they are taking a passive role. Passivity is described as submissive, powerless, not working or operating, unresisting and receptive. Passivity yields no interest or return. If a tree does not bear fruit, then passivity is a result or symptom to a root cause, or greater issue like fear or denial.

Passivity and dependency don’t mix: Passive people who also have dependency needs often have difficulty growing. They desire and value relationship and support, which is a good thing, but they seek it only for connectedness, comfort, or safety. They are less able to use relationships as the fuel to solve problems, take risks, or execute responsibilities. Some people with passive, dependent tendencies will initially come alive when they join a growth group, because they receive support for, and acceptance of, their struggles. They become attached in very good ways to the members of the group, however the closeness becomes an end to itself. They do not make significant progress in confronting problems, learning new ways of relating, repenting of old ways, and so on. They use the love they receive to protect themselves from life rather than to engage fully in life.

Passivity in the Bible: God addresses passivity as a problem, not a virtue. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the master gives money to three servants before leaving town. Two servants actively invest their money while the third passively buries his in the ground. Upon returning to town, the master rebukes the third, saying, “Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (Mathew 25:27-29). The master was hard on the third servant because he received no return on his investment. God gives us time, talent, and treasures in life to glorify Him in many ways, and He holds us responsible for them: “But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him” (Hebrews 10:38).

Passivity is not faith: Some Bible teachers believe that doing your part is a danger to spirituality. They believe that when we are active, we are not trusting God and that it is far better to wait on Him often quoting “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). While we are to trust God and believe in His promises, we are also to exercise our faith: “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead” (James 2:17) and also “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). The Bible does teach that there is a time to stop striving and to listen to His voice. While the Bible is full of stories of people who encountered God in numerous and miraculous ways, these same people were also very active, involved, and working. Their lives were full of effort and work. They were people who experienced the holiness and mysteries of God, had deep relational connections with others, and lived actively in the real world.

Relationship is the priority: Relationship is always more important than task. That was the message Jesus told Martha when she was too busy and complained about Mary (see Luke 10:38-42). Activity is not bad in itself: it is bad when it takes the place of relationship rather than serving the purpose of the relationship. How is passivity slowing growth in your important relationships?