Why the Church Cannot Stay Silent
Table of Contents
Passivity is knowing that something is wrong, yet choosing to do nothing about it. It’s is not simply ignorance—it’s awareness without action.
Take, for example, the shooting of Charlie Kirk.
Murder is evil—always has been. But the murder of someone in a public setting is not only tragic, it’s outrageous. It reflects just how dark and twisted our world has become. And for people to sit idly by, unmoved and unwilling to act, reveals a lack of care and concern that humanity has always needed. Perhaps now more than ever.
So where has the church been while the world around it has erupted into chaos and self-destruction? Too often, I would venture to say, the church has been passive—content to observe from the sidelines rather than step into the fight. Yet this goes against the very nature of God. The church was never called to shrink back in fear or apathy. It was called to stand firm, to be salt and light, to confront evil with truth and love.
That’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t avoid conflict for the sake of comfort. He didn’t turn a blind eye to injustice. He confronted hypocrisy, called out corruption, healed the broken, and gave voice to the voiceless. He acted.
But what does passivity really mean to me? It’s more than just sitting back. It takes on different forms—emotional, relational, and spiritual—and each is dangerous in its own way.
1. Emotionally: Passivity is Numbness
When we choose passivity on an emotional level, we choose numbness. Instead of allowing ourselves to feel grief, anger, or compassion, we silence those emotions in the name of comfort. It’s easier to scroll past tragedy, shake our heads, and say, “That’s just the way the world is,” than to let ourselves be brokenhearted.
But scripture tells us that a hardened heart is dangerous. Ephesians 4:18 speaks of those who are “darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.” Emotional passivity dulls our compassion until we no longer feel the weight of sin around us.
Yet Jesus calls us to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15), to allow our hearts to be tender. Emotional engagement is not weakness—it’s the spark that leads to action.
2. Relationally: Passivity is Indifference
Passivity also shows up in our relationships. When someone suffers injustice and we say nothing, it communicates indifference. When a friend is hurting but we remain silent, it sends the message: “You’re on your own.” Over time, this erodes trust and creates distance.
Proverbs 31:8–9 instructs us to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Silence is not neutral. It is, in fact, a failure to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Think of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37). The priest and Levite who passed by the wounded man were passive. They saw the need, recognized the pain, yet did nothing. Their passivity was not only unloving—it was sinful. Only the Samaritan stopped, acted, and demonstrated true love.
Relational passivity fractures community and isolates people. Active compassion builds trust and reveals the heart of Christ.
3. Spiritually: Passivity is Disobedience
Most importantly, passivity is a spiritual problem. Spiritually speaking, passivity is not merely laziness—it is disobedience. God never called His people to blend into the culture, to sit quietly while darkness advances. He calls us to be a light in the darkness (Matthew 5:14–16).
James 4:17 makes it plain: “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” Passivity is not harmless—it’s sin.
Jesus Himself modeled the opposite of passivity. He overturned tables in the temple when God’s house was being corrupted (Matthew 21:12–13). He spoke boldly against Pharisaical hypocrisy. He laid down His life, actively choosing obedience to the Father even unto death. Christ was anything but passive.
For the church to remain passive is to deny its mission. We are called to embody courage, to proclaim truth, to defend the vulnerable, and to live with bold conviction.
Conclusion: The Time to Rise
If we call ourselves followers of Jesus, then passivity can no longer be our posture. Emotional numbness, relational indifference, and spiritual disobedience are not options for the people of God. Silence and inaction only give darkness more room to grow.
Now is the time for the church to rise—not in rage, but in boldness; not in hatred, but in truth and love. The world doesn’t just need our words. It desperately needs our courage, our presence, and our unwavering commitment to reflect Christ in action.
As 1 Corinthians 16:13 urges us: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”
The opposite of passivity is action rooted in love. And that is exactly what the world needs now.
Father,
Forgive me for the times I have chosen comfort over obedience, silence over truth, and hesitation over trust. Expose the places in my heart where passivity has taken root, and replace them with courage, compassion, and conviction. Teach me to act when You say move, to speak when You give words, and to wait only when it is truly Your will. Fill me with the power of Your Spirit so that my life reflects bold love, active faith, and unwavering obedience. May I never allow passivity to steal what You have called me to. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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