Failure to engage, occupy, or boldly proclaim the sovereign power of God and the coming of His Kingdom may seem like a valid way to duck and cover or stay above the fray when opposition comes your way. But refusal to resist or engage an evil enemy virtually guarantees that you will be overcome.

Captivity to passivity! There’s a chasm of difference between peace and passivity. Christians are prone to overlook this distinction and default to passivity which is false peace. The sleeping church has largely succumbed to passivity as a way of peace, or at least avoidance of conflict.

But passivity is the enemy’s secret weapon to neutralize God’s people.

They claim, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace!  Jeremiah 6:14

Passivity is the state or condition of being passive, inactive, quiescent or submissive. It is characterized by inertia—the tendency of a body to remain in a given state of motion or rest until disrupted by some outside force. Lack of initiative, submission to external powers, and acceptance of opposition without resistance are hallmarks of passivity. 

Passivity has nothing to do with the peace that Jesus gives. His peace is shalom—the peace that passes all understanding and circumstance includes total safety, wellbeing, prosperity and right relationships that come only from right alignment with God. 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

The nation of Israel experienced no peace apart from full engagement with the person and purposes of God. When Israel moved in obedience to God for victory over the enemy, then His people experienced true shalom.

You keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on you, because he fully trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

Jesus came to war against evil, to fight for justice, to contend for His Ekklesia, and to put to death the sinful nature, once and for all. Our weapons are not carnal, but spiritual for the tearing down of strongholds.

The Living Word mobilizes, activates and energizes.
Passivity holds back and lets others act instead.

The Living Word calls to action and engagement.
Passivity refuses to act, resist or engage.

The Living Word moves forward and inspires feats of boldness.

Passivity retreats from conflict and yields to the will of others. 

The Living Word calls us more than conquerors through Him who loves us.

Passivity lulls us into a false sense of security–Chill out.

The bold figures of the Old and New Testaments bear witness to men and women of action, who feared God more than man and were willing to lay down their lives for others.

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will save it. Luke 9:24


Those stuck in passivity are sitting ducks.
Those who overcome enter the shalom of God.
True faith is not passive but active.


Where are you experiencing captivity to passivity?

Where is Holy Spirit nudging you to action?

What is your next step of obedience?