As sons and daughters of God, we have a duty to stand up and do something. It’s not time to be passive. It’s time to actively live out of our relationship with our loving Father. Nowadays, it’s popular to be caught in passive Christianity. We go to church and even invite our friends to church, but when it comes to issues of racism or injustice we stay in our seats in silence waiting for someone else to make the first move. We wait for others to speak up because it’s too uncomfortable to say something. We passively watch others speak out and do something as we sit in comfort. Now more than ever, we need to be active. We need to actively pursue justice, have the hard conversations about racism, speak truth over the lies, and walk in love.

Passive Christianity is choosing comfort over inconvenience

¹⁷ If anyone sees a fellow believer in need and has the means to help him, yet shows no pity and closes his heart against him, how is it even possible that God’s love lives in him?
¹⁸ Beloved children, our love can’t be an abstract theory we only talk about, but a way of life demonstrated through our loving deeds.

1 John 3:17-18 TPT

As I learned about the racism that’s been happening in our country for hundreds of years, my heart broke. I felt overwhelmed, burdened, and at a loss for words. However, I knew I wouldn’t stay silent. It was something I could’ve easily done. I could stay silent on social media and hold back from talking about racism with my family and friends. Or I could easily post on Instagram, but do nothing in real life to fight this injustice. I believe the here and now is a historical moment. It’s a moment that we will look back on and either see our passivity or the action we took. We will either see change in our hearts or the complacency we chose to stay in.

These verses in first John show us the way Jesus sees passive Christianity. He despises it. He doesn’t want followers who sit back and watch injustice happen. God wants sons and daughters who will pursue justice, righteousness, peace, and love. The love we walk out in, “can’t be an abstract theory we only talk about, but a way of life demonstrated through our loving deeds.” (1 John 3:17-18) During this cultural moment, will you choose a way of life that speaks empowerment of all people? Will you choose a way of life that stands up for equality? Will you choose a way of life that isn’t only non-racist, but anti-racist? Passive Christianity would tell you to sit down and stay quiet. It’s comfortable. Yet, we are called to stand up and actively pursue justice.

It’s better to do something, then doing nothing at all.

Active Christianity calls us to do something. It calls us to speak out with boldness and authority. Specifically, in this cultural moment active Christianity calls us to stand up and fight for the Black community. Too many of us are standing on the side and watching because we are too fearful that we will say the wrong thing or offend too many people. When we look at Jesus, He offended countless people. He wasn’t afraid to bring division or actively pursue justice. Jesus wasn’t afraid to stand up for truth even if others would look down on Him for doing so.

It’s time for a shift in the church. No more passive Christians watching the world go by. It’s time to rise up and fight against injustice, bring the lost home, speak out truth, and share the love of God in word and deed. Jesus is calling us to walk by His side and work alongside Him. He’s asking us to let go of the fear of man and follow Him in boldness and active faith. Jesus is leading us to bold faith and relationship with Him. Will you leave behind passive Christianity and walk with Jesus?

What will you do in this time of injustice?

Now is the time to rise up. We must take time to learn, actively pursue justice, have the hard conversations with our Black friends, and rebuke racism when it shows up. What will you do during this time of immense injustice? Will you let go of passivity and actively follow God into darkness? Will you stand up for those who are experiencing injustice?