Active Faith: Overcoming Toxic Passivity in Surrender

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, we are called to live lives of significance, driven by a God-given desire to make a difference in the world. This is not egotism but a divine calling. However, one of the greatest obstacles to living a life that truly matters is what I call "toxic passivity." This is a state where we misuse the concept of surrender, leading to inactivity and a lack of initiative. Historically, this was seen in movements like quietism, which promoted spiritual maturity through passivity. But true surrender to God involves active engagement with the world, using the energy, creativity, and accountability that God has given us.

We must be wary of using spiritual language to justify inaction. For instance, in organizations or personal lives, we might avoid addressing real issues by claiming to wait on God's timing, when in fact, we need to take responsibility and act. The story of the man in the flood illustrates this well; he ignored practical help, expecting divine intervention, and suffered the consequences. God has given us a "little kingdom" where we are to act wisely and responsibly.

True spiritual surrender is not about passivity but about offering our best efforts to God while letting go of our ego. It's about balancing action with trust in God. We must avoid the extremes of passivity and willfulness, recognizing that grace is not opposed to effort but to earning. Our goal is not to engineer a stress-free life but to act with the grace God provides, moving forward each day.

Let us be proactive, using our talents and resources creatively to serve others. Whether it's offering a parking space or using our time and money to help someone, we are called to stretch ourselves, learn, and grow. By doing so, we make each day count, living out our God-given purpose with a surrendered yet active spirit.

Key Takeaways:

1. Toxic Passivity vs. True Surrender: True surrender to God involves active engagement, not passivity. We are called to use our God-given energy and creativity to make a difference in the world, rather than waiting passively for divine intervention. [01:50]

2. Responsibility in Action: We must take responsibility for our actions and address real issues in our lives and organizations. Avoiding action under the guise of waiting on God can lead to missed opportunities and unresolved problems. [02:48]

3. Balancing Action and Trust: Genuine spiritual surrender involves balancing our best efforts with trust in God. We should be willing to act and expend energy while surrendering our ego and trusting God with the outcomes. [06:47]

4. Grace and Effort: Grace is not opposed to effort but to earning. We are called to act with the grace God provides, moving forward each day with purpose and intention, rather than seeking a stress-free life. [08:50]

5. Living a Life of Significance: We are called to live lives of significance, using our talents and resources creatively to serve others. By stretching ourselves and growing each day, we fulfill our God-given purpose. [09:54]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Drive for Significance
- [00:42] - Toxic Passivity
- [01:18] - Misuse of Surrender
- [01:50] - Active Engagement
- [02:20] - Spiritual Language and Inaction
- [03:28] - Story of the Flood
- [04:43] - Taking Action in Your Kingdom
- [05:20] - Right and Wrong Surrender
- [06:19] - Passivity vs. Willfulness
- [07:00] - Cult of the Will
- [08:03] - Poem Reflection
- [08:50] - Grace and Effort
- [09:24] - Living with Purpose
- [10:13] - Closing and Contact Information

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 3:17-19 - This passage is alluded to in the sermon when discussing the consequences of sin and the need to take action, such as pulling weeds ([05:09]).
2. James 2:14-17 - This passage supports the sermon’s emphasis on the importance of action in faith, as faith without works is dead.

Observation Questions:
1. What does the sermon describe as "toxic passivity," and how does it differ from true spiritual surrender? ([01:18])
2. How does the story of the man in the flood illustrate the misuse of spiritual language to justify inaction? ([03:28])
3. What examples from the sermon highlight the importance of taking responsibility in our "little kingdom"? ([04:43])
4. How does the sermon use the concept of grace in relation to effort and action? ([08:50])

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon suggest we balance action and trust in God without falling into the extremes of passivity or willfulness? ([06:47])
2. In what ways does the sermon challenge the idea that waiting on God’s timing can sometimes be an excuse for inaction? ([02:48])
3. How does the sermon’s interpretation of Genesis 3:17-19 encourage us to take practical steps in our daily lives? ([05:09])
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between grace and effort in living a life of significance? ([08:50])

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a situation in your life where you might be using spiritual language to justify inaction. How can you take a proactive step this week? ([02:48])
2. Identify an area in your life where you have been passive. What is one practical action you can take to address this passivity? ([03:28])
3. Consider your "little kingdom"—your sphere of influence. What is one responsibility you can take more seriously to make a positive impact? ([04:43])
4. How can you balance offering your best efforts to God while also surrendering your ego and trusting Him with the outcomes? ([06:47])
5. Think of a talent or resource you have. How can you use it creatively to serve someone else this week? ([09:54])
6. Reflect on a recent decision where you waited for divine intervention instead of taking action. How might you approach a similar situation differently in the future? ([03:28])
7. Choose one aspect of your life where you can apply the principle that grace is not opposed to effort but to earning. What specific action will you take? ([08:50])

Devotional

Day 1: Active Engagement in Faith
True surrender to God involves active engagement, not passivity. It is a call to use the energy, creativity, and accountability that God has given us to make a difference in the world. This means moving beyond the misuse of surrender that leads to inactivity and instead embracing a life of significance. Historically, movements like quietism have promoted spiritual maturity through passivity, but true spiritual surrender is about offering our best efforts to God while letting go of our ego. We are called to balance action with trust in God, avoiding the extremes of passivity and willfulness. [01:50]

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life have you been passive, waiting for divine intervention? How can you actively engage with these areas today, trusting God with the outcomes?


Day 2: Taking Responsibility in Action
We must take responsibility for our actions and address real issues in our lives and organizations. Avoiding action under the guise of waiting on God can lead to missed opportunities and unresolved problems. The story of the man in the flood illustrates this well; he ignored practical help, expecting divine intervention, and suffered the consequences. God has given us a "little kingdom" where we are to act wisely and responsibly. By taking responsibility, we align our actions with God's purpose and make a meaningful impact in our spheres of influence. [02:48]

"For each will have to bear his own load." (Galatians 6:5, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific issue in your life or organization that you have been avoiding. What practical steps can you take today to address it responsibly?


Day 3: Balancing Action and Trust
Genuine spiritual surrender involves balancing our best efforts with trust in God. We should be willing to act and expend energy while surrendering our ego and trusting God with the outcomes. This balance is crucial to living a life of significance, as it allows us to engage with the world actively while maintaining a posture of humility and dependence on God. By avoiding the extremes of passivity and willfulness, we can navigate life's challenges with grace and purpose. [06:47]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you balance taking action and trusting God in a current situation? What steps can you take to ensure your efforts align with His will?


Day 4: Grace and Effort
Grace is not opposed to effort but to earning. We are called to act with the grace God provides, moving forward each day with purpose and intention, rather than seeking a stress-free life. This means embracing the challenges and opportunities that come our way, using our talents and resources creatively to serve others. By doing so, we make each day count, living out our God-given purpose with a surrendered yet active spirit. [08:50]

"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on an area where you have been seeking a stress-free life. How can you embrace grace and effort in this area, trusting God to work through you?


Day 5: Living a Life of Significance
We are called to live lives of significance, using our talents and resources creatively to serve others. By stretching ourselves and growing each day, we fulfill our God-given purpose. This involves being proactive, offering our best efforts to God, and letting go of our ego. Whether it's offering a parking space or using our time and money to help someone, we are called to make a difference in the world. By doing so, we live out our faith with a surrendered yet active spirit, making each day count. [09:54]

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." (1 Peter 4:10, ESV)

Reflection: What specific talent or resource can you use today to serve someone in need? How can you creatively apply this to make a difference in their life?

Quotes


you were made to count you have a drive for significance that was placed within you by god himself you want the world to be a different place because you lived on it and that's not egotism that's a real good thing from god and what i want to talk with you about today for a few moments is what might be called toxic passivity and one of the great obstacles to living a life that really matters [00:00:19]

we know that we depend on god in our lives uh i was reminded of that over these last few days we invited folks to send in prayer requests and i was so moved by the ones that came to me we depend on god i can't and that attitude of surrender is fundamental to the spiritual life it is the first step we never get beyond it sometimes it can actually get misused and become a different orientation or posture altogether passivity [00:00:56]

i am to surrender my ego to god i am asked for his will to be done in my life but god gives me energy god gives me a body god gives me spirit god gives me the ability to do things to initiate create to be accountable is part of god's will for my life that i am actually to seek to follow and so we are called to be tremendously creative responsible accountable people [00:01:52]

and sometimes people use spiritual language or lead spiritual lives in ways that do not acknowledge this i think about an organization on the east coast relief organization where they have real problems with the leader that was there but they were very passive didn't address leaders leadership issues that was a train wreck finally everybody recognized it that leader left and then it took them forever to find another leader [00:02:20]

there's a great flood coming man's in his house and the law enforcement people come and say sir bad flood coming we'll help you get out of here no no no god said he'll take care of me and the flood comes and it's getting worse and he has to go upstairs because the basement the bottom floor is flooded and somebody comes by in a rowboat we'll save you no no god will take care of me [00:03:43]

now i cannot save myself there are all kinds of things for myself that i am unable to do but at the same time god has given you a little kingdom and if there is something you are able to do within your little kingdom then the basic ideas you do that if there are weeds in your yard don't pray oh god deliver me from these weeds go pull the weeds [00:04:39]

and the idea of genuine spiritual surrender is that it's combined with offering my best energy my best creativity my best ingenuity to god on the one hand so it's not toxic passivity at all i'm willing to walk i'm willing to expend energy i look forward to doing that in life and yet at the same time i surrender my ego [00:06:35]

my goal is not to try to engineer a certain particularly a pleasant or stress-free experience my goal is to act as god gives me the grace to act grace is not opposed to effort dallas will it often say it's opposed to earning and very often god's grace comes to me in the form of the power and the courage to take the action that god wants me to take [00:08:28]

i will use whatever energies god gives me whatever talents whatever time whatever creativity today let somebody else have the parking space today use my time at some point in a creative way to serve somebody else use my money at some point in a creative way to serve somebody else today do something stretch just a little bit learn something read something have a conversation with somebody today [00:09:26]

offer god a strong creative initiating surrendered ego crucifying will make the day count [00:09:54]

i can't control any other person i'm not in charge of outcomes i can't he can i think i'll let him i think i will turn my life and my will over to him [00:09:11]

let us then be up and doing with a heart for any fate still achieving still pursuing learn to labor and await [00:08:57]

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Transcript
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