Locations & Times

Let’s be honest, men: passivity is in our nature, and it’s been there since the start of time. Though the serpent approached Eve first, Adam did nothing to intervene. He heard the lies, saw the danger, yet chose to stay silent—and even worse, join the unholy rebellion. Adam didn’t protect, lead, or fight. He just gave in. 

 When God came looking for him, His first words weren’t the question of why. They were a question of where: “Where are you, Adam?” (Genesis 3:9).   Here’s the truth: God already knew where Adam was. He was in the garden, hiding. God was calling Adam out from his hiding place. Adam was physically present, but spiritually passive, and if I’m honest, I’ve seen passivity in myself more times than I care to admit.  

Passivity is when you know you need to have a tough talk with your wife but tell yourself you’ll do it tomorrow. You feel the urge to pray with your kids, but you’re convincing yourself it will be awkward. It’s when you see something broken in your church, family, or community, and you think.  It’s not my place to take care of it; someone else will handle it.  

I went through a season recently where I wasn’t showing up for my family in the ways that mattered most. On the surface, it might have seemed like I was doing fine, but honestly, I wasn’t. I attended my daughters’ sports games, made sure my wife and kids were financially taken care of, and told them “I love you” every single day. But beneath it all, I was disengaged.  

Most evenings, I would come home from work, exchange a few words, and then retreat to my bedroom. I wasn’t helping with the household needs or engaging in meaningful conversations with my family. Worst of all, I wasn’t leading my family spiritually. I had let my role as a husband and father become more about checking boxes than truly being present. I wasn’t praying with my wife or actively pointing my children toward God’s truth, and I wasn’t taking responsibility for the spiritual atmosphere of our home. Looking back, I see I had been physically present with my family, but emotionally and spiritually absent. This is exactly the kind of passivity God calls men to reject.  

Rejecting passivity doesn’t mean we have to have everything figured out. It means we take responsibility for what God has placed in our hands. Rejecting passivity isn’t about perfection; it’s about being present. It’s about choosing to act even when it’s easier to hide, to speak truth when silence seems safer, and to take responsibility instead of shifting blame.  

Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 16:13–14 serve as the guiding principles: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”  

We live in a world in need of men willing to step up. Will you?  

Our wives need husbands who will pray with and for them. Our children need fathers who will demonstrate faith through their actions. Our churches need men who serve without waiting to be asked. Our communities need men who will stand up for what is right, even when it’s unpopular.  

God is still calling men today: “Where are you?”  

Men, let’s answer God’s call. Let’s embrace the roles He has given us. Let’s be men who pray with our families, serve in our churches, and stand up for truth. 

Don’t wait until it’s convenient—because it never will be. The time to reject passivity is now.  

If this encouraged you, check out more articles from our Flatirons Spiritual Formation Team for practical tools, encouragement, and ways to grow in your faith and leadership. Click here.