The Danger of Passivity – Responding to God's Call with Action and Obedience
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In this episode of the Get Up and Go Breakfast program on Radio Cape Pulpit, host Anton Brink speaks with Dr. Peter Hammond about the dangers of passivity, inactivity, and neutrality in the Christian life – and the importance of responding to God's call with action and obedience.
Dr. Hammond begins with the story of King David in 2 Samuel 11:1: "In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David remained in Jerusalem." This moment of passivity – staying behind when he should have been on the battlefield – led to David's disastrous fall into sin. Dr. Hammond warns that apathy is a guaranteed pathway to spiritual disaster – whether it's ignoring God's commands, failing to act when the Bible speaks, or staying passive when God sends us out.
He emphasizes that sins of omission (the good we fail to do) are just as serious as sins of commission. He cites James 4:17, Matthew 25, and Jeremiah 48:10 ("A curse on him who is lax in doing the Lord's work") to show that God expects us to act, not just talk.
Dr. Hammond shares his personal testimony of responding to God's calls with enthusiasm: when he first heard the gospel, he committed his life to Christ; when volunteers were needed, he volunteered; when he heard of persecuted Christians in Mozambique, he prayed and then acted – smuggling Bibles into the war-torn country in 1982. He encourages listeners to respond to needs and to the commands of Scripture with obedience and faith.
He closes with powerful encouragements:
"It is far better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."
"You only have one life, and it will soon be passed. Only what's done for Jesus Christ will last."
"The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you."
His message is clear: Christ's last command (the Great Commission) must become our first concern – we must not waste our lives on lesser things.
Dr. Hammond begins with the story of King David in 2 Samuel 11:1: "In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David remained in Jerusalem." This moment of passivity – staying behind when he should have been on the battlefield – led to David's disastrous fall into sin. Dr. Hammond warns that apathy is a guaranteed pathway to spiritual disaster – whether it's ignoring God's commands, failing to act when the Bible speaks, or staying passive when God sends us out.
He emphasizes that sins of omission (the good we fail to do) are just as serious as sins of commission. He cites James 4:17, Matthew 25, and Jeremiah 48:10 ("A curse on him who is lax in doing the Lord's work") to show that God expects us to act, not just talk.
Dr. Hammond shares his personal testimony of responding to God's calls with enthusiasm: when he first heard the gospel, he committed his life to Christ; when volunteers were needed, he volunteered; when he heard of persecuted Christians in Mozambique, he prayed and then acted – smuggling Bibles into the war-torn country in 1982. He encourages listeners to respond to needs and to the commands of Scripture with obedience and faith.
He closes with powerful encouragements:
"It is far better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."
"You only have one life, and it will soon be passed. Only what's done for Jesus Christ will last."
"The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you."
His message is clear: Christ's last command (the Great Commission) must become our first concern – we must not waste our lives on lesser things.
