Author Ava Pennington
Author Ava Pennington
Quiet Quitting Christianity

Quiet Quitting Christianity

 

If you spend any time on the internet, you’ve probably heard about “quiet quitters.” This is a relatively new term describing a very old practice. Quiet quitters do the bare minimum on their job. Just enough to get by, but not an ounce of effort more than that. These employees are mentally and emotionally disengaged.

So what does this have to do with you and me and our relationship with Christ? Everything!

Most of us know at least one person who made a profession of faith as a child and was committed to living out their faith. But over the years the draw of the world caused them to give the bare minimum to their relationship with Jesus. Now they’re living with one foot in the world and their loved ones are wondering what happened.

Or what about the person who was hurt by other Christians, either individually or by a toxic church environment? They’ve disconnected themselves from the body of Christ. Content with listening to sermons on podcasts or television, they hold other Christians at arm’s length, lest they be hurt again.

Then there’s the busy, successful, over-committed Christian who has said yes to a dozen different ministries. How does this person meet the definition of a quiet quitter? They’re spread so thin that their heart isn’t in any of those ministries. They’re doing the minimum in each because they don’t have time to deeply commit to any one thing—much like the circus trick of spinning ten plates on poles simultaneously. The spinner races from plate to plate desperately trying to keep them all going at once, but never truly committed to any one plate because he’s too fatigued.

Finally, there’s the Christian who attends church every week and has a quiet time in God’s Word daily, because that’s what “good Christians” are supposed to do. But they’re going through the motions out of obligation instead of unreserved devotion.

Did you see yourself—even a little—in any of these examples? Sometimes it’s due to a temporary season, a recent hurt, or the lure of temptation. But temporary seasons can turn into lifelong habits that keep us trapped.

 

Does the Bible Address Quiet Quitting?

So what does the Bible say about quiet quitting? Of course, the term is not used in Scripture, but the concept is there. Consider these references from the ESV translation:

  • Deuteronomy 6:5 – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
  • Psalm 37:5 – “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”
  • Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”
  • Proverbs 18:1 – “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.”
  • 2 Timothy 2:15 – “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
  • Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
  • Philippians 3:13 – “One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.”
  • Revelation 2:3-4 – “I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.”

Will you and I commit to kicking out even the possibility of quiet quitting in our walk with Christ? It won’t be easy, especially if those temporary seasons have already morphed into long-term habits. But if we ask for help from the Holy Spirit and from brothers and sisters in Christ, God is faithful to draw us to back to our first love: Him!

 

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8 Comments

  1. Sharon

    Oooooo. I love that you have a little something for everyone. In a culture that shuns pain and suffering, being committed to a church body is a negotiable. One that is too easily dropped for one reason or another. But the part of overcommitment. Now that’s the danger for those of us who are involved.. Even if it looks as if something won’t get done if you don’t jump in and do it, pray carefully about your involvement. What does Christ want you to do with Him? (And that takes spending time in prayer and study with Him!). Great article, Ava! I love your insights. PS I fly out tomorrow to see Tim!!! So excited!

  2. Yvonne Anzolone

    This basically sums up the state of the Church not just in the USA but in the Western Hemisphere.
    Today we, in Christ, need to rebuild the altar in our home and heart. We must repent for our nation and ask God to turn people back to Him.

  3. Nancy E. Head

    You really do touch everyone with this message, Ava. Much to ponder here.

  4. Melinda Viergever Inman

    It’s so easy for harmed and disillusioned believers, to step away from church and from reading the Word. The church has let so many people down, for it is peopled with sinners like us, that it often feels like a tidal wave of those exiting from the church. As believers it is imperative to be present, to not allow ourselves to be swept out in the next wave, to be thoroughly committed to Christ and to His church.

  5. Melissa Henderson

    We must not fall into a time of quitting when sharing the love of God. Our words and actions may be the way someone learns about Christ. 🙂

  6. Jessica Brodie

    Thank you so much for this excellent post, Ava. Our salvation is not something to be taken for granted, yet we often behave like we don’t care about it, or it’s not a priority. We should be on fire for the Lord. I love that scripture, that we should “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” May we ALL do this!

  7. Yvonne Morgan

    I loved your thought and description of this problem. Many do only enough to ensure their eternity. I think many of us will be disappointed when we see the life we could have had if we gave our all for Christ

  8. Karen Friday

    What a sobering, yet needed message, Ava. I loved your insight here about the various seasons of Christians you described and how our walk with Christ can become clouded by the world or religious motions.

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