Active or Passive?

(by Bill Stevenson)

The following is from Webster’s 1828 Dictionary with emphasis of mine indicated by italicizing:
Active
ACT'IVE, a. [L. activus.]

1. That has the power or quality of acting; that contains the principle of action, independent of any visible
external force; as, attraction is an active power; or it may be defined, that communicates action or motion,
opposed to passive, that receives action; as, the active powers of the mind.

2. Having the power of quick motion, or disposition to move with speed; nimble; lively; brisk; agile; as an
active animal.

Hence,

3. Busy; constantly engaged in action; pursuing business with vigor and assiduity; opposed to dull, slow,
or indolent; as an active officer. It is also opposed to sedentary, as an active life.

4. Requiring action or exertion; practical; operative; producing real effects; opposed to speculative; as,
the active duties of life.

Passive
P`ASSIVE, a. [L. passivus, from passus, patior, to suffer.]

1. Suffering; not acting, receiving or capable of receiving impressions from external agents. We were
passive spectators, not actors in the scene.

The mind is wholly passive in the reception of all its simple ideas.

God is not in any respect passive.

2. Unresisting; not opposing; receiving or suffering without resistance; as passive obedience; passive
submission to the laws.

Passive prayer, among mystic divines, is suspension of the activity of the soul or intellectual faculties, the
soul remaining quiet and yielding only to the impulses of grace.

Action
AC'TION, n. [L. actio.]

1. Literally, a driving; hence, the state of acting or moving; exertion of power or force, as when one body
acts on another; or action is the effect of power exerted on one body by another; motion produced. Hence,
action is opposed to rest. Action, when produced by one body on another, is mechanical; when produced
by the will of living being, spontaneous or voluntary.

2. An act or thing done; a deed. The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him are actions weighed. 1
Samuel 2.

3. In mechanics, agency; operation; driving impulse; effort of one body upon another; as, the action of
wind upon a ship's sails. Also the effect of such action.

4. In ethics, the external signs or expression of the sentiments of a moral agent; conduct; behavior;
demeanor; that is, motion or movement, with respect to a rule or propriety.
1
6. In oratory, gesture or gesticulation; the external deportment of the speaker, or the accommodation of his
attitude, voice, gestures, and countenance to the subject, or to the thoughts and feelings of the mind.

What is passive thinking?

What is active thinking?
What is active listening?
What is passive listening?
What is passive praying?
What is active praying?

For each the following, are you active or passive? Explain how.
1. sports playing
2. box or computer game playing
3. sports watching
4. watching a mystery or action movie
5. romance
6. community service
7. church fellowshipping before and after services and in church social meetings
8. church work days
9. worship
10. listening to church leaders’ prayers
11. listening to sermons
12. Bible study discussion group

Consider what these two Bible passages indicate about active Christianity:
Jude 3 & 20-23
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation,
it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you
that you should earnestly contend for the faith
which was once delivered to the saints.”
“But you, beloved,
building up yourselves on your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Spirit,
keep yourselves in the love of God,
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire,
hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

1 Corinthians 15:54-58
“But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Which of the twelve activities in the above “active or passive” exercise do you need become more active in?