Why Passive Men Struggle Spiritually

Reject the Lies
Written By Bryan Mowrey

The Quiet Epidemic of Passivity

Most spiritually struggling men are not openly rejecting God.

They are drifting.

Passivity is one of the defining spiritual problems facing young men today. Many are not hostile toward faith. They simply avoid responsibility, postpone growth, numb themselves with distraction, and slowly disengage from intentional spiritual formation.

This drift often happens quietly.

Men stay busy but disconnected. Entertained but spiritually weak. Informed but undisciplined. Present physically but absent emotionally and spiritually.

Culture encourages this kind of passivity constantly.

Endless scrolling. Constant entertainment. Pornography. Gaming. Comfort. Avoidance. Isolation.

None of these things initially feel dangerous. But over time they slowly shape men into spectators instead of builders.

Why Passivity Is Spiritually Dangerous

Passivity is dangerous because what men refuse to lead eventually begins to decay.

The first example of passivity in Scripture appears in Genesis 3.

Adam stood silently while the serpent deceived Eve. He observed instead of intervening. He stayed passive instead of protective.

That same instinct still exists today.

Many men avoid:

  • hard conversations

  • spiritual leadership

  • accountability

  • repentance

  • responsibility

  • intentional discipline

Passivity often disguises itself as:

  • exhaustion

  • uncertainty

  • fear

  • comfort

  • “waiting for clarity”

But over time, avoidance becomes bondage.

The Role of Distraction in Spiritual Drift

Modern culture has perfected distraction.

Young men today carry endless entertainment in their pockets. Silence feels uncomfortable. Reflection feels unfamiliar. Many never stop long enough to confront what is happening internally.

Distraction becomes a refuge from:

  • shame

  • insecurity

  • fear

  • loneliness

  • responsibility

But what numbs pain also numbs growth.

This is one reason pornography is so spiritually destructive. It trains men toward secrecy, passivity, fantasy, and escape rather than courage and responsibility.

Social media can function similarly. Instead of building a meaningful life, many men consume the appearance of other people’s lives.

The result is spiritual stagnation.

Why Responsibility Produces Spiritual Growth

One of the clearest themes throughout Scripture is that men grow through responsibility.

God forms men through:

  • work

  • obedience

  • sacrifice

  • leadership

  • discipline

  • endurance

David learned courage while protecting sheep. Joseph learned wisdom through hardship. Timothy grew through discipleship and responsibility. The disciples were formed through daily obedience to Jesus.

Spiritual maturity is not developed through comfort alone.

Paul tells Timothy to “train yourself for godliness.” No man drifts accidentally into strength.

Final Encouragement

Passivity may feel normal in modern culture, but it is not the life God designed men to live.

You were not created to drift through life distracted, disconnected, and spiritually asleep.

You were created to become:

  • dependable

  • courageous

  • disciplined

  • spiritually awake

  • trustworthy

Formation begins when men stop hiding from responsibility and start responding to the voice of God.

Growth is possible. Freedom is possible. Strength is possible.

But no man becomes strong accidentally.

These themes are explored throughout Built for More: A Blueprint for Young Men in a Confused Age by Bryan Mowrey.

Whether you are searching for clarity, purpose, identity, or direction, this book was written to help young men reject cultural confusion and live with conviction.

Bryan Mowrey

Bryan Mowrey has served as the Lead Pastor of Jubilee Church in St. Louis, Missouri, for more than two decades. Jubilee is a multi-site church of more than 1,200 people across four locations with a strong commitment to forming the next generation of leaders. Bryan also serves as Team Leader for the Confluence Family of Churches, a network devoted to planting and strengthening churches throughout the Americas and in Nepal.

Much of Bryan’s ministry centers on developing leaders and helping young men and women grow into mature followers of Jesus. Having been deeply invested in by older men early in his own life, Bryan has carried that tradition forward by mentoring young men and helping them grow in faith, character, and leadership. Many of the men he has mentored are now serving in church leadership.

Through Jubilee’s Gap Year program, he has also worked closely with young adults navigating the transition into adulthood and calling.

Bryan lives in St. Louis with his wife, Rachel. They have been married for 25 years and have three children—two girls and a boy. Bryan wrote Built for More for young men like his own son who are stepping into manhood—and for daughters who benefit when the men around them do the same.

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