The QUIETIST GOSPEL
Part 5 of 8 on Recognizing & Resisting False Gospels
Hiding in the Bunker
During a brutal war, a man found refuge in an underground bunker. Hidden deep in the hills, stocked with supplies, it was safe. While the world above burned, he stayed tucked away, whispering, “At least I’m not adding to the chaos.”
He heard cries in the distance—families fleeing, children begging for help, a wounded soldier calling out. He paused. Sometimes he even prayed. But he never opened the hatch. “It’s dangerous out there,” he told himself. So he stayed—safe, but silent. Preserved, but powerless.
That’s what the Quietist Gospel looks like. It reduces Christianity to spiritual escape: Don’t engage. Don’t get involved. Just wait for heaven. It emphasizes safety over sacrifice, retreat over mission, preservation over proclamation.
Why Quietism Appeals to Us
For weary believers, retreat is tempting. The world feels overwhelming—politics are polarized, culture is hostile, and public witness often comes with a cost. It’s easier to keep faith private, tucked safely away from conflict.
But disengagement has consequences. Research shows that Christians are retreating from public life. The Public Religion Research Institute (2018) reported that only 36% of young evangelicals said it was very important for Christians to be involved in social and political issues. Many simply don’t see public witness as part of discipleship.
While disengagement may feel safe, it quietly robs the church of its calling. Salt in a shaker doesn’t preserve. Light under a basket doesn’t shine.
Why the Quietist Gospel Fails
The quietist gospel misunderstands what salvation is for. Jesus didn’t rescue us just to bunker down until heaven—He sent us into the world as His witnesses.
In John 17, Jesus prayed not that His followers would be taken out of the world, but that they would be kept from the evil one:
“As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world” (John 17:18, ESV).
The true gospel doesn’t remove us from the world—it redeems us for mission in the world. The bunker might feel safe, but it’s not faithful.
The Healthy Church Steps Into the World
A church poisoned by the quietist gospel may look peaceful. Sermons stay safe. Conversations remain private. Engagement with culture is avoided. But this “peace” is sterile—it produces insulated Christians who never share the hope of Christ beyond the sanctuary walls.
A healthy church encourages believers to live out faith in public: in neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and cities. It doesn’t embrace culture uncritically, nor does it withdraw fearfully. Instead, it engages with truth and love, embodying Jesus’ call to be salt and light (Matt. 5:13–16).
The world doesn’t need believers who prioritize personal safety—it needs engaged believers who are willing to embrace risk for the sake of the gospel. May that be said of us.
Grace & Peace,
Mike
References
Public Religion Research Institute. (2018). Exodus: Why Americans are leaving religion—and why they’re unlikely to come back. PRRI.
Wax, T. (2011). Counterfeit Gospels: Rediscovering the Good News in a World of False Hope. Moody Publishers.
