Episode 269: I’m Talkin. . .Neutral

I’m talking, episode 269 for June 11th, 2023.

This is Joel from the I’m Talking microcast, where I share my thoughts on a topic that has piqued my interest this past week.

This week we’re talking neutral.

This week I thought, even though neutral is not an uncommon word, I still wanted to see what the definitions were.

There were two that I liked and I think fit for what I’m trying to do in this microcast.

The first says, not supporting either side in a conflict.

I think that is, in general, the thing that I was thinking.

But the second definition is quite scathing.

It says, having no strongly marked characteristics.

And I thought, wow, that really points to a person who has no opinion, who has no backbone, who remains neutral in the face of all opposition.

And I’m not sure that’s exactly where we want to be.

Now, in the worldview, being neutral is not something that people are readily willing to accept.

They want you to choose a side.

They want you to have an opinion.

But the problem is, they want you to have their opinion.

They don’t want you to have a different opinion.

If you have a different opinion than what they think is the correct opinion, then you are vilified for that.

You are put down.

You are maybe ignored.

You are, at best, ignored.

At worst, you are made to feel useless and not part of society.

And therein lies the challenge for those of us who call ourselves Christians.

As Christians, we just cannot remain neutral.

That is not an option.

I think in the Bible, Jesus says, you’re neither hot nor cold, and you are lukewarm, and I want to spit you out of my mouth.

And isn’t that so true?

We like hot liquids.

At least I do, coffee and those kind of things, or cold liquids, water, soda, whatever that may be.

But rarely do we drink tepid.

Rarely do we consume just about warm.

And when we do, we’re not all that thrilled with it.

And another analogy that I thought of is that of a car.

And when a car is in neutral, you’re not going anywhere.

It may even feel like you’re going backwards because all of the other cars are in drive and passing you by.

And so, if you were to hold the cars in drive still, then it would look like the person in neutral is going backwards.

And that is not a stance that we can take.

So how do we as Christians have an opinion that we know is different than the world, and yet still do, as Paul says, as much as it is up to us, live at peace with all men?

How do we have a difference of opinion and have a strong basis in truth from God’s Word, hold that ground, and yet let people know that they are loved?

How do we teach the world that disagreement does not equal hate, that differences of opinion does not equal shame or unacceptance or whatever other word you want to put in that sentence?

How do we as Christians love people to the extent that our opinion, and not remaining neutral, makes them feel comfortable?

I wish I had a solid answer for you, but the one thing I do know, the one thing I am certain of is that we cannot remain neutral.

We must stand on the truth of God’s Word.

We must stand for what is right.

And in doing that, not to lord it over anybody, not to hit people over the head with the Word of God, but to love people to recognize His truth.

And only then are we able to live sold out for God’s glory.

Until next week, this is Joel from the I’m Talking Microcast.