“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” Matthew 12:30 NLT
Neutrality is a term used to describe non-support to one side or another in a quarrel or war. Many countries will used the status of neutrality in a conflict or war between nations. Individuals will stay out of arguments between two people, not taking sides, if it doesn’t involve them. Being neutral in many cases is wise and may have its advantages, but being neutral in cases which are clearly between good and evil is not only unwise, but impossible for the Christian. The Word of God gives us understanding between right and wrong, good and evil, what God approves of and disapproves of, and what is a sin and not sin. There can be no neutrality in what God has already established in His Word as wrong and sinful. There can be no neutrality between good and evil.
Jesus in one of His many confrontations with the Pharisees, this time accusing Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Satan, said to them in Matthew chapter 12, “For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.” (Mt. 12:29) The demons were cast out by the power of God. The Kingdom of God had come entering into Satan’s domain where Jesus proclaimed and demonstrated His power over Satan. The demons under Satan’s control were cast out by Jesus. Scripture reveals the crowd’s reaction to Jesus’ healing of the demon-processed man, “The crowd was amazed and asked, ‘Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?’” (Mt. 12:23) The crowd had a choice to make. Do they side with the Pharisees who claimed Jesus cast out the demons with Satan’s help, or do they believe Jesus?
The same choice is presented to us today. Do we side with Satan or with Jesus? It might seem obvious that naturally we would side with Jesus. But do we really in all circumstances always side with Jesus? When we are under the watchful eye of our neighbors and co-workers, or when we fear of being excluded, do we side with the Lord, or do we make the choice most convenient or make no choice at all staying silent? The people in Jesus’ day had mounting pressure upon them by those in authority, especially the religious authority, to see it their way or be considered an outcast in society. Christians today have pressure and the stigma of rejection presented upon them if not adhering to the cultural changes in the world.
There were many who caved to the pressure of the Pharisees years ago, but there were also those who did not. May we be like those early followers of Jesus who sided with Him, taking a stand and proclaiming there is NO NEUTRALITY BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL.
Word for the Soul 