Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 11
June 4, 1959
NUMBER 5, PAGE 13a

The Sin Of Neutrality

L. A. Strauffer, Bardstown, Kentucky

In Obadiah 10,11 it is said, "For the violence done to thy brother Jacob, shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever. In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that stangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them." In these verses God is condemning the nation of Edom for remaining neutral. When the foreigners came to oppress the people of God (Jacob i.e. Israel) Edom was not guilty of helping the evildoers bring violence upon Israel, but neither did she present herself to help Israel wage war against the oppressors. Edom simply "stood on the other side" and watched her brother receive violence from the hands of his enemies. Edom, in other words, took a neutral position. Even though Edom was neutral God said, "thou wast as one of them." Edom was just as guilty as if she had helped the enemies oppress Israel.

There are times when a Christian can take a neutral position and times when he cannot. For example, when something is a matter of human judgment or expediency one can take a neutral position. To illustrate, take for example the question of whether the congregation where you worship wants to use individual containers or just one container for the fruit of the vine, On this question you could be neutral, because which ever one you used you could still worship God acceptably. But, on the other hand, suppose the congregation where you worship wanted to introduce a mechanical instrument to use in addition to the singing. In this case you could not "stand on the other side" (be neutral) and allow such to be done without uttering a voice of disapproval, because the word of God condemns such when it specifies singing. (Col. 3:16.) On matters involving a divine principle you cannot be neutral.

There are brethren today who have and still do oppose and wage war against mechanical instruments of music in worship, premillennialism, the missionary society, etc., but when it comes to the benevolent societies they oppose it, but are not willing to wage war against it. They are trying to "stand on the other side" and let others do the fighting. Remember, as God told Edom, "thou wast as one of them", He will tell you the same when you face him in judgment. Even though you do not help the enemy you are guilty if you do not help the people of God wage war against the enemy.