Sometimes being neutral is just apathy. We claim neutrality, because we don’t want to take the time or effort to care. We don’t want to find out too much, because knowledge comes with responsibility. We’ve seen how information has impacted others. We’ve seen anger, stubbornness, and what seems to be futile arguments, and we don’t want any part of it. But when we avoid the negativity that can come with familiarity with an issue or situation, we also miss out on possible compassion.
We can’t be invested in every single issue, but when we’re faced with it, we need to explore it with honesty and sensitivity. We will always be able to find someone who knows more or is more passionate about an issue than we are, but that doesn’t mean we refuse to ask questions and make a difference in a small way.
As we pursue truth and justice, we might see a couple different perspectives, and we feel we’re neutral, but perhaps it’s just that we stand on some shared ground. We still care. We still listen. We’re not apathetic. We need to check out motivation behind claiming neutrality. If it’s the easy way out, we’re not taking responsibility. Apathy is dangerous, unstable ground on which to stand.
This is a very real struggle these days as we live in a society that is so polarized. Having an opinion, and voicing it, can sadly come with terrible repercussions. Sometimes I choose to remain publicly neutral in an effort to maintain peace, but more often I have given my opinion when I’m passionate about an issue- and let the chips fall where they may.
I think one of the things that is important is that we do indeed continue to struggle and wrestle through that discernment process. When we begin to see a situation as a lost cause before we get involved, we in a sense, lose hope. We can’t project how God is leading us to get involved on to others. But we can encourage each other to seek and follow Him before our own preferences.