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o f i t h c s » ! u n c o m m i t t e d
by Dr. Vance Havner
T h e h e a d s of the so-called “ neutral” nations that claim to be aligned with neither East nor West gathered in Belgrade for a highly-advertised conference. Before the conclave got under way Khrushchev stole the show by announcing Russia’s resumption of nuclear testing. There was very little criticism of this perfidious act from any of the “neutrals” but plenty of derogatory remarks were made about the United States. Western colonialism was deplored but not a word was uttered about the slave colonies of communism — 17,000,000 Germans, for instance, living practically in jail. Evidently the neutrals were not so neutral. They never are. This bloc of nations is called “The Uncommitted.” Actually there are no such people in a day when the world issue is freedom or slavery. There is no third position. Nevertheless, we have always had with us the Cult of the Uncommitted who would be “ neither, nor” in a day of “ either, or.” Like the Olive Branch Men of Patrick Henry’s day who would choose neither liberty nor death, they are silent in an evil time, and such si lence is not golden but yellow! Such silence is being demanded now as admirals and generals are being repri manded ' for making anti-Communist statements. Even the mildest remarks are frowned upon as though it were the unpardonable sin to be against anything. Fortunately, there are a few rugged souls who refuse to be muzzled. Take Your Choice In things spiritual the Cult of the Uncommitted flour ishes. There are those who take the lofty position that they have not yet made a decision about Jesus Christ. I remember a young man who from stratospheric heights assured me that he was surveying the whole matter in calm detachment and was not yet ready to take a stand. A ll the facts were not yet in. Next year he might discover some new truth that would make what he now knew out-of-date. So he viewed the scene, ever learning but not able to come to a knowledge of the truth. What he did not realize was that by not committing himself to Jesus Christ, he had already committed himself against him. Not having believed he was condemned already. Such people glory in being “broad-minded.” There are some things we have no right to be open-minded about. I am open-minded as to whether there is life on Mars but I have made up my mind about Jesus Christ. If you do not open your mouth and then close it on solid food you will starve your body. If you refuse to make up your mind to accept God’s Word you will starve your soul. Within the church one finds the Cult of the Un committed even in the ministry. Young preachers are told: “ This is one view and here is another. Take your choice.” But too often they make no choice and come out of school with no view of their own and uncommitted in doctrine. Such broad-mindedness sounds good to the intellectuals but it produces no prophets with a message from God. It turns out experts in the art of almost saying something with “ a straightforward way of dodging the issue.” The preachers who have moved this world have been committed men who have staked everything on a conviction saying, “ Here I stand. I can do no other.” They have stuck their necks out on unpopular issues and have stood up to be counted when it was safer
to remain seated. They have not been Gamaliels trying to keep Jerusalem quiet by advising suspended judg ment. They have been Pauls declaring, “ If we or an angel from heaven preach any other doctrine, let him be damned.” Dante said: “ The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in periods of moral crisis maintain neu trality.” Such a man was Erasmus who lived in the days of Luther. He was a high priest of the Cult of the Un committed. It was said that he could shade “ yes” until it sounded like “ no” and blemish “ no” until it would al most pass fo r ’“ yes.” He was the golden-mouthed apostle of compromise but the heart of Christianity beat with Luther. A Major Problem The major problem in our churches is that too many pews are filled with members who have never committed themselves utterly to Jesus Christ. They have no intention of going all-out, they are professing Christians with res ervations, whose life verse might well be “ Lord, I will follow thee but . . .” They have never burned their bridges behind them. Like the rich young ruler, they have never sold out. They have put their hands to the plow but their eyes look backwards. They are Lot’s wives gazing fondly on Sodom. They are too busy helping the dead bury the dead to follow Christ in dead earnest. They are like Mr. Looking-both-ways. They remind us of a donkey between two bales of hay undecided as to which one to eat. They are like the son in our Lord’s parable who said, “ I go, Sir” and went not. The Cult of the Uncommitted! With such a mixed multitude of half-hearted disciples, no wonder we make such a small dent on this age. When Cortez landed in the New World he burned his ships so that he and his men could not return to the land whence they came. They were committed. Communism sweeps the world because at its heart there is a dedicated nucleus, an expendable spearhead of the committed. Lenin said, “We will not accept anyone who has any reservations what ever.-” “ What w ill you do with Jesus? Neutral you cannot be.” There is no place in the kingdom of God for the Cult of the Uncommitted. Gideon found it necessary to cut his unwieldy army down to a corporal’s guard who meant business. Only a corresponding Gideon’s Band of sold-out Christians can have any chance against the Midi- anites today. There is no neutral ground between right and wrong, between Christ and antichrist. I have already mentioned Gamaliel who took a middle-of-the-road position at the trial of the apostles. His counsel prevailed, yet we read that they gave the apostles a beating. Strange neutralism! The cause of Christ always takes a beating from the un committed, no matter how impartial Gamaliel may sound. There is no such thing as the.calm dispassionate judg ment of the non-aligned. Woe to the multitude at Car mel who answer Elijah’s challenge with “ not a word.” Woe to Laodicea neither cold nor hot! Woe to the Cult of the Uncommitted!
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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