No Neutral Ground
In New Orleans, the grassy or tree lined area that the rest of America refers to as a street median, is known as the ‘neutral ground’. New Orleans, like the rest of the world, has had its own share of battles. Natives and locals alike, spin colorful tales of the history of the street that we now know as Canal Street being divided in the 1800s by a wide median or ‘neutral ground’ that ran straight down the middle of it, separating the battling factions of the Creole area from the battling factions of the American area.
Some people speak of a conflict free green space where African, Spanish, French, and indigenous peoples interacted neutrally. They reference a ground where for a period of time, there was no fighting, but socializing and engaging in commerce.
This is a tale that has always fascinated me. Musings of a neutral ground where no fighting existed and all parties involved stayed within the dictates of their own territory, never encroaching upon, threatening or crossing the line of neutrality in an attempt to take over the other parties, have gathered and lingered in my thoughts over the years.
As people who are Believers in and followers of Jesus Christ there is no neutral ground in the war between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of darkness. There is nowhere on this green earth that anyone can rest their precious feet that has not been subject to the eminent domain of the beautifulness and ugliness that exist in the battle between good and evil. We are all soldiers, like it or not and we are all commissioned for and engaged in warfare. We are either with God or against Him. And either you are an advocate for sin, promoting and defending it or you are an enemy of sin, intent on killing it through your submission to the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. Make no mistake, you owe sin and the devil no explanations as both sin and the devil are devoted to their work of doing all that they can to kill you (Romans 8:12-13, John 10:10a).
Still, as it relates to our being sold out for God, there can be a very strong temptation for us to wobble in our conviction and make excuses for our fence-sitting. We can say to ourselves that we would prefer to opt out of the battle and stay neutral or indifferent, but it is a deception to believe and insist that we can stand on the sidelines. As we cross the battlefields of this life, stepping on spiritual land mines and dodging invisible bullets, we may attempt to pretend that there is no spiritual warfare occurring all around us, but it does not change the fact that there is indeed spiritual warfare taking place at each and every turn that we make. With each move that we make, we are either advancing the Kingdom of God or we are advancing the Kingdom of darkness! We have real enemies that are unseen. They are the uncontested sin in our lives, and the principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world (Genesis 4:7, Ephesians 6:12)
No one wants to lose. We all desire to be victorious. We long for and prepare to get the victory. Those of us who love God, hate conflict (Proverbs 17:19). We prefer and pray for peace. And while we do not want conflict, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence (Matthew 11:12a). A battle is being fought. The truth is that there is no victory without a battle. The question remains whose side are we on when the battle occurs. God has not called us to stand with the world and the things in the world (1 John 2:15 ). God has called us to stand and fight for His righteousness — to be hated, misunderstood, mocked and attacked for His righteousness sake. The Lord Jesus serving as our example as we are conformed into the image of Christ.
God has revealed to us how to win as we engage in every battle. Our battles will be won as we humble ourselves and pray, and seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14). Our battles will be won as we purpose in our hearts to put on the whole armor of God. We are to put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:10-18). This is the way that we will be victorious, doing things in line with the ways of God and rejecting the ways of this world.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Ephesians 6:10-18).