The Myth of Neutrality
by Joseph Warren Grammer
by Joseph Warren Grammer
In most of America today, and in the Lord’s own Church, there is a disarming phenomenon that, at best, could be called the “mediocrity syndrome.” It is a common occurrence in most religions, and in fact, throughout the spectrum of everyday life. Simply put, it tends to draw both the spiritually-minded individual (those who thirst for truth and light and striving for obedient to God’s word), and the less-than-spiritually minded (those who only desire to pacify the status-quo regardless of truth), towards that large grey area known as “average” or “mediocre,” and tends to shift them into the neutral zone. The injustice to both should be obvious: the good does not appear as good, nor the bad as bad. The down-side of this is that a true assessment of individual worth is obscured by the celebration of the ordinary, instead of the exceptional.
The Myth of Neutrality
Many years ago I was greatly impressed by the words of a great English religious reformer of the seventeenth century, John Lathrop (1617-1653), who was the progenitor of such people as the Prophet Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Wilford Woodruff, Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, the Pratt brothers, Marion G. Romney, and many other notables. Years after running across some of the teachings of John Lathrop, I read a biographical novel by Helene Holt about John Lathrop entitled, Exiled. In her book, Mrs. Holt quotes some of the same things of which I had previously been impressed. She pointed out that John Lathrap felt neutrality was soul-destroying. He is quoted as saying: “Neutrality is a myth, a glorified myth. Neutrality is a Trojan Horse, professing some advantage, but being inherently full of danger. Neutrality is not neutrality at all. It always favors the despot — adds to his power. Neutrality favors nothing and no one. That is the great myth!”
John Lathrop went on to say: “If a man steals from his neighbor, his act is evil. If that man happens to be your employer, his act is still evil. If no one questions the stealing employer, on the ideas it would be better to remain neutral, then the employer continues to steal. Neutrality refuses to keep evil in check. Evil unchecked will destroy good. That’s why neutrality is so dangerous. Moreover, real neutrality refuses even to identify evil as evil, in which case there is no activity to promote good as well as no activity to prevent evil. By default, neutrality is the great sympathizer and nurturer of evil. The most deadly enemy of righteousness is not evil, it’s neutrality.” (Edited from, Exiled, (1987), pp. 7-9.)
Mrs. Holt pointed out that there can be a difference and a conflict between liberty and loyalty — the conflict of liberty of conscience that inspires one to positive action, in contrast to loyalty to some personality which inspires neutrality, which in turn breeds ignorance and apathy.
Being neutral in a cause shows the most blatant form of permissiveness and cowardliness. Neutrality does no good for the apathetic except allowing the tyrant more freedom to continue his totalitarian rule and wickedness. It allows the oppressor the freedom to take away everyone else’s freedom and the exercise of conscious.
Fear Based Obedience
Those who oppress often do so by threat and intimidation. In most organized religions, members are threatened by authority figures with some sort of discipline if they do not strictly adhere to a particular doctrine or church policy. Often that intimidation takes the form of threatening the member with church sanctions, excommunication, or losing certain blessings or privileges; threatening them that without such blessings and privileges the member in disfavor is doomed to God’s judgment. Such intimidation is not based upon love but of fear, fear generated within the authority figure which, in turn, promotes fear in the member; and it does not allow the freedom of thought which God, Himself, has ordained and sanctioned.
Most do not want to be accused of wrong doing, especially when their doing is not wrong, so they choose to become what is called, “mainstream.” History has shown that the majority in any organization can be considered mainstream, or middle-of-the-roaders. Because of intimidating threats, many mainstreamers continue to sustain those who do wrong, who intimidate, who continue to oppress. Such sustaining only allows those wrongdoers more freedom to continue doing the same while it stifles the freedom of others. They continue to convince themselves (often with a sick wrenching feeling in their stomach for so doing) that, surely, our leaders must be right and be led by the Spirit or God would not have called them to their high position. We must remember that Jesus chose Judas, and one of the original twelve in this dispensation plotted the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Why should anyone believe that all church authorities are perfect today?
Those who abstain from voting against wrong when they have an opportunity to do so are, unwittingly, already casting a vote in favor of the wrong by default. A voice that does not oppose evil or wrong, by its silence, approves of it and becomes partly responsible for it by allowing it to continue unopposed. Because of the lack of courage and valiancy of the neutral mainstreamer, such may not have a place in God’s kingdom. Such become those unvaliant souls who may only inherit the terrestrial kingdom of God instead of the reward they could have received.
The Terrestrial for the Non-Valiant
We read in the Doctrine and Covenants: “And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn who have received the fulness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament. . . .These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men. . . .These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain NOT the crown over the kingdom of our God.” (D&C 76:71, 75, 79; see 71-80.)
God would have us take a stand for something, be it right or wrong. There is one thing for sure, there will be no neutralists or middle-of-the-roaders in the Celestial Kingdom of God. The Apostle James proclaimed, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8) and the Lord declared through John, “. . . I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:15-16.)
Why is it important to take a stand on issues? It is because God cannot work with those who are not committed, those who have wishy-washy values. He needs those who can become committed to their belief systems, be they right or wrong. Take the Apostle Paul for example. At first he was an ardent persecutor of the Christians, a thing to which he was dedicated. The Lord knew that once converted, Paul would also be just as committed to the cause of Christ. Paul was the type who would stand for something and be willing to be counted for it.
Jesus Was Not Mediocre or Neutral
Being neutral is to be mediocre, being in the middle between one side and the other — taking no stand. If we are to be true disciples of Christ, we are to be like Him, and we must take a stand for Him and His righteousness regardless of the consequences. Jesus was anything but neutral, mediocre or mainstream. Moses, Isaiah, John, Paul, Nephi, Captain Moroni, Joseph Smith, and a host of others, were anything but mainstreamers. They possessed courage.
To be mediocre is to be just as close to the bottom as to the top. the mainstream consists of the majority, and history has proven that the majority has never truly been with God. They have consistently shifted away from Him towards the more popular side, which is always the easy way because they feel it has less friction.
Today, all are encouraged by their leaders, in most every aspect of life, not to rock the proverbial boat. They are motivated to become mediocre middle-of-the-roaders, taking the broad and popular way — the way that leads to destruction — instead of having the courage to take the strait and narrow path. (Matt. 7:13-14.) They are not inspired by their leaders anymore to stand up for truth, speak and raise the hand against evil and oppression as they once were. Those who do so are accused of being dissenters, of not being in harmony with the Brethren, of falling into disfavor with the church, and of apostasy.
The Strait and Narrow Way
There is a reason why we are commanded to take the strait and narrow way instead of the broad way: the majority are too many in number to fit on the narrow path; they must take the BROAD and popular way so they all can fit there comfortably with one another.
The Savior commanded, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:” (Matt. 7:13.) And through the Prophet Joseph Smith He said, “For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me.” (D&C 132:22.)
President Gordon B. Hinckley wrote a book entitled, Stand for Something. He also wrote, Stand A Little Taller, and another one entitled, Way to Be. One of the problems in the church today is that, when you try to “stand for something,” and attempt to “stand a little taller,” believing that’s the “way to be,” church authorities often try to threaten, intimidate and discipline you for being different than the rest of those who are mediocre. This is because you have chosen to take upon yourself the right to study and think for yourself, and exercise your free agency and live by the dictates of your own conscience as the Holy Spirit directs.
Yes, we must stand for something, for Jesus said that, “No man can serve two masters ... Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:23), and that, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.” (Matt. 12:25.)
Out of fear and intimidation, of losing particular church blessings and privileges, and often desiring the approval of others (be they family, friend, or authority figures), many members shut their mouth against known evils, refrain from lifting their hands up in opposition to such by trying to claim neutrality; and sometimes, knowingly, they even raise their hands out of fear in favor of those who perpetrate wrongs. Such members fail to understand, as someone aptly said, “Courage is not the absence of fear. It is taking action in the face of it.”
Wrong is still wrong, even if it is found in the church of God, and the time will come when God will rout it out, along with the those who KNOWINGLY consent to it. Many may be in danger of losing their own souls for the privilege of being PROUD possessors of prestigious Church positions or a temple recommend.
The late and famous author of western fiction, Louis L’ Amour, wrote in one of his books, Haunted Mesa, the following words of truth: “We have a saying that power corrupts. It does. Power not only corrupts he who wields the power, but those who submit to it. Those who grovel at the feet of power betray their fellows to hide themselves behind the cloak of submission. It is an evil thing.”
It appears to this writer that going to church, at least for most, is nothing more than membership in a social club designed to pacify it’s leaders and stand in good stead with other members. The members, with very few exceptions, are seemingly dedicated to mindless repetition and the idolization of authorities. I would venture to say that they are not as interested in obedience to God as they are in maintaining the status-quo. Such so-called churches are full of members with double standards and divided loyalties. I am sure that many churches owe their very survival to this predictable syndrome of mediocrity.
I realize that there are those who will not believe or accept these ideas because, to do so, would make them uncomfortable — taking them out of their comfort zone. Denying the truth of it all helps them feel safe and secure in their lack of courage; sometimes believing that if they ignore the situation it will eventually, somehow, go away. Like the proverbial Ostrich with its head in the sand; the problem doesn’t go away. The silly bird only gets its tail feathers plucked.
By a truly HONEST inspection of God’s written word, and the dictates of their conscience, one can know the truth of all things through the Holy Spirit. The valiant, who recognize the spirit of truth and the attending responsibility, will rise to the occasion when duty calls. And the fact is, those who inherit God’s kingdom will have a backbone sufficient to stand tall for truth. Because of silence, however, the unvaliant and mainstreamers are not entitled to liberty of conscience; they are only entitled to that which they sanction by their silence and mediocrity.
The Myth of Neutrality
Many years ago I was greatly impressed by the words of a great English religious reformer of the seventeenth century, John Lathrop (1617-1653), who was the progenitor of such people as the Prophet Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Wilford Woodruff, Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, the Pratt brothers, Marion G. Romney, and many other notables. Years after running across some of the teachings of John Lathrop, I read a biographical novel by Helene Holt about John Lathrop entitled, Exiled. In her book, Mrs. Holt quotes some of the same things of which I had previously been impressed. She pointed out that John Lathrap felt neutrality was soul-destroying. He is quoted as saying: “Neutrality is a myth, a glorified myth. Neutrality is a Trojan Horse, professing some advantage, but being inherently full of danger. Neutrality is not neutrality at all. It always favors the despot — adds to his power. Neutrality favors nothing and no one. That is the great myth!”
John Lathrop went on to say: “If a man steals from his neighbor, his act is evil. If that man happens to be your employer, his act is still evil. If no one questions the stealing employer, on the ideas it would be better to remain neutral, then the employer continues to steal. Neutrality refuses to keep evil in check. Evil unchecked will destroy good. That’s why neutrality is so dangerous. Moreover, real neutrality refuses even to identify evil as evil, in which case there is no activity to promote good as well as no activity to prevent evil. By default, neutrality is the great sympathizer and nurturer of evil. The most deadly enemy of righteousness is not evil, it’s neutrality.” (Edited from, Exiled, (1987), pp. 7-9.)
Mrs. Holt pointed out that there can be a difference and a conflict between liberty and loyalty — the conflict of liberty of conscience that inspires one to positive action, in contrast to loyalty to some personality which inspires neutrality, which in turn breeds ignorance and apathy.
Being neutral in a cause shows the most blatant form of permissiveness and cowardliness. Neutrality does no good for the apathetic except allowing the tyrant more freedom to continue his totalitarian rule and wickedness. It allows the oppressor the freedom to take away everyone else’s freedom and the exercise of conscious.
Fear Based Obedience
Those who oppress often do so by threat and intimidation. In most organized religions, members are threatened by authority figures with some sort of discipline if they do not strictly adhere to a particular doctrine or church policy. Often that intimidation takes the form of threatening the member with church sanctions, excommunication, or losing certain blessings or privileges; threatening them that without such blessings and privileges the member in disfavor is doomed to God’s judgment. Such intimidation is not based upon love but of fear, fear generated within the authority figure which, in turn, promotes fear in the member; and it does not allow the freedom of thought which God, Himself, has ordained and sanctioned.
Most do not want to be accused of wrong doing, especially when their doing is not wrong, so they choose to become what is called, “mainstream.” History has shown that the majority in any organization can be considered mainstream, or middle-of-the-roaders. Because of intimidating threats, many mainstreamers continue to sustain those who do wrong, who intimidate, who continue to oppress. Such sustaining only allows those wrongdoers more freedom to continue doing the same while it stifles the freedom of others. They continue to convince themselves (often with a sick wrenching feeling in their stomach for so doing) that, surely, our leaders must be right and be led by the Spirit or God would not have called them to their high position. We must remember that Jesus chose Judas, and one of the original twelve in this dispensation plotted the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Why should anyone believe that all church authorities are perfect today?
Those who abstain from voting against wrong when they have an opportunity to do so are, unwittingly, already casting a vote in favor of the wrong by default. A voice that does not oppose evil or wrong, by its silence, approves of it and becomes partly responsible for it by allowing it to continue unopposed. Because of the lack of courage and valiancy of the neutral mainstreamer, such may not have a place in God’s kingdom. Such become those unvaliant souls who may only inherit the terrestrial kingdom of God instead of the reward they could have received.
The Terrestrial for the Non-Valiant
We read in the Doctrine and Covenants: “And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn who have received the fulness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament. . . .These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men. . . .These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain NOT the crown over the kingdom of our God.” (D&C 76:71, 75, 79; see 71-80.)
God would have us take a stand for something, be it right or wrong. There is one thing for sure, there will be no neutralists or middle-of-the-roaders in the Celestial Kingdom of God. The Apostle James proclaimed, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8) and the Lord declared through John, “. . . I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:15-16.)
Why is it important to take a stand on issues? It is because God cannot work with those who are not committed, those who have wishy-washy values. He needs those who can become committed to their belief systems, be they right or wrong. Take the Apostle Paul for example. At first he was an ardent persecutor of the Christians, a thing to which he was dedicated. The Lord knew that once converted, Paul would also be just as committed to the cause of Christ. Paul was the type who would stand for something and be willing to be counted for it.
Jesus Was Not Mediocre or Neutral
Being neutral is to be mediocre, being in the middle between one side and the other — taking no stand. If we are to be true disciples of Christ, we are to be like Him, and we must take a stand for Him and His righteousness regardless of the consequences. Jesus was anything but neutral, mediocre or mainstream. Moses, Isaiah, John, Paul, Nephi, Captain Moroni, Joseph Smith, and a host of others, were anything but mainstreamers. They possessed courage.
To be mediocre is to be just as close to the bottom as to the top. the mainstream consists of the majority, and history has proven that the majority has never truly been with God. They have consistently shifted away from Him towards the more popular side, which is always the easy way because they feel it has less friction.
Today, all are encouraged by their leaders, in most every aspect of life, not to rock the proverbial boat. They are motivated to become mediocre middle-of-the-roaders, taking the broad and popular way — the way that leads to destruction — instead of having the courage to take the strait and narrow path. (Matt. 7:13-14.) They are not inspired by their leaders anymore to stand up for truth, speak and raise the hand against evil and oppression as they once were. Those who do so are accused of being dissenters, of not being in harmony with the Brethren, of falling into disfavor with the church, and of apostasy.
The Strait and Narrow Way
There is a reason why we are commanded to take the strait and narrow way instead of the broad way: the majority are too many in number to fit on the narrow path; they must take the BROAD and popular way so they all can fit there comfortably with one another.
The Savior commanded, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:” (Matt. 7:13.) And through the Prophet Joseph Smith He said, “For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me.” (D&C 132:22.)
President Gordon B. Hinckley wrote a book entitled, Stand for Something. He also wrote, Stand A Little Taller, and another one entitled, Way to Be. One of the problems in the church today is that, when you try to “stand for something,” and attempt to “stand a little taller,” believing that’s the “way to be,” church authorities often try to threaten, intimidate and discipline you for being different than the rest of those who are mediocre. This is because you have chosen to take upon yourself the right to study and think for yourself, and exercise your free agency and live by the dictates of your own conscience as the Holy Spirit directs.
Yes, we must stand for something, for Jesus said that, “No man can serve two masters ... Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:23), and that, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.” (Matt. 12:25.)
Out of fear and intimidation, of losing particular church blessings and privileges, and often desiring the approval of others (be they family, friend, or authority figures), many members shut their mouth against known evils, refrain from lifting their hands up in opposition to such by trying to claim neutrality; and sometimes, knowingly, they even raise their hands out of fear in favor of those who perpetrate wrongs. Such members fail to understand, as someone aptly said, “Courage is not the absence of fear. It is taking action in the face of it.”
Wrong is still wrong, even if it is found in the church of God, and the time will come when God will rout it out, along with the those who KNOWINGLY consent to it. Many may be in danger of losing their own souls for the privilege of being PROUD possessors of prestigious Church positions or a temple recommend.
The late and famous author of western fiction, Louis L’ Amour, wrote in one of his books, Haunted Mesa, the following words of truth: “We have a saying that power corrupts. It does. Power not only corrupts he who wields the power, but those who submit to it. Those who grovel at the feet of power betray their fellows to hide themselves behind the cloak of submission. It is an evil thing.”
It appears to this writer that going to church, at least for most, is nothing more than membership in a social club designed to pacify it’s leaders and stand in good stead with other members. The members, with very few exceptions, are seemingly dedicated to mindless repetition and the idolization of authorities. I would venture to say that they are not as interested in obedience to God as they are in maintaining the status-quo. Such so-called churches are full of members with double standards and divided loyalties. I am sure that many churches owe their very survival to this predictable syndrome of mediocrity.
I realize that there are those who will not believe or accept these ideas because, to do so, would make them uncomfortable — taking them out of their comfort zone. Denying the truth of it all helps them feel safe and secure in their lack of courage; sometimes believing that if they ignore the situation it will eventually, somehow, go away. Like the proverbial Ostrich with its head in the sand; the problem doesn’t go away. The silly bird only gets its tail feathers plucked.
By a truly HONEST inspection of God’s written word, and the dictates of their conscience, one can know the truth of all things through the Holy Spirit. The valiant, who recognize the spirit of truth and the attending responsibility, will rise to the occasion when duty calls. And the fact is, those who inherit God’s kingdom will have a backbone sufficient to stand tall for truth. Because of silence, however, the unvaliant and mainstreamers are not entitled to liberty of conscience; they are only entitled to that which they sanction by their silence and mediocrity.
No one escapes when freedom fails.
The best men rot in filthy jails,
And those who cried’
“Appease, Appease”!
Are hanged by those they tried to please.
— Anonymous
The best men rot in filthy jails,
And those who cried’
“Appease, Appease”!
Are hanged by those they tried to please.
— Anonymous
