NOT MAKING WAVES IS TREASON

 

When Standing in the Middle Betrays the Cross
---
> “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.”

— Matthew 12:30

---

✝️ INTRODUCTION
    There is a common trend today, among society everywhere, to avoid taking sides on critical moral and spiritual issues, under the guise of "being fair," "balanced," or "neutral." 
    This is not the same as seeing both sides with discernment. In fact, to take the side of spiritual and Christ-centered righteousness, one is required to see both sides - then make consistent decisions based on that discernment.
    Taking the middle-ground position, however, often leads not to peace but to passivity — and from a Catholic and Christian standpoint,* to moral cowardice.
* these viewpoints are one and the same.

    To stand in the middle, without deciding means you are pummeled by traffic from both directions, as Margaret thatcher once observed - and thats not a win. Worse, failing to take Christ;s side when He is calling you is not wisdom—it’s betrayal. 
    Neutrality in the face of sin is complicity with sin.

> “So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

— Revelation 3:16
---

📍 I. THE ILLUSION OF NEUTRALITY
    Neutrality is often presented in the same way as the old 1970's maxim: "I'm okay, you're okay."
However, while this masquerades as wisdom or peacekeeping, Scripture and Catholic tradition warn us against that, this way:

⚠️ False Balance
When people say, “both sides have a point,” that much is true. But, they often use that as dodge to ignore the reality that one side is defending goodness and truth, while the other supports error or sin.

Example: 

Putting pro-life and pro-abortion views on equal footing is not dialogue—it is moral relativism.

> “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” 

— Isaiah 5:20

---

🧠 Moral Equivalence
    The thing is, not all "causes" are equally righteous. Just because one thinks something is a worthy cause does not mean they are in the right. At the risk of alienating folks with an extreme example, we could say that the Nazi's thought slaughtering millions of Jews was the right thing to do...but few today would uphold that, "cause" as righteous. 

    Example #2: Equating the Church’s defense of heterosexual marriage with ideologies that redefine marriage to suit personal choice is not being fair just because the world thinks so — it’s spiritual blindness.

    In short, to place God’s law on the same level as human ideologies is a form of self-imposed idolatry.

---

📘 II. BIBLICAL REVELATION AGAINST THE “BOTH-SIDES ARE RIGHT” MENTALITY

The Bible is not silent about indecisiveness:

Joshua 24:15 — “Choose this day whom you will serve…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

1 Kings 18:21 — Elijah asked, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him!”

James 1:8 — “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

> Neutrality, or non-committment, in the face of God's truth is not wisdom. It is duplicity..., it is spiritual instability.

---

🔥 III. WHEN THE SAINTS CHOSE SIDES

🙌 St. Thomas More
Refused to compromise on marriage and conscience even when the king demanded it. He paid with his life, saying:

> “I die the king’s faithful servant, but God’s first.”

🙌 St. Joan of Arc
Took the side of God's mission for France and refused to deny her visions. She was condemned and burned for choosing—not wavering.

🙌 St. Oscar Romero  
He condemned both military abuse and Marxist violence, but he was never neutral—he stood with the poor, because Christ did.

--

🛡️ IV. CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING: NO ROOM FOR INDIFFERENCE

🟩 1. The Preferential Option for the Poor
Remaining silent in the face of poverty or exploitation of the truly downtrodden who cannot help themselves is not being even handed, or weighing options, aka, “neutrality” — it is siding with the oppressor.

> “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” — Proverbs 31:8-9

---

🟦 2. Solidarity
Being Catholic and Christian means uniting with those who suffer, not sitting comfortably on the fence while others bleed.

---

🟧 3. The Common Good
To remain silent when unjust laws, ideologies, or practices threaten the family, the unborn, or the Church is to betray the Body of Christ.

> “Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” — Psalm 82:4

---

🌐 V. TODAY’S EXAMPLES OF DANGEROUS NEUTRALITY

❌ ABORTION
> Saying “I personally oppose abortion, but I don’t want to impose my views on anyone else,” is moral nonsense.
It’s like saying “I personally oppose slavery, but I won’t get in the way if it happens.”

---

❌ LGBTQ+ Ideologies in Schools
> Claiming, “...both sides should be heard,” when children are being indoctrinated with gender confusion is not balance — it’s abdication of moral duty.

---

❌ Religious Persecution
> placing your defense of, “freedom from religion” on the same level as freedom of religion, is an attack on the Gospel’s public proclamation.

---

❌ Cultural Marxism and Catholicism
> Marxist ideologies claim to fight for justice, but destroy the sacred structure of the family unit. To stand “in the middle” is to let them win.

---

🎯 VI. COMMON BLINDSPOTS OF THE “BOTH SIDES” MENTALITY

🟨 Fear of Conflict
People avoid taking a side to remain popular, to avoid rejection, or to not "make waves." But Christ never called us to be popular—He called us to carry the Cross.

🟨 Desire for Worldly Respect
Many want to be seen as, “reasonable,” by both secular and religious groups. But if you belong to the world, the world will love you as its own (John 15:19)... and you'll be condemned for it.

🟨 False Humility
“Who am I to judge?” can easily become an excuse to abandon moral responsibility. Catholics and Christians are called to form conscience, not silence it.

---

💪 VII. WHAT TO DO INSTEAD: THE CATHOLIC RESPONSE

✅ FORM YOUR CONSCIENCE

Read the Catechism (CCC §1776–1802)

Pray for the Holy Spirit’s gift of courage (fortitude)

Study lives of saints who acted when silence was tempting

---

✅ SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE

Don’t be silent just to avoid backlash - use it to make a stand if needed.

Use gentleness, clarity, and conviction (1 Peter 3:15)

Be oaky with being misunderstood, pushed aside, or rejected

---

✅ ACT

Vote and advocate based on Catholic moral principles, not party lines

Defend life, family, and faith in public and private conversations

Support Catholic institutions and leaders who refuse to be neutral

---

🚨 CONCLUSION: 

THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS

> “No one can serve two masters…” — Matthew 6:24

The Cross is not in the center of a debate stage. It stands outside the city gates, where Christ was crucified, rejected by both state and religious authorities. 

If we refuse to choose, we are choosing already — not for peace, but for passivity; not for Christ, but for comfort.

> “Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’” — Matthew 5:37

Anything else... is from the evil one.

---

CLOSING REFLECTION

🟥 Moral Courage — Will you take the side of Christ even when it costs your comfort, career, or relationships?

🟩 Gospel Action — Will you act today for truth, life, and justice, even if it means being rejected?

🟦 Marian Strength — Will you follow Mary in saying “Yes” to God, even when others remain silent?

---

> “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life…”

— Deuteronomy 30:19

Choose. Stand. Speak. Act.

Because when appeasing both sides means having no side, silence becomes sin.