No Decision is a Decision

Scripture: “Did John’s baptism come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we’re afraid of the crowd, because everyone considers John to be a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Matthew 21:25-27a

Observation: In response to the question about his own authority, Jesus poses this question about John the Baptist's authority.  As we see, the Pharisees see they are trapped by the logic, and thus cannot safely answer. However ... what DID they believe? It had to be one or the other.

The debate in their mind is actually a decision about harming their reputation, versus opposing public opinion. The public opinion is that John was a prophet, so declaring his actions as human stand opposed to that thinking. However, if they agree John was sent from heaven, then as religious leaders they should have obeyed - not opposed - John, and thus this would damage their personal and professional reputation.

Yet here is the real issue and failure of the Pharisees. In an attempt to avoid any such judgment, they respond "we don't know" and therefore openly and publicly declare that ... they care far more about earthly opinions than they do about discovering what God is doing. By refusing to make a decision, they have made a different decision ... that they reject God's authority, as they aren't using their understanding of God's authority as criteria for analyzing this question.

"We don't know" really means "we don't care" ... or at least they care more about the world than they care about God.

Application: There are several themes throughout scriptures - major themes that express absolute truth about God - and one of those absolute truths is this: When it comes to faith and ultimately salvation, there is no such option as not deciding.

Not deciding if you will follow Jesus is a decision not to follow Jesus. Not deciding whether or not you believe in the Lord, creator of heaven and earth, is a decision not to believe in the Lord. Again, as my favorite secular band even recorded ... "if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."

Oh Lord, how so many people have been deceived in this matter in our world today. They believe there is freedom in simply ignoring the matter of Jesus. They think they have found some kind of neutral ground that allows them a peaceful life without any 'religious conflicts'. And as they comfortably sit there in this place of neutral ignorance, satan laughs and laughs and laughs at the success of his own lie.

Even Pharisees didn't care enough about God to engage in a non-neutral decision about his purposes. How hard it is now for the unreached and ignorant to engage in a non-neutral decision about his love.

Prayer: Lord, it is so difficult to move people to a place of decision, and I know some of us, including me, are fearful that taking someone to a place of decision may result in a bad outcome. May we all understand the truth, which is that the bad outcome already exists for many, and may we love you enough to care about you more than we care about the world. Amen.