The Illusion of Neutrality

Cornelius Van Til often argued that every person operates from a foundational commitment—either to God or to sinful autonomy. There is no middle ground.

“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

— Romans 6:20–23

In the early 1900s, human innovation reached new heights. Among the symbols of that era stood the RMS Titanic, which was a luxurious, supposedly indestructible ship. The Titanic set sail on its maiden voyage shortly after its completion, and its passengers, many of whom were wealthy and influential, felt invincible. They strolled across the grand decks, dined in elegance, and they marveled at the luxury that surrounded them.

However, history remembers it not for its glory, but mostly for its downfall. As we recall, as the Titanic cut through the waters of the North Atlantic, a single iceberg lay ahead, and the collision was just enough to puncture its starboard, near the front of the ship.

At first the ship didn’t shake or stop. The passengers on board didn’t sense any sort of immediate danger and so they continued enjoying their evening. They would wave off the crew’s warnings and go about their night, but below the surface the truth was obvious to anyone who saw the damage. The Titanic was sinking.

And as it sank further into the cold waters, so did reality eventually sink into the passengers’ hearts as well. However, some rushed to lifeboats while others hesitated, unsure whether they should abandon the luxury and comfort that they had grown accustomed to. Many others thought they had time to wait. But that time in the end inevitably ran out.

The infamous story of the Titanic should be a sobering metaphor. It was the illusion of safety that led many to believe that they had time. They believed that standing still was an option when in reality, they were in a time of crisis. Likewise, one of the greatest deceptions in the world today is the idea that a person can also remain in a similar position spiritually. The belief that we can “stay put” or more specifically, remain neutral to God leads many to think they are free, independent, and in control of their own lives. However, Scripture tells us that such neutrality is an illusion.

The apologist Cornelius Van Til often argued that every person operates from a foundational commitment—either to God or to sinful autonomy. Just as there was no “in-between” for every passenger on the Titanic, every human life is either moving toward life in Christ or perishing in sin.

This divide is powerfully echoed in Romans 6:20–23. Paul frames the spiritual life in terms of slavery. We are either slaves to sin or slaves to God. Those are the only two options.

Paul begins in verse 20: “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.” And at first glance, “free in regard to righteousness” may sound like liberty. However, Paul quickly dismantles this thought. He’s not praising moral freedom; he’s describing spiritual bondage. Those free from righteousness are not autonomous—they are enslaved to sin.

The modern idea of “freedom” often insists on absolute autonomy—the ability to self-determine without consequence. This thinking has influenced even Christian discourse. Nowadays, Calvinism and predestination are the subject of much criticism because of their consequences against “free will”. However, the argumentation surrounding these topics typically lack biblical substance and instead allude to the fact that our culture has an obsession with personal sovereignty. People recoil at the idea that God might determine their destiny, because we want to believe we control our own.

However, even in a secular worldview, radical autonomy is a myth. If you are a consistent behaviorist or materialist, your choices are shaped by upbringing, culture, biology, and environment. Even from a godless worldview, complete independence is not just impractical—it’s impossible. We are all shaped by something. We are all mastered by something.

Paul’s framework in Romans 6 reveals this reality, and the choice is not between freedom and slavery, but between two masters. One master—sin—leads to shame and death. The other—God—leads to sanctification and eternal life.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism defines sanctification as “the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God.”

Holiness and sanctification are the natural consequences of being a slave to Christ. It is the fruit, the prize, and the privilege, and therefore, slavery to God is the only path to true freedom.

Lastly, Paul concludes: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (v.23). Here, the contrast becomes even sharper. Sin pays wages—earned consequences. Stylistically, Paul could have written that the “wages of sin is death, and the wages of God is eternal life” and his readers probably would have still understood his point. However, it seems that Paul avoids using the same metaphor because the vast difference in categories. Salvation is not a paycheck or a wage, it’s a gift. And one does not work for a gift—it is received by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Sin is a cruel master. It demands everything and pays in death. But God is a gracious Father, and in Him, the work has already been done. Eternal life is not earned by labor—it is received by faith.

So the question remains: whom will you serve?