“There is no neutral ground in the universe: every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counterclaimed by Satan”
C.S. Lewis,
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I would agree in essence with Lewis, there is no neutral ground. But I would hesitate to agree fully with him because his conclusion seems dualistic – the eternal struggle between good and evil represented by God and Satan. The quote seems to make Satan God’s equal in this cosmic tug-of-war. Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30) James echoed this when he said, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” (James 4:4). Neutrality is an illusion. But the dichotomy is not a dualism between God and Satan, but a tension between believers, who are followers of God, and the world system that is at enmity with God, including Satan and all unbelievers who are “following the prince of the power of the air…and are by nature children of wrath.” (Ephesians 2:2-3)
I agree with you Jeff there is no equality between God and Satan. In fact as John Piper constantly states that “God has satan on a leash”, it is enough of a leash where satan still can be called the god of this world (2Corininthians 4:4). I am very good though at finding this third ground which is only an illusion where I think that my actions are not necessarily glorifying to God, but not exactly sin. I think the quote is a good reminder that we are part of a war and as you stated above neutrality is not an option, but only an illusion.