”Whatever” – Studied Indifference

by JONES, M.P. | Category: N/a | Jan 2008

Soldiers returning from a long spell in 1970s' Vietnam had to be debriefed about the new use for the word, "Whatever". It seems to have resurged in popularity amongst teenagers.

It conveys indifference: "It doesn't really matter one way or the other!" "Whatever" might have been popular with Stoic philosophers in New Testament times. To them everything was good (virtue), bad (vice) or indifferent (neutral). Indifferent things were either truly neutral (e.g. the number of hairs on your head), preferred indifferents (e.g. health or wealth), or rejected indifferents (e.g. sickness or poverty).

The Stoic way to develop moral character was to select preferred indifferents and avoid rejected indifferents. It's possible that Paul was indirectly influenced by Stoic philosophy, refined through his Christian worldview. This possibility unlocks many scriptures. Paul was clearly indifferent towards some things, but certainly NOT others, as shown in how he wrote on some fundamental topics:

Food (Phil. 4:12) – one of the 'bare necessities' of life (yet think of the many episodes in scripture where food or drink led to downfall). Sometimes we are guilty of living to eat rather than eating to live, yet Paul was indifferent whether he ate or not! Eating was only 'preferred' as it gave him energy to do the Lord's work.

Life and Death (Phil. 1:20-26) Many go to great lengths to prolong life through medication, diets, transplants, operations, etc. Life was a preferred indifferent for Paul for opportunities it gave to engage in fruitful service, but not because it was inherently preferable to dying.

Marriage (1 Cor. 7:25-38) Paul was concerned that it could distract us from pleasing the Lord, but recognized singleness could be a hindrance or a help, dependent on what is made of this circumstance.

Freedom (1 Cor. 7:20-23) William Wilberforce dedicated his life to the great cause of abolishing slavery, but Paul's point was what really matters is whether people are set free from Satan's slavery to serve the Master.

Identity (Gal. 3:28; Rom. 10:12) There's a great deal of pride in nationality, from singing national anthems to the extreme of ethnic cleansing. But to Paul, the important thing is that our citizenship is in heaven.

Circumcision (1 Cor. 7:18-23) Paul said that if circumcision gives the impression that it makes you one of God's people, then it's a bad thing. But it's inherently truly neutral – therefore no need to become uncircumcised!

Space precludes us expanding on things that inherently mattered to Paul, but conduct your own study on these and also find more:

The progress of the gospel (Phil. 1:18-21)

The exaltation of Christ (Phil. 1:18-21)

Love (1 Cor. 13)

Faith through love (Gal. 5:6)

Living in the new creation (Gal. 6:15)

In today's culture, what's important to us and what are we indifferent to? On what criteria do we base key decisions every day – to satisfy ourselves or the Lord? Things and circumstances are not the issue, but they can significantly impact our service for the Lord. We need to carefully select the 'preferred indifferents' – which can positively impact our service for the Lord. This might involve, for example, choosing carefully:

- where we live

- where and what we study

- where we work, and at what

- who we develop relationships with, platonically and otherwise

- what we listen to, watch and read

It seems appropriate to conclude with Paul's exhortation - using the original meaning of the word:

‘... whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things’ (Phil.4:8 NASB).

JONES, M.P. | Jan 2008
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