In his discussion o f the characteristics of holiness, Thomas Brooks addresses the unity of purpose our hearts must have. One of the tendencies we have, particularly as Reformed thinkers who do not want to be guilty of world-flight, is to love the world a tad too much. We think we are being "reformed" when we embrace television, the modern arts, books, etc., and pridefully say "we're not fundamentalists, who reject the world wholesale". Instead, trying to please our bellies with what the world offers (and making some half-hearted efforts to reject the 'really bad stuff') we become guilty of a form of that which Brooks addresses here: trying to love God and the world.
If real holiness be the only way to happiness...this truth, by way of conviction, looks sourly and sadly upon all neuters, who divide their hearts between God and mammon, Mat. vi.19; who halt between God and Baal, 1 Kings xviii.21; who divide their souls between heaven and earth, between religion and their lusts, Zeph. i.5, like the Samaritans, who both worshipped the Lord and the Assyrians' idols too, 2 Kings xvii.32,33, and xviii.11. A neuter is a monster; he hath two tongues, two minds, and two souls: he hath a tongue for God, and a tongue for the world, too; he looks up to God, and saith, Certainly thou art mine; he looks down upon the world, and saith, Surely I am thine; he hath a mind to be religious, and a mind to save his own stake in the world too. He hath a soul reaching after the happiness of another world...and he hath a soul strongly reaching after this evil world too, as if heaven and happiness were wrapt up in it....Do you think that ever such shall go to heaven, who are indifferent whether they go to heaven or no? or that ever such shall be happy, who are indifferent whether they be holy or no? or that ever such shall see the face of Christ with joy, who are indifferent whether they have an interest in Christ or no? or that ever such shall be admitted into the kingdom of glory, who are indifferent whether ever they have any entrance into the kingdom of grace or no? Certainly heaven is too holy to hold any such indifferent, irresolute, neutral souls....
Ambo-dexters in religion are ignominious disgracers both of the name and profession of Christians; they are prodigious traitors to the crown of heaven; they are the greatest enemies to the power of godliness; they are the very offspring of Judas; and in the day of account it will be found that it had been better for them that they had never been born. Neutrality is the spiritual adultery of the heart. Neuters are spiritual harlots; they have their hearts divided between God and mammon, betwixt Christ and other lovers....
Sirs, do not deceive your own souls; no man was ever yet carried into glory in the chariot of neutrality or mediocrity....Neuters now divide and cut those things asunder that God hath closely joined together; but at last God will suit their punishment to their sin, and cut them asunder, Mat. xxiv.51, and Luke xii.46. Now the neuter chooses here a piece, and there a piece; and at last God will cut him in pieces, as Samuel did Agag, 1 Sam. xv. 33. Well, neuters, now you divide one command from another, one duty from another, one promise from another, one threatening from another, one ordinance from another, and one way of God from another. But the day is a-coming wherein God will divide your souls from your bodies, and both from himself, his Son, his saints, and his glory for ever.
Brooks isn't trifling with something of small moment here, so he is rather direct. Today among many professing Christians, not only is the world beheld with too much love, but somehow, neutrality (read: lack of strong assertion) about Christianity is somehow held to be a virtue! Let us NEVER slip down that road, but instead hold Christ HIGH as the only salvation this world can have. To be neutral (that is, to be of the "Christ is my Lord, but perhaps you have another way" mindset) is death.