Understanding Loyalty in the Christian Faith

Posted on by korgrocker

“My purpose, then, was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged. I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could see for yourselves how loyal you are to us. We have been greatly encouraged by this. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was about the way all of you welcomed him and set his mind at ease.”
2 Corinthians 7:12-13 NLT

After Paul’s first letter, there would have needed to be loyalty on the part of the believers in Corinth, if they were going to take on board what he had written. It is true to say that some issues can only be addressed when there is a relational bridge between people, and in the issues Paul raised in his first letter, some form of loyalty had to be established. Otherwise, the believers would have just rejected what Paul wrote. Loyalty is a word that has fallen into much disrepute in British society because of the many different people groups present. A definition of “Britishness” has become confused because recent research suggests it can mean several things, depending on geography, ethnicity, human rights, respect for the law, and so on. So loyalty to the nation of Britain has become a thing of the past, at least to the extent that my parents, who came through the war years, would have understood. Our nationalities or origins are occasionally requested on NHS or government forms, and there is usually a long list of options, which perhaps pushes people away from “British” towards more fragmented societal and loyalty options.

But here in Paul’s second letter, the issue is simpler: the loyalty of the Corinthian believers to the Apostle, Paul, who established the church there in the first place. And Paul wrote, “We have been greatly encouraged by this”. Perhaps, when Paul put the final full stop on his first letter and sealed it for dispatch, he must have experienced mental gyrations, wondering whether he had been too hard or too soft in his comments and advice. Wondering if the Corinthians would reject what he had said and, in the process, reject him as well. Those early church days were fraught with so many attacks and issues, and Paul confessed, “Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28). He hinted at his anguish in Galatians 4:19-20, when he wrote, “Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labour pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance, I don’t know how else to help you”. And that was Paul’s dilemma. In an age without denominational structures to address grievances, well-trained ministers, the Canon of Scripture, and internet-enabled instant communication, problems could fester for far too long. And that is without even mentioning the plethora of false teaching and prophecies, such as Gnosticism and Docetism and others, all conspiring to draw the early believers into error and back into the clutches of the devil. 

As we read the Bible, we find that loyalty is a virtue that involves steadfast commitment to God, family, friends, and responsibilities. It is often synonymous with “faithfulness” and is considered a reflection of God’s own unchanging character. First and foremost, there is loyalty to God. Deuteronomy 6:5,  “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength”. Any believer, not just a new one, who is unable to sign up to that needs to reflect on their salvation. Jesus also taught, in relation to the subject of money, that “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money” (Matthew 6:24). Jesus went further in His letter to the church in Smyrna, when He said, “Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). How many of us would stay the course if we were staring death in the face because of our faith? 

“You have the words that give eternal life“

Regarding friendships, the Bible also offers some advice on loyalty. Proverbs 17:17, “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need”. We have the poignant scene in Ruth where we read, “But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth was only related to her mother-in-law by marriage, and yet she promised to remain loyal come what may. As we read the rest of the Book of Ruth, we find that her faithfulness resulted in her becoming an important part of Jesus’ bloodline, even getting a mention in Matthew 1:5b, “ … Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). … ”, something unusual for a woman in those days. Peter and the disciples were very loyal to Jesus. When the teaching Jesus was delivering became too hard for some of the more peripheral disciples, resulting in them leaving him, we read, “Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God”” (John 6:67-69). As we know, Peter and the rest of the disciples (with the exception of John) all died violent deaths through their loyalty to their Master and Lord. 

What about our loyalty, fellow pilgrims? Are we loyal to our families and friends? And above all, are we loyal to God? The Christian life is a journey along a narrow and difficult path, but there is no option to occasionally rest for a while “on the broad way that leads to destruction”. When the journey gets tough, we dig even deeper into the resources God has made available to us, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). 

Dear Heavenly Father, we pledge our loyalty to You today, in the assurance that You have a plan reserved for us in Heaven. We thank You for Jesus and all He did for us, and continues to do for us, in every day of our lives. Amen.

The Martyr

Posted on by korgrocker

“I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to Me. You refused to deny Me even when Antipas, My faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.”
Revelation‬ ‭2:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Pergamum, or Pergamon, or Pergamos, depending on which history book or Bible version we read, was the Northernmost city of the seven cities mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3. it was an important city with life spanning hundreds of years and several rulers. Many ruins remain today. But the reference to satan is interesting. A huge, throne-shaped structure was removed from the Acropolis in Pergamon in the nineteenth century and reassembled in a museum in Germany. And it was the shape and size of this, together with the association with Greek gods, that led to its name as the Throne of Satan. 

Pergamum must have been a difficult place to be a Christian in, steeped as it was in the worship of false gods, and where the counter-cultural believer and follower of Christ would have been severely persecuted. And that is what seems to have happened, with the martyrdom of a man called Antipas. However, in spite of the persecution, the congregation in Pergamum remained loyal to their faith. We don’t know how many church members there were, but subsequent verses in this section of Revelation 2 seem to indicate that it might have been at least a medium-sized fellowship of believers.

So the usual question – is there any relevance in this verse for Christian pilgrims today? I think there is. Loyalty to our faith is an important attribute of the followers of Christ, though loyalty to anything today in our Western societies is not exactly a popular trait. But a refusal to deny Christ, even when one of the followers in Pergamum was martyred, indicated how strong their loyalty was. So how loyal are we? First and foremost is our loyalty to God. Sadly, I know Christians who, when going through hard times, facing into health, family or financial issues, and finding that their prayers are not answered in the way they would like, take time out from their faith. They stop reading the Bible, and praying. They stop attending church services. They cut themselves off from their church friends, refusing to answer calls, ignoring social media posts, or the door when visited. But then after a time they will reappear, as though nothing has happened. I always think it strange that some people, when in times of greatest need, seem to turn away from God. A conditional loyalty isn’t an option in the Kingdom of God.

There is also our loyalty to our church leaders. They do a difficult job, often for little reward. But a loyal congregant gladdens their hearts. With loyal followers, they can build Jesus’ church, developing the vision God has given them. And we mustn’t forget our loyalty to each other. There is nothing more encouraging than being part of a church full of loyal believers.

When the going gets tough, loyalty is an essential quality. That moment when we can honestly say to God that no matter what is happening, or is about to happen, we will never desert Him. If faced with the dilemma Antipas was facing, can we stand firm, loyal to our faith? I believe God gave him the strength he needed and eased him into his new life in Heaven. God is always with us in our hours of need.

Dear God. We thank You for Your faithfulness to us. You are always watching over us 24/7. Please grant us the grace and courage to stand firm in difficult times. Amen.