New Reminders: Loyalty

According to Wikipedia, “loyalty is a devotion to a country, philosophy, group, or person.  Loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray.”

When we say the pledge of allegiance to the flag, we are pledging our loyalty to the United States of America.  We are promising to defend and protect our country and to try to live up to its ideals and abide by its laws.  We don’t always think about what we mean when we say it, we mostly just mouth the words.  Any time we make a commitment to be loyal to something or someone, we need to think about what we mean and take it seriously.

Being loyal does not mean we will always agree with what other members in the relationship say or do.  We can disagree with their words or actions and still be loyal.  In fact, a truly loyal friend, will tell you if they think you are wrong on an issue.  They will try to help you see what you might be missing or misinterpreting about a situation.  In a democracy, a true patriot is encouraged to make their opinions known, even when they are contrary to the official policies of the government at the time.  By contrast, we are all expected to follow the law, even if we think it is an unjust law.  We can protest the law, but we are bound by its authority.

In interpersonal relationships, loyalty means being there for someone through the highs and lows and staying by their side regardless of the circumstances.  Loyalty involves accepting and loving someone for who they are and not threatening to leave when things become challenging.

Loyalty, to a religious organization, can be especially complicated.  There are sacred texts, creeds and tenants and, in some cases, hallowed laws to follow.  Some people are born into a religious organization and remain loyal until death.  Others waver from a particular organization for a variety of reasons, but religious loyalties are some of the strongest you will ever find.  They can last generation after generation and even centuries and across continents.  On the other hand, different branches and sects have splintered off from almost every religious group.  Differences in opinions about how the group should function, or what they should believe, can separate congregations, and even families, over religious disagreements.  As long as there is agreement on the essentials, we can “agree to disagree” just as Methodist founder John Wesley said.

 “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant loyalty with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations” Deuteronomy 7:9