Probing
Proverbs: 3:3-4 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your
neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor
with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.
In Venice there was a law forbidding the erection of
monuments in the public streets to people who had sacrificed anything for the
good of the State. The reason for this was that all Venetians were supposed to
be filled with loyalty, and that, therefore, the erection of such monuments was
a reflection on others who were equally ready to sacrifice themselves for the
good of the State should opportunity arise.
On the
other hand, it was held that treason and disloyalty must prove so rare that
only to the infamous was publicity to be given. “Tomes of infamy” were
therefore erected in public places to record the deeds of betrayers and
dishonest citizens. And the smallness of the number testifies that the
Venetians’ claim of the loyalty of their citizens was no idle boast.
—James Burns[1]
What does it mean to be “Loyal?” Here is a simple definition from the
dictionary:
Unswerving in allegiance: as
a : faithful in
allegiance to one's lawful sovereign or government
b : faithful to a
private person to whom fidelity is due
c : faithful to a
cause, ideal, custom, institution, or product
There is no doubt that loyalty is an important and attractive
characteristic. I have found the BIG question that needs to be addressed is…what
are you loyal to? Some today think loyalty means sticking with something no
matter how wrong it may be. That is not Biblical. For example, my father was a
great patriot and raised me to love my country. My loyalty however is not so
much to the USA, but to Truth. Therefore, I will be faithful to the USA as long
as it stands on the Truth. I think the USA has been a great country, but not
when we stated that “all men were created equal, while saying a black person was only
5/6ths a soul. We were wrong and should just confess that.
I cannot support “America,
right or wrong” when we were kidnapping an entire people from another country
and selling them into bondage. "I can be proud when I know that thousands of young Americans, black and white alike, fought together and died to end that plague on our history." 
It is interesting
that this original word for “loyalty” (חֶסֶד {ḥesed}) is also translated “steadfast
love”.
How appropriate, because that is what real loyalty is – a commitment to be
faithful to love. Loyalty when practiced Biblically means to faithfully love,
which includes every kind of love. Whether it be supportive love, sustaining
love, sacrificial love and even “tough love”. Be careful with that term. So many in
the Church approach “tough love” from the shame perspective, not the
admonishment perspective. If the one you are loyal to is in sin, being loyal is
not turning a blind eye to it. It is lovingly offering alternatives to that
sin, explaining confession and repentance, and a willingness to help restore –
that is admonishment. Shame only states the obvious – “You
are wrong!” No guidance or support. 
Tough love always communicates to a
fallen person that you are “for” them, both in word and action. I have
witnessed and personally experienced someone saying they love, while their
actions prove that they do not. They already know you think they are wrong,
that is why you are being confronted. Let the Holy Spirit create the shame they
need, you just be faithful to love in word and action. Tough love begins with
thinking through, “what does restoration look like?” To be truly loyal to anyone you care for means
being loyal to God, His Truth and wanting His best for this person!
The so what?
Have
you ever been confronted? What did that look like? What did it accomplish in
your life? Have you ever considered that when the Lord confronts us about our
sin, His goal is salvation, not shame? Do you operate from shame or from
admonition when you must show tough love?
[1]
Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700
illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations
for pastors, teachers and Christian workers. Garland TX: Bible
Communications.
No comments:
Post a Comment