3. THE ARMY VALUES: LOYALTY

Soldier!

We are currently examining the values of the best-armed forces and how they relate to our Christian faith. On the top of the list is a simple yet sacrosanct value: L O Y A L T Y.

If there’s anything that you must be extremely wary of as a soldier of Christ, it is anything at all that seems to compete with your loyalty to the chief commander. Your loyalty serves as an essential baseline upon which actions and exploits in the faith are established, making it non-negotiable. You cannot even say you are a soldier without this imperative quality. Therefore, I would like to share with you very important things to note on this subject matter as I strongly believe it will positively inform your resolve on it.

LOYALTY TO THE CHIEF COMMANDER

The first thing I want you to realize is that when it comes to loyalty, you can only play follow-up! I’ll explain. The loyalty that is demanded of you by God is only reciprocal as He was the initiator of the same, and you can never be more loyal to Him than He already is to you. God’s loyalty to his army is unparalleled, unflinching, and unmatched. It is unending, unbending and ever sure. This means we must take a cue from God if we are to exude the kind of fealty he demands and rightly deserves in our service.

“If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself” (2Tim 2:13). One key feature of God’s loyalty is how it is entirely his prerogative and is independent of neither the appropriateness nor inappropriateness of the recipient. And that is because he cannot deny himself, in other words, He cannot do something contrary to his nature. Now, this nature has been given to you, ensuring that you can also demonstrate the same dogged loyalty to your Maker. The kind of loyalty that does not back out even in the face of death, recall that “Whether we live, we live unto the Lord and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Rom 14:8). Loyalty to God, to Christ, is also loyalty to the faith. That you are so loyal to the faith that you proudly show your faith through your words and actions. The kind of loyalty that you don’t back out due to seemingly difficult circumstances.

Do you remember the disciples of Jesus who walked around with him for over 3 years and promised to die with him when he spoke about his apparent arrest and crucifixion, remember how they all fled when he was finally taken? Well, they ended up being the same people who took the world by storm, stayed true to their faith through several waves of gory persecutions and eventually laid down their lives in ways that are far from convenient and pleasing. So, how did these timid recruits end up becoming loyal martyrs? Well, the answer is simple; They grew in the knowledge of God. Comrade, I have discovered how extremely hard it can be to commit, let alone be willing to die for an idea one doesn’t fully understand. What happens as we get to understand our Commander and his ways is a staunch willingness to protect the mandate even if it means putting our lives on the line or denying ourselves of legitimate desires. So, you need to grow in God’s knowledge through his word, by following the leading of his spirit and by a grim dedication to prayers, study of the Word, fellowship with fellow believers and walking in the reality of your new creation in Christ.

LOYALTY TO AUTHORITIES

As well to being loyal to God, I must let you understand how equally important it is to display loyalty to your fellow soldiers as well, especially those that have been placed in positions of authority. This is what the scriptures have to say about it; “Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls as they must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you” (Heb. 13:17). That is your local church pastor, your fellowship leader, your unit heads, local or global fathers of faith and every delegation above you in service.  Have you ever seen how secular soldiers are extremely loyal to those higher in ranks? They dare not even speak about them behind their backs.

Having a spiritual head goes beyond mere zingy feelings. It is a sacred privilege we all must honour. It is often heartbreaking when Christians join unbelievers to publicly shame or “cancel” a God’s general, when they err, forgetting he is also human that should be protected for what he stands for. Interestingly,  Apostle Paul in his many epistles to the churches asked for the prayers of the church eight times.

To the church in Rome Rom 15:30-32

 

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; (31) That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; (32) That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

 

To the church in Corinth: 2 Cor 1:10-11

 

Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; (11) Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

 

To the church in Ephesus Eph 6:18-20

 

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, (19) and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, (20) for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

 

To the church in Phillippe Phil 1:19

 

For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ

 

To the church in Colosse Col 4:2-4

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; (3) praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; (4) that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.

 

To the church in Thessalonica 1 Th 5:25

 

Brethren, pray for us.

 

2 Th 3:1-2

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: (2) And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

 

To Philemon Phile 1:22

 

At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.

 

Also in Heb 13:18-19

 

Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. (v.19) But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

 

You see that dragging or cancelling a general of God is not a godly practice. You should have a change of thinking and attitude if you do such. We are to pray for them, honour them, love and cherish them. Of course, loyalty to higher authority is not gullibility or indulging wrongdoings of people but it is protecting the one in public and slugging it out privately. You’d never see an offending soldier being shamed by the military as civilians would. He would be tried and treated by the military itself and by the right higher authorities. Loyalty is staying true to a person, condemning the act not the person. It is not the worship of man but an understanding of the premium God places on loyalty to our leaders. Dear soldier, you must ensure this is inculcated deep into the core of your being. Just as the U.S Navy Seal.

There are certain people who remain loyal as long as it is convenient, but as soon as things get a bit rough, they relapse. You should never be like these people. Take for example, the multitude that followed Jesus in John Chapter 6. They were desperately looking for Jesus and one could have thought for a minute that they were truly loyal. But soon afterwards their true colour was unveiled after they did not get the transient, frivolous, mundane gain they had in mind. “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him” (John 6:66). These were thousands of people who had just abandoned Jesus, and so he turned to the twelve as well and asked if they would also follow suit. Simon Peter responded by saying “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the son of the living God” (John 6:68-69). Now that is loyalty!

Do not be like Demas who abandoned Paul loving the gains of the world (2Tim 4:10). Do not be like John Mark who left the mission field abandoning his leaders (Acts 15:38). Be more of a Ruth than you are an Orpah (Ruth 1). It goes without saying that you should never be a Judas Iscariot.

LOYALTY TO FELLOW SOLDIERS

Loyalty in the Christian faith is also extended to fellow soldiers. Each soldier stays loyal to another. Caring for their needs, praying for them, protecting their dignity amongst other believers and loving them just as the chief commander loves everyone in his troop.

Be known as the loyal soldier. Let the loyalty of the Father flow through you to those in authority, fellow soldiers in the same cadre and even lower cadre. Be known as that gallant comrade. I dare say that a loyal soldier is a brave soldier, for loyalty is a tough virtue to possess! Be known as the committed friend.  Loyalty is fierce! Stay fierce!

I call you blessed!