Biblical Answer

The Paradox of Loyalty

The relationship between loyalty to country and loyalty to faith is complex and multifaceted. On one hand, loyalty to Christ entails loyalty to one another as God's family, above all ethnic, cultural, and earthly kinship connections (Galatians 3:28). This loyalty is central to the gospel and is repeatedly emphasized by Paul as a necessary corollary of faith in Christ. On the other hand, loyalty to the state is also a significant aspect of human life, and in a pluralistic society, it can be tempting to prioritize national loyalty above all else.

The Tension Between Faith and Nationalism

In a society where pluralism is promoted through the radical integration and reduction of all allegiances to one national loyalty, the church holds out a vision of a more nuanced and complex understanding of loyalty. The Bible calls for personal loyalty to Christ, which is rooted in trust and faith (1 John 1:32; Matthew 4:1; 13:18). This kind of loyalty is not antithetical to national loyalty, but rather it is a deeper and more fundamental commitment that should guide our relationships with the state and with one another. When Christ calls for undivided loyalty, he is not demanding that we abandon our civic responsibilities, but rather that we prioritize our relationship with him above all else.

Balancing Loyalty to Country and Faith

So how do we balance loyalty to country with loyalty to faith? The answer lies in recognizing that faith in Christ is not a competing loyalty, but rather a deeper and more fundamental commitment that should shape our relationships with the state and with one another. When we prioritize our relationship with Christ, we are not abandoning our civic responsibilities, but rather we are being faithful to the call of God to love and serve one another as members of God's family. This means that we should be engaged citizens, participating in the life of our communities and advocating for justice and righteousness, but we should also be committed to following Christ and obeying his commands, even when they conflict with the demands of the state. Ultimately, our loyalty to Christ should be the guiding principle of our lives, and we should seek to live out our faith in a way that is faithful to the gospel and respectful of the demands of the state.