From My Perspective - - -

In the fast-paced life most live today, there doesn’t seem to be much time or room for the consideration of “loyalty” to anything except one’s personal goals and ambitions. Loyalty, like many other things, seems to have been lost somewhere in the past. When one thinks about the basic meaning of Loyalty – “faithfulness to commitments or obligations; faithful adherence to a sovereign government, leader or cause” – one realizes that it is difficult to observe in the present. It may have become obliterated or greatly fractured. However, there are some – albeit a determined minority – who can cause paralysis amid the majority.

Once one sees ego-centric individuals vying for prominence within a culture, and/or arrogant persons who want to exert their will and agenda upon others, and when there are those who champion class-distinctions and racial divides – the realization should be that a change in course-direction is past due. The issue is not whether or not one is Loyal to a man or an elected official – but – whether or not one is Loyal to The Constitution of the United States. In addition, the greater concern and measure is whether or not one is Loyal to The Higher Authority – The eternal God - and - His Standards for a people and society throughout all generations. Why is this significant? Why is this an area of non-compromise?

In our contemporary culture that is becoming more individualistic, it is one of the Basics that cannot and should not be neglected or sacrificed. To allow that the Bible and God are irrelevant for the time in which we live, is severely flawed and will bring ruinous results. To state that the Constitution is an evolving document, is also severely flawed and short-sighted. In a debate/discussion with Georgetown professor Michael Eric Dyson, George Will stated:  “To say the Constitution is a living, evolving document as you did, is almost oxymoronic…A constitution is supposed to freeze things. It is an anti-evolutionary device as Justice Scalia said. It is intended to put certain things beyond the reach of transient majorities.” To amplify the comments of Justice Scalia, he said: “Now, in asserting that originalism used to be orthodoxy, I do not mean to imply that judges did not distort the Constitution now and then, of course they did. We had willful judges then, and we will have willful judges until the end of time. But the difference is that prior to the last 50 years or so, prior to the advent of the ‘Living Constitution,’ judges did their distortions the good old fashioned way, the honest way — they lied about it. They said the Constitution means such and such, when it never meant such and such.”

There is a rightful place for Loyalty. One should be Loyal to God, the Creator – and – to His Word. One should be Loyal to what is Right regardless of personal cost – (by the way, that’s how our country was founded). As the Signers were set to affix their Signatures to the Declaration of Independence, they did so under this statement: “And for the support of this declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” We need people of courage and conviction like that today. 

There is an interesting account of Loyal Men given in II Samuel 23:8-39. Israel has been in a long battle with the Philistines. King David is in the stronghold – the Cave of Adullam, and the Philistines garrison was in Bethlehem. When his mighty men were in his presence, King David – who longed for victory – mused aloud – verses 15-17: “David longed for water and said, Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem! So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. Far be it from me, O Lord, to do this!" he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives? And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.” To what and to whom are you Loyal? What price are you willing to pay to champion that which is right? Loyalty to Christ and His Standards must be paramount. If you stand with and for Him, other Loyalties will become obvious. Consider these things with me!