Maintain Your Loyalty to God's Kingdom

"They are not part of the world." -JOHN 17:16.

LOYALTY and neutrality are always issues for true Christians, not just in times of war. Why? Because all who are dedicated to Jehovah have promised him their love, loyalty, and obedience. (1 John 5:3)  We want to abide by God's righteous standards wherever we live and whatever our background, nationality, or culture. Loyalty to Jehovah and to his Kingdom transcends an other attachment we may have. (Matthew 6:33)  Such loyalty requires that Christian remain separate from all conflicts and controversies of this world. -Isaiah 2:4; read John  17:11, 15, 16. 

People who do not share our faith may feel a special loyalty to their country, tribe, or culture or even to their national sports team. Challenges to such loyalties have resulted in competition and rivalry and, in extreme cases, bloodshed and genocide. The way that people resolve these issues, for better or for worse, might touch us or our families personally because we are  inescapably a part of human society. Since God made man with an innate sense of justice, the decisions that human governments make may offend  our sense of what is right and fair. (Genesis 1:27; Deuteronomy 32:4) How do we react under such circumstances?  It would be all too easy to take sides in worldly issues and be drawn into controversy. 

The institutions that govern human society may pressure citizens  to take sides in conflicts that arise.  True Christians cannot do so. We do not participate  in the political controversies of this world; nor do we take up arms. (Matthew 26:52)  We are not swayed  by efforts to involve us in exalting any portion of Satan's world over another. (2 Corinthians 2:11) Being no part of the world, we rise above worldly rivalries. -Read John 15:18, 19. 

Because we are imperfect, though, some of us may  be struggling to eliminate any divisive  attitudes characteristic of our former way of thinking.  (Jeremiah 17:9; Ephesians 4:22-24) Hence, this articles will consider some principles that can help us overcome such tendencies.  We will also examine how we can train our mind and conscience to be loyal to God's Kingdom.  

Next time: Maintain Your Loyalty to God's Kingdom -WHY WE DO NOT TAKE SIDES IN THIS WORLD'S ISSUES

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015