Are You Loyal?

W. Carl Ketcherside

[Page 12]

     It is a common thing to hear men speak of "loyal churches" or "disloyal churches." The loyalty to which they refer is generally conformity to a partisan or factional position. Each group has its own special measuring rod. In one case a church is loyal if its membership, or at least those in authority, oppose the United Christian Missionary Society; in another if they oppose individual cups; in another if they oppose classes; in another if they oppose the use of unfermented grape juice in the Lord's Supper; in another if they oppose orphan homes. Thus, a man who is regarded as loyal by one faction, will be branded as disloyal by all others.

     There are as many loyalty tests as there are "Churches of Christ." Most of these are based on negative attitudes. In many cases, it makes little difference what all a man is for; what counts is the one thing he is against. He may be loyal and be for many things that are wrong; but he must be against the right thing that is wrong. Read that again! No one is recognized as loyal by all of the brethren; all of the brethren are recognized as disloyal by someone.

     The word of God says, "This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment." This is not sufficient for the factionalist. Proper regard for Jesus, and love for the brethren, count for nothing unless one is in line with the party. It is not a matter of standing for Christ, but falling for the unwritten creed, that makes the difference. Our experience has been that as love for the party increases, love for the brethren decreases. Brotherly love is supplanted by partisan love for those who agree with us. Others are regarded as dishonest, treated as outsiders, and subjected to coldness and indifference.

     As God looks at us, there are probably no "loyal churches." There are some in each congregation who do the best they know how to do; there are many in each who do not. It is our attitude toward truth that makes the difference. Some may have but little knowledge and do much for Jesus; others have much knowledge and do but little. We will not be saved or lost as congregations, but as individuals. This does not imply that it makes no difference where you belong. It may make a great deal of difference. But wherever you are a member, the congregation is made up of frail humans, and it is just as "loyal" as all of the members who compose it. I pray for the day to come when party names, tests, and creeds, will be discarded, and love for the Master will be the true measure of a man's spiritual worth and standing.