PERSONAL LOYALTY

A. Introduction.
 1. We have seen God's plan for CFC and His call to each of us.
  a)CFC is called to global evangelization.
  b)CFC is to be a Christian community of committed and loving men and women,
united in the cause of Christ.
 2. One of the main things that will ensure unity and hold CFC together is personal loyalty.
 a)Many of us are loyal to an idea, an ideal, a cause, or even an organization such as CFC.
b)These are all good, but here we want to focus on person­al loyalty.
Personal loyalty affects 3 types of rela­tionships:
  *To our brother/sister in the Lord.
*To members of our family.
*To our head or subordinate in CFC.
 
B. What is loyalty?
 1. Dictionary definition of "loyal" = constant and faithful in any relation or obligation,
implying trust and confidence.
 *This is a good definition, but loyalty for us goes even deeper.
 2. Loyalty grows out of the very nature of God. He is loyal.
 a) Words often used in the Bible: steadfast love and faith­fulness.
  * Love = God cares for us.
  * Faithfulness = Not just care, but reliability of commitment.
When we have a relationship with God, we can count on Him.
  b) Thus, the very nature of God is "faithful love".
3. Christianity is fundamentally a matter of personal loyalty.
 a) It is loyalty to a person, Jesus.
 b) Modern confusion: Christianity as a doctrine, as values, as an outlook on life.
 * It is all these, but more basically is a relationship with a person.
  *So if one is orthodox in doctrine, has good values, etc., but is not personally
committed to God, then he is not necessarily a good Christian.
 4. Members of a Christian community should be loyal to one another, and loyal
to the community itself.
 a) This stems from the very nature of God. God has made a personal commitment to us.
  b) It goes beyond what people deserve.
 *Example of the prophet Hosea. Told by God to marry a prostitute, who was unfaithful to
him,
Hosea would have been justified to divorce her, but did not.
  * This was about Israel's relationship with God. God could have rejected Israel, but did not.
 Loyalty is not dependent on the other person, but is unilaterally given in a community.
 C. Ways of being disloyal.
 1. To abandon somebody.
 a)God could have abandoned Israel, because Israel aban­doned God.
 b)We too have abandoned God in many ways.
 2. To betray somebody.
a) Loyalty engenders a close personal relationship. One is able to entrust one's life to another.
 * Note: this should be the case among household members .
 
 b) Betrayal is not just an outright turning against (like Judas), but can also be things
like betraying confidence.
 3. To deny somebody.
 a) This is to say "I do not know you".
 * One such context is Mt 7:21‑23.
 b) This does not mean two persons have never met. Rather, it means they have no relationship.
The other is not a person that one answers for.
 D. Areas of loyalty.
 1. We need first of all to be loyal to God.
 a) But this same relationship with God also points to our relationship with one another,
because we are brethren in the Lord.
 b) Thus one definition of community is a group of people who are loyal to one another,
who love one another with a commitment and a reliability and a faithfulness
that means they are really welded together.
  c) We need to have this kind of intense loyalty in CFC,( but especially in the MCG.
 2. Relationship of headship and subordination. 
a) Generally, headship is for good order.
 * But it also involves something more: personal loyalty between head and subordinate.
 * It is a relationship of brotherhood/sisterhood.
 ‑ Like shepherd and sheep.
‑ Can call upon each other in times of need.
‑ One is for the other, not against.
 b) Being head is not just a job description, but both head and subordinate
are to be life‑giving to each other.
 * CFC elders/leaders and CFC members look to the life and strength of CFC.
 * Husband and wife look to the life of the family.
 * Parents and children.
 E. What goes into being loyal?
 1. "You take care of your own".
  a) Be truly concerned with your brother/sister. Identify with them.
See them advanced and honored.
 b) For heads, this includes giving hard teachings.
  * Call on one another to live out our covenant.
 * Failure to do so is failure to love and be loyal.
 2. When there is conflict in the body.
 a) In our life together, loyalty will be tested.
 * Miscommunication, disagreements, gossip.
  * Forces, including the devil, will try to divide us and thus conquer.
 b) What if a brother/sister is accused (e.g., graft in government)?
 * Our basic posture: I don't believe it.
 ‑ What is important in loyalty is not the actual guilt or innocence of a brother, but what is
our first reaction or instinct. Is it a loyal one, or a judgmental one?
 * Our defense for unity: 1st- don't readily believe an accusation; 2nd-defend your brother/sister.
 ‑ Don't allow yourself to become skeptical or suspicious just on the basis of an accusation.
 
  *Do not judge (Mt 7:1) and do not speak against (Jas 4:11).
 ‑ Thus we do not receive, discuss or propagate accusa­tions against our brethren.
 ‑ We are loyal in thought and in speech.
 * How then do we deal with problems?
 ‑ Through brotherly correction. Mt 18:15‑17.
‑ Through authoritative correction from heads (par­ents, elders in CFC).
 *Loyalty is not opposed to love of truth. We can and should right wrongs.
The difference with us is that we do not judge or speak against.
  * Be prepared for cases in which accusations against our brethren, especially our leaders,
turn out to be true.
 ‑ We are called to be loyal as well to human beings who have weaknesses and faults
and are sinners.
 ‑ In fact, it is regarding one another's weaknesses that we may most have to be loyal.
If there is no weakness in the body, there in no test of loyalty.
 * When a brother is in trouble, it is not the time to abandon him, but rather we should stand
with
him. We need not necessarily be convinced of his innocence, but we stand with him because
we
are committed to him as family.
 * We should also be prepared to resist distrust and accusations over long periods
when it may be impossi­ble to ascertain all the facts.
 ‑ We should steadfastly resist seeing one another made victims of gossip and suspicion.
 ‑ We should aggressively defend our unity.
 3. Keep family matters within the family.
4. We should always maintain a spirit of openness.
a) Do not keep any question, doubt, resentment or hurt in your heart. Bring it out to the proper persons.
 * Of course, you can decide to forbear.
* But if you do so, make sure that a negative feeling is not planted in your heart.
  b) On your end, be open to any such input, clarification or correction.
  * CFC leaders will not cover for you if you do wrong. In fact, they will correct you precisely because they
are loyal to you.
  * This personal openness is for all CFC members, includ­ing the elders.
  * Our posture:
 ‑ Do not question the other person's love for us.
- Do not be onion‑skinned (matampuhin).
‑ Be eager for such input!
 c) In CFC we should have an atmosphere where anyone can go freely to anyone else.
  * Do not be afraid to talk to anyone, even the elders.
  * Leaders are not to develop turfs or their own kingdoms which are off‑limits to others.
 * Of course, be prudent at all times.
 F. Conclusion.
 1. The body of Christ is never built up or renewed without encountering opposition. We can expect this.
  * Our ability to carry out our mission depends on our unity, which involves loyalty.
 2. We become truly a community when we know that our life is safe in our brethren's hands.
 * Our secrets, weaknesses, private affairs are safe.
 3. We in CFC will need to move as one, as a disciplined army.
 a) We can expect Satan to try to divide us. But if we are fiercely loyal to one another,
then we will be united, strong and effective.