Loyalty and integrity

This article is on the discussion site

Loyalty and integrity are two qualities desirable in a worshiper of Jehovah. Both are well spoken of in the scriptures. God Himself is spoken of as having the quality of loyalty.

(Psalm 145:17) 17 Jehovah is righteous in all his ways And loyal in all his works.

Integrity doesn’t apply to Jehovah in the sense that He could be considered as not having it, because he is the standard by which integrity is measured. The definition of integrity is moral soundness, not only that, but completeness in it; unbroken, totality. That describes Jehovah.

While loyalty is desirable, integrity is preferable. Someone who has the quality of loyalty doesn’t necessarily have the quality of integrity. Loyalties can be divided, mistakenly applied, given without thought of integrity, whereas integrity always entails loyalty. Sometimes this can be a source of mixed feelings. The worshipers of Jehovah in the time of John the Baptizer might have felt that going to him to be baptized in symbol of their repentance was being disloyal to the priestly system then in place. Their integrity to Jehovah, and their loyalty to the system He had installed to direct His people, might have been at odds with each other. Integrity won out with those who did go to John. When John pointed out Jesus as God’s means of salvation……….

(John 1:29) 29 The next day he beheld Jesus coming toward him, and he said: “See, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world

(John 1:35-37) 35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he looked at Jesus walking he said: “See, the Lamb of God!” 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

Once again their loyalties vs. integrity to Jehovah were tested. Some remained with John out of misguided loyalty, and some followed Jesus, knowing that God’s provision for salvation was the more important factor in their worship.

What about you? Why are you here looking at this site? Is it because your integrity is having a war with your loyalty? Are you struggling with your sense of loyalty to what you perceive as God’s organization, while your integrity to Jehovah is being stretched by the policies and sometimes self-serving teachings of that organization. Do the hypocrisy, class distinctions, and double standards that exist, war with what you know the Bible itself teaches about Jehovah and the actions He expects from His servants? Have you been forestalling any actions on your part because of thinking that Jehovah will straighten it out in due time?

If you look at the examples provided in the Bible, Jehovah always gave His people the information necessary to worship Him in an approved manor. He always gave them reminders. He always told them the results of following the teachings of men. It isn’t any different now. Within the pages of publications published and distributed by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, there is enough truth as stated in the Bible, and the correct understanding of it, that the leadership is without excuse in their mismanagement of Jehovah’s name among the nations. They’ve claimed an exclusive relationship with Jehovah, and whether or not their claim is valid, Jehovah will hold them to the standard required of such a relationship. That requirement also is placed on anyone that would worship Him and claim a relationship based on the sacrifice of His son. That is why integrity and loyalty battle at this time. Each individual has to determine his or her place in Jehovah’s arrangement, inside or outside of His approval. Either the principals that the Bible teaches apply to everyone, all of the time, or they don’t.

If it’s come to the point that your personal integrity is being challenged by circumstances in your worship, it could be that Jehovah is telling you that it is time to separate yourself from among them, you have to decide that for yourself. What about the others? Well, if Jehovah is telling that to you, personally, He will also tell them. It isn’t your responsibility to tell anyone else, unless Jehovah makes it known to you that that is what you are to do. Presumptuousness isn’t something that Jehovah rewards at any level, whether it is at the leadership level of the organization, or at the personal level of individual worshipers. Long, prayerful, consideration of your course is necessary. No matter what you choose, it won’t be easy. There are many things to consider. You are the one that has to decide whether your integrity is at stake, or your loyalty.

After you make your decision, you have to live with it, also not an easy thing to do. If you decide to stay, you have to constantly battle with those things that made you uncomfortable to begin with, and wrangle with your conscience over whether you are doing the right thing. If you leave, that isn’t easy either; you have to make plans for a new way of living in your relationship with Jehovah. Just what do you do? All of your past behaviors have been pre-determined for you to a point; how you worship, how you study, how you preach, how you dress, what you should believe, where to look for proper guidance. All of those are things you thought you had decided on already, now you find you have to address them again from a different point of view, no one to tell you what is right in your worship, except Jehovah, in the Bible. It’s a heady experience, but it is a humbling one too.

SIDGI STAFF MEMBER