Divided Loyalties
- Kingdom Kulture
- Sep 29
- 10 min read
When I was in high school, my family and I made the decision to transfer me to another school for a better chance of achieving athletic success. Despite playing for Crest High School and almost winning the state championship as a starting QB, we decided it was best to transfer to Shelby High after a major disagreement with Crest's coach.
I couldn't believe it. I was transferring to our biggest rivalry. For most of my time at the new school, I felt as though I had betrayed my teammates --- only to learn later on in life that there is a business aspect to sports that most people aren't aware of. Nevertheless, for the first time in my family's history I would be playing for the Golden Lions.
The two schools really had nothing in common -- from the teachers and coaches, all the way down to the colors and mascot. If I'm being honest, after three generations of my family attending Crest High School, my heart still pounded for my former team regardless of the colors or name my uniform bore. Until now, I kept this secret safe inside of my own heart. Considering Crest vs Shelby is known as one of the top five biggest high school rivalries in North Carolina according to multiple online sources, it was very hard for me to fully accept playing for a different school even despite the team going on to win the state championship my senior year.
While reflecting on my high school experience, I couldn't help but notice many similarities between my torn allegiance to my football teams and our torn allegiance as Christians between the Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom, or governments, of this world. Many of us profess a belief in the Kingdom of Heaven, but our hearts are still fashioned on the governments of this world.
Is it possible to completely accept citizenship into a government you can't see yet still jockey for positions in the governments that can be seen? We have been tricked into believing that we can have our cake and eat it too -- That we can live for the world that we can see and simultaneously claim a world that can't be seen.
2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. 3 For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory. Colossians 3:2-4 AMPC
Our hearts are still fixed on the systems of the world while claiming to represent a God that lives on the outside of this world.
We have told ourselves that the number one way to win people and secure the peace and prosperity of the land is by conforming and filling positions, only to find our faith drowning in the sea of forgetfulness whilst trying to memorize the ways of the world and concurrently stand steadfast in our faith amidst a fallen world.
2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Romans 12:2 AMPC
That would be like someone trying to be captain of the Titanic while everyone is frantically looking for an oppurtuinty to jump ship.
The devil has led us astray using our good intention but lack of knowledge. We have tried tirelessly to fight for positions in satan's kingdom yet wonder why none of our leaders who claim Christ have any depth to their faith.
8 Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory (the splendor, magnificence, preeminence, and excellence) of them. 9 And he said to Him, These things, all taken together, I will give You, if You will prostrate Yourself before me and do homage and worship me. 10 Then Jesus said to him, Begone, Satan! For it has been written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone shall you serve Matthew 4:8-10 AMPC
Much similar to the people in the days of Jesus, we expect God to display His Kingdom and conduct Himself in a way that can be seen throughtout the entire world. We have even gone to lengths of trying to establish a better government through men. Much like most of our christian walks, we love the idea of praising God but come up with most of our ideas ourselves.
20 Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He replied to them by saying, The kingdom of God does not come with signs to be observed or with visible display, 21 Nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]. Luke 17:20-21 AMPC
In order to gain a spot in the kingdoms of this world, you must become like the people of this world to be accepted. Isn't it odd that we try and win elections and favor in a world that Jesus said is for sure going to hate us? It's almost as if we think Jesus said, "The world is going to hate you because of Me, but try your best to win their vote anyway." We have turned Christianity into a popularity contest, implying that the more people that love us is a sign of our intimate relationship with God.
18 If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world [no longer one with it], but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you. 20 Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his master [is not superior to him]. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word and obeyed My teachings, they will also keep and obey yours. 21 But they will do all this to you [inflict all this suffering on you] because of [your bearing] My name and on My account, for they do not know or understand the One Who sent Me. John 15:18-21 AMPC
We see that Jesus in the New Testament encourages His followers not to live based on what can be seen but rather live by their faith. He even encourages them not to worry about food, clothes and even water. If anyone should have come to this world and gotten a position, it would have been Jesus. However, He came to this world to testify about a position He already held in another world that couldn't be perceived with natural eyes.
14 When the people saw the sign (miracle) that Jesus had performed, they began saying, Surely and beyond a doubt this is the Prophet Who is to come into the world! 15 Then Jesus, knowing that they meant to come and seize Him that they might make Him king, withdrew again to the hillside by Himself alone. 16 When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, John 6:14-16 AMPC
Unfortunately, many people (my own uncle and grandpa, for example) who have fought and risked their life for the governments of this world come home from war regretting their decision. Many left to defend their nations only to return to broken homes and broken promises from the government they risked their lives for. The Bible teaches us that no matter how many governments exist in this world, all of them will fail and only the Kingdom of Heaven will remain.
44 And in the days of these [final ten] kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people; but it shall break and crush and consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand forever. Daniel 2:44 AMPC
I've never been into the stock market, but it seems counter productive to invest time and energy into anything that is guaranteed to crash. How much longer will we put our hope and trust into lies and conspiracy theories before we realize that the government Jesus proclaimed is the only one that can give us a return on our investment?
Time and time again, we profess that this government was built on the foundation of the Bible. However, if this was true America would look more like Acts and less like Rome. In Acts, we see what it looks like to have the Kingdom of Heaven on full display for the first time since the death of Jesus. Contrary to popular to belief, the Bible shows us exactly what one Government under God actually looks like:
31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom and boldness and courage. 32 Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything which he possessed was [exclusively] his own, but everything they had was in common and for the use of all. 33 And with great strength and ability and power the apostles delivered their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace (loving-kindness and favor and goodwill) rested richly upon them all. 34 Nor was there a destitute or needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses proceeded to sell them, and one by one they brought (gave back) the amount received from the sales 35 And laid it at the feet of the apostles (special messengers). Then distribution was made according as anyone had need. 36 Now Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles, which interpreted means Son of Encouragement, 37 Sold a field which belonged to him and brought the sum of money and laid it at the feet of the apostles. Acts 4:31-37 AMPC
This is the model that still works today and is currently being implemented in the place we all hope to call home someday: Heaven.
Wouldn't it be nice to serve a King that came to give us life and life more abundantly instead of serving rich men controlled by other rich men who give us vaccines to reduce the population? Even after many deaths and drugs plaguing communities, we still have foolishly put trust into systems that are here today and trying to take us out tomorrow.
Unfortunately, many of us have fallen victim to Stockholm Syndrome, a severe mental disorder where someone falls in love with their abuser or captor as for means of survival. We have gotten so used to being lied to and led astray that we have fallen in love with presidents and kings in this world because dishonesty and greed have become the new norm.
We have become akin to the pharisees who, when Jesus spoke of living for another kingdom, hated him for it.
15 But they shouted, Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him! Pilate said to them, Crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar! John 19:15 AMPC
They had fallen in love with the government of Rome that allowed some religious activities but quickly rejected anything that would take the attention and devotion away from them. The pharisees preferred adhering to a familiar government that would kill them if they gained too much power rather than serving a government that they had no prior knowledge of. Sadly, we see this same principle among the children of Isreal who preferred to return to bondage rather than fight for an unfamiliar freedom.
23 However, after a long time [nearly forty years] the king of Egypt died; and the Israelites were sighing and groaning because of the bondage. They kept crying, and their cry because of slavery ascended to God. 24 And God heard their sighing and groaning and [earnestly] remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the Israelites and took knowledge of them and concerned Himself about them [knowing all, understanding, remembering all]. Exodus 2:23-25 AMPC
2 And the whole congregation of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 And said to them, Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger. Exodus 16:2-3 AMPC
Interestingly enough, we see the pharisees use their patriotism as a means of persuading the Roman (worldly) governement to kill Jesus. The pharisees claimed to be servants of God but held their country in higher esteem than God's only begotten Son.
1 Then the whole assembly of them got up and conducted [Jesus] before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, asserting, We found this [a]Man perverting (misleading, corrupting, and turning away) our nation and forbidding to pay tribute to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), a King! 3 So Pilate asked Him, Are You the King of the Jews? And He answered him, [[b]It is just as] you say. [I Am.] 4 And Pilate said to the chief priests and the throngs, I find no guilt or crime in this Man. 5 But they were urgent and emphatic, saying, He stirs up and excites the people, teaching throughout all Judea—from Galilee, where He began, even to this place. Luke 23:1-5 AMPC
We see the people whom the Bible calls heroes of the faith in Hebrews not taking claim of the government in which they were born, but rather pursuing a government in which they had faith would bring them new, eternal life.
14 Now those people who talk as they did show plainly that they are in search of a fatherland (their own country). 15 If they had been thinking with [homesick] remembrance of that country from which they were emigrants, they would have found constant opportunity to return to it. 16 But the truth is that they were yearning for and aspiring to a better and more desirable country, that is, a heavenly [one]. For that reason God is not ashamed to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob], for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:14-16 AMPC
We see divided loyalties come into play between the Roman empire and the Kingdom of Heaven which Jesus was manifesting on earth.
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom (kingship, royal power) belongs not to this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My followers would have been fighting to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, My kingdom is not from here (this world); [it has no such origin or source]. John 18:36 AMPC
We must take a step back and examine our faith and our Bible to see if we are fighting for a spot in a place that God says is not our home.
In North Korea, it is considred treasonous to label yourself a Christian. Would God considered it treasonous to label ourselves as patriots?
4 You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God. James 4:4 AMPC
Question of the Day: If Jesus brought another government on His shoulders, would it be considered treason to invest your love and attention to any other kingdom or government?
Here's a video that exemplifies great faith and what it means to truly leave the world behind.
