allegiance

for the past few months, i've been thinking a lot about allegiance. allegiance to God. allegiance to people. allegiance to country. allegiance to party. allegiance to sports team. we all have allegiances. it's in our dna to identify with someone/something. the question i've been pondering is how sin contributes to and distorts this desire in our hearts.

we are all born with an innate desire to know and have relationship with our creator. throughout scripture, we see this play out. this is our identity: to be know God and be known by Him. we ARE His. however, our sin nature that we are born with (because of the fall) distorts this identity. we become fragmented. all of a sudden, our identity as CREATION and TREASURE of the most high God is not enough. it is too risky. not tangible enough. so, we try to find our identities in everything else (what we're good at. what we're not good at. who we know. etcetera.).

i think this is where allegiances come in.

we want to belong. we want to fit in. we believe in something, and find security in what that group means. i observed this over and over throughout the campaigns of the recent presidential election. each side told their people what they wanted to hear. security often dictates allegiance. i understand why the world operates in such a manner. however, i feel deeply convicted about the allegiances that christians are willing to forge. ARE WE MORE AMERICAN THAN CHRISTIAN?

the office of president of the united states is one of the most important and pivotal roles in the world today. however, placing all of our hope in what one imperfect man can do is one of the greatest tragedies i have seen in my lifetime.

psalm 130:7
"O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

this is just my humble understanding.