A Test of Loyalties

A woman who grew up in Zambia says: “I was religiously inclined from a young age. Daily prayer in the family shrine room, observance of religious days, and regular attendance at the temple were part of my upbringing. My religion and worship were closely intertwined with my culture, community, and family.”

Yet, when she was in her late teens, she started studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses and shortly thereafter decided to change her religion. Was this an act of disloyalty?

The way you answer those questions depends on your viewpoint. The woman mentioned earlier says: “In my community, changing one’s religion carried with it an unforgivable stigma; it was considered an act of disloyalty, a betrayal of one’s family and community.”

Loyalty to Jehovah is based on love. It motivates a person to love what Jehovah loves and hate the wicked things that Jehovah hates. (Psalm 97:10) Since Jehovah’s dominant quality is love, loyalty to God helps to prevent a person from acting in an unloving way toward others. (1 John 4:8) So if out of loyalty to God a person changes his religious beliefs, it does not mean that he no longer loves his family.

Loyalty to God​—A Beneficial Force

The woman mentioned earlier explains her actions this way: “Through my study of the Bible, I came to know Jehovah as the true God, and I developed a personal relationship with him. Jehovah is unlike any of the gods that I previously worshiped; he is perfectly balanced in love, justice, wisdom, and power. Since Jehovah requires exclusive devotion, I had to leave the other gods behind.

“My parents repeatedly told me that they were highly displeased with me and that I was letting them down. I found this very difficult, since my parents’ approval means a lot to me. But as I progressively grew in knowledge of Bible truth, the choice became an obvious one for me. I could not turn my back on Jehovah.

“Choosing to be loyal to Jehovah rather than to religious traditions does not mean that I am being disloyal to my family. I endeavor to show them by my words and actions that I understand how they feel. But if I am not loyal to Jehovah, then I may prevent my family from coming to know him, and that would be a real act of disloyalty.”