Allegiance

So a little known fact about me...sometimes I listen to Christian Radio. Sometimes it is because some of the songs I like, sometimes I like the cheesiness of some song and words spoken (note-so sorry if you listen to Christian radio and don't find anything cheesy...ignore my last statement) and yet other times I forget to change it (this is mostly the funniest when I finally realize that I have been listening to static for quite sometime after driving out of range).

As you may have guessed I am going to talk about lyrics to a song that I find end up somewhere between cheesy and unhelpful. It's lyrics set to an upbeat catchy tune, that I find myself singing along with. They suggested that Christianity should be

More like falling in love
Than something to believe in
More like losing my heart

Than giving my allegiance

It is the second half of that where I find my biggest problem, for the simple reason that it seems to elevate emotions (losing my heart) over the truth (my allegiance). With is incredibly unhelpful especially because my heart sometimes does not feel lost at all, it feels very focused on me, my wants, my needs, me.

It is for that reason I find allegiance more of a comfort and truth. My allegiance is to Christ. My loyalty, as one whose citizenship is of Heaven (Philippians 3:20), is to the Lord of Heaven and earth. This is true when my heart seems lost and when it's focused on me. The Word of my Lord is good news to me either way, when my emotions line up with truth and when that don't.

Here is a song that gets it right.

1. My hope is built on nothing less
   Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
   I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
   But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
   • Refrain:
     On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
     All other ground is sinking sand,
     All other ground is sinking sand.
2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
   I rest on His unchanging grace;
   In every high and stormy gale,
   My anchor holds within the veil.
3. His oath, His covenant, His blood
   Support me in the whelming flood;
   When all around my soul gives way,
   He then is all my hope and stay.
4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
   Oh, may I then in Him be found;
   Dressed in His righteousness alone,
   Faultless to stand before the throne.