virtue

When Loyalty is NOT a Virtue

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , 2 Comments

My bible study currently has me in the book of Ruth. In scripture, Ruth stands a pillar of loyalty – a woman whose profound faithfulness and selfless love is rewarded by God’s blessings of family and prominence in the lineage of King David and, thus, Christ Jesus.

The Bible emphasizes the merits of loyalty in marriage, family and friendship. Most importantly, scripture accentuates the importance of loyalty to God.

To characterize loyalty as a virtue would thus seem to be a no-brainer.

I would argue, however, true virtue manifests not in loyalty itself but in that to which one chooses to be loyal. Certainly, loyalty can be a virtue reflecting trust, commitment and a sense of responsibility – one which inspires support and sacrifice.

Conversely, loyalty can be corrosive – particularly if it manifests in allegiance to something or someone that is immoral, corrupt, abusive and/or vindictive.

There is no person alive more demanding of loyalty among his acolytes than Donald Trump. This demand, of course, is for personal loyalty to him – not to the country to which his political minions have pledged allegiance. POTUS revels in the litmus tests he accords his followers, such as their championing of the false, stolen election narrative.

The Ironies of the Ultimatum

Such demands are perfectly reflective of his narcissism, his insecurity, and his blatant self-centeredness. Needless to say, there are several fascinating ironies here.

For example, in making personal loyalty rather than competence the determinant in building his administration (see Hegseth, Gabbard, Kennedy, etc.), Trump not only weakens the country but demands disloyalty to the Constitution. His insistence that VP Mike Pence invalidate the 2020 election is but one of innumerable episodes in which Trump has demanded his truth supersede that of our nation’s laws.

Chillingly, his frequent and self-validating falsehoods demonstrate disloyalty to God. For while the rectitude of loyalty may be situational, the Lord does not compromise on truth.

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

Proverbs 12:22, NKJV

Ironically, loyalty is not a quality Trump is capable of reciprocating. Pence was loyal to the point of humiliation. In return for his nearly four years of groveling, POTUS offered tacit approval of a mob’s intention to “hang Mike Pence.” Needless to say, Trump’s infidelities reveal his inability to maintain loyalty within his marriage.

The Great Danger

The examples of Trump’s abuse of his office to exact retribution upon those who fail to bend the knee are profuse. Beyond Pence. Beyond Comey. Beyond Kelly, Barr, Mattis, Vindman and more. In virtually each instance, it involves Donald Trump putting himself above the people and the Constitution of the United States to satisfy his fragile ego.

This, ultimately, is the greatest danger of his presidency. A man whose ego is so brittle – one which can only be satisfied by bullying the rest of humanity into submission – should not oversee this country’s nuclear arsenal. Nor its global leadership. This is what his followers fail to comprehend.

A Final Irony

Trump, in his narcissism, believes that the declarations of loyalty by the GOP’s congressional lemmings are genuine. My guess is that such declarations are, by and large, insincere – that their true allegiance is not to POTUS but to their own relevance and power. These legislators were first-hand witnesses to the persecution of true patriots like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger – who remained loyal not to a man, not to their careers, but to their oath to uphold the Constitution.

Actually, most were far more than indifferent witnesses – they were the persecutors themselves – condemning those with the integrity to speak truth to power – in order to gain favor with the man who could smile on their political fortunes.

Perhaps we can conclude that loyalty is a conditional virtue – one that only becomes virtuous when it is grounded in wisdom, fairness and ethical purpose. These all seem to be absent in the demands of Trump and the posturing of his followers.

Virtuous Leadership

Tom Ratkovich, , , , Leave a comment

In his instructions to his protégé Titus, the Apostle Paul outlined essential qualifications of a church leader:

“For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.” (Titus 1:7-8, ESV)

While I am reluctant to conflate church and state as it feeds the disastrous Christian Nationalism narrative, I believe that important elements of Paul’s criteria for elders can be extended to leadership excellence and effectiveness in the political arena.

A virtuous leader – regardless of the domain – provides an example of how we are to treat and respect others. He (or she) is not, for example, “arrogant or quick-tempered.” That is, he does not assume himself to be the smartest person in the room. He is not only willing to listen but actively seeks to leverage the wisdom of others. Importantly, he is not “violent” or abusive to those who fail to fall to their knees before him.

Instead, a leader should be “hospitable” – welcoming the opportunity to engage with those to be led in a “self-controlled and disciplined” manner – demonstrating goodness, integrity and humility.

In an earlier post, I pointed to King Solomon’s wisdom and humility as virtuous traits of an effective leader of men. Needless to say, Solomon’s humility dissipated in the face of wealth and women, precipitating the fracture of Israel. Perhaps we can see similar traits in would-be leaders of today.

Many great leaders of the Bible were indeed flawed, but were humbled and repentant when confronted with their sin. Moses, for instance, led Israel out of captivity in Egypt demonstrating faith, compassion and obedience to God’s will. Yet he equivocated on more than one occasion – his trust in God wavering as he doubted his ability to deliver on what God was commanding. Needless to say, he found that trust.

From his youth, King David maintained a deep connection with God. He was gifted with bravery, conviction, compassion and faith. And, like most, he was burdened by pride. David was both an adulterer and murderer. He needed God’s help to see his sin. But once he did, David was repentant. He found God’s mercy and grace to be prodigious. David was promised that his descendant would sit on the throne over God’s people for eternity.

The Apostle Peter was a flawed man. Yet Jesus calls on Peter to “Feed my sheep.” Peter was asked to carry the Gospel to the Jews – the very people who crucified the Son of God. Why? Because despite his many missteps, Peter did not wallow in self-pity. He did not blame others or circumstances. He accepted responsibility and grew. That is what virtuous leaders do.

Perhaps the greatest lesson – the most powerful example ever given in leadership – is that provided by none other than Jesus Christ. That lesson is this: ultimately, leaders are servants – whether such service is as humble as washing the feet of His apostles, or as momentous as satisfying God’s wrath as the propitiation for the sins of His creation through death on the cross.

Scripture is clear that virtuous leadership is a function of character. Integrity, faithfulness, trust, humility, self-control, truth and compassion are among those qualities that make a leader virtuous and effective. Arrogance, greed, self-righteousness, falsehoods and a lack of repentance do not.