To Whom Will You Give Your Allegiance?

The Latin pronunciation for allegiance is “fidelitatis”. The Latin word ‘fides’ translates to faith. Allegiance is the faith we put into our God, or our country. So how do we know to whom we should give our allegiance? I will be talking about three books that can help us answer that question; The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde, The Screwtape Letters, and The Enoch Letters. The first is a story about human nature, and our ability to choose who we become. The second is from the prospective of a devil trying to destroy the Christian faith, and the third is the story of a true conversion to Christ.

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The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde, is a story about a respected doctor living in London who made some bad choices in his youth, but was able to overcome those temptations. He later becomes interested in drugs, and is able to create a concoction of sorts, that allows him to become a dwarf, whom he names Mr Hyde. This dwarf is pure, complete evil. E-V-I-L. He created another potion that can turn Mr Hyde back into the proper Dr Jekyll. Now, Jekyll is a decent guy, with some good and evil in him (like any normal human being). Mr Hyde is only evil. Dr Jekyll finds himself wanting to become Hyde more and more, and ultimately, permanently becomes Hyde. The author of the book, Robert Louis Stevenson, said “In each of us, two natures are at war–the good and the evil. All our lives the fight goes on between them, and one of them must conquer. But in our own hands lies the power to choose–what we want most to be, we are. “In this case, the evil Mr Hyde overcame the good doctor. Why? Because his hunger for evil became stronger than his motivation to do good.

The Screwtape Letters is a classic novel. Screwtape, a cunning old devil is instructing his naive nephew, Wormwood in the art of becoming devilish. In this particular chapter, Screwtape is talking about Wormwood’s young man, whom he was instructed to lead astray. He says “Let him do anything but act. No amount of piety in his imagination and affections will harm us if we can keep it out of his will…The more often he feels without acting, the less he will be able ever to act, and, in the long run, the less he will be able to feel.” Do you think Screwtape was right? If a person doesn’t act, how can he become better? Monica Johnson has said, “As a Christian, we can’t stand on the sidelines with no team jersey or team colors to show our allegiance to Christ.” How can a person claim to have their allegiance with God, and not be actively proclaiming the good news, or serving others? In another part of the book, Screwtape says “…you must ask what use the Enemy (meaning God) wants to make of it, and then do the opposite.” Now, theoretically speaking, if we want to do the will of Christ, all we have to do is ask what the devil would do in the situation, and then do the opposite. Thanks Screwtape. So if Screwtape, doesn’t want us to act, shouldn’t we be acting all we can?

The Enoch Letters is a story about a man named Mahijah, who become a follower of the prophet Enoch, and lives in his city. Mahijah is trying to convince his friend Omner to join him. In this particular letter, Mahijah is describing Enoch. He says “…Enoch’s great faith has kept him pure-not the neglect of the adversary…belief and faith do not require a man to cease using his reason. Use the power of your mind, Omner, but let your heart be opened to the influence of the Spirit through mighty prayer. Take the first faltering steps of faith. Choose before it is too late, my dear Omner!” We must choose NOW, who our allegiance belongs to. There will not be any fence sitters in Heaven. You have to decide, one way or another, before it is too late.

So to whom will you give your allegiance? Who will hold your faith, and your trust? The Devil (no matter how much he talks himself up) can’t make that decision for you. God can’t even do that. It is completely up to you. Remember, “…in your own hands lies the power to choose-what you want most to be, you are.”