There is a story of five believers in the Soviet Union during “The Great Patriotic War” (WWII). Most Christian believers were pacifists who refused to carry arms. Some were shot for treason as a result. On one occasion an officer made five believers dig their own graves. Upon completion, he asked those who would renounce their faith to step forward. Understanding that they would die if they did not renounce their faith, two stepped forward. The officer approached those two and shot them, but not before saying this, “If you will renounce your God you will surely betray your country.” The other three he sent off to carry messages, supplies and stretchers of the wounded and the dead. The officer understood that some loyalties are greater than others. Loyalty to God, wife, and family supersede loyalty to the state. If one is not faithful to God, wife and family how can we expect faithfulness to the state?
