In this episode of Out of the Question, Andrea Schwartz and Charles Roberts examine the meaning of allegiance, loyalty, and partisanship, emphasizing that a Christian’s primary allegiance must always be to God alone. They begin with a reflection on a Supreme Court justice who claimed to separate her personal convictions from her rulings, using this as a springboard to discuss divided loyalties and the danger of pledging allegiance to anything other than the sovereign God of Scripture. Roberts and Schwartz argue that allegiance is a formal commitment to a sovereign, and since there can be only one true sovereign, Christians must not pledge ultimate loyalty to the state, political parties, or even national symbols. They highlight how misplaced allegiance—such as patriotic worship services or the idolatry of the nation—parallels ancient paganism’s worship of man and the state. Biblical examples like Daniel and his friends show that while Christians can be loyal to civil authority, their allegiance must remain uncompromised before God. The hosts then explore how these distinctions apply in practical and political life, contrasting legitimate loyalty (such as to family or community) with partisan bias that often conflicts with biblical truth. They warn against partisanship that elevates party or ideology above God’s law, citing examples like “Christian Zionism” and blind political affiliation. The conversation concludes with reflections on authority, conscience, and faithfulness in public and private life: a Christian in any position of influence must obey God first, even at personal cost. They urge listeners to read R.J. Rushdoony’s Sovereignty and Christianity and the State for a deeper understanding, and to continually evaluate whether their decisions flow from allegiance to God, loyalty to people or institutions, or mere partisanship—a distinction they believe is essential for genuine Christian faithfulness in a compromised culture.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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