Runaway Train: When Loyalty Goes Off the Rails in the American Church

There’s a kind of loyalty that honors God. And then there’s the kind that slowly takes His place.

In today’s American Church, we’re often told to be loyal—loyal to pastors, to political figures, to church brands or groups. On the surface, that sounds good.

But loyalty without truth? That’s not just risky. It’s dangerous.

Blind loyalty hides behind faithfulness. It resists correction. It demands allegiance, even when what you’re following is clearly off-track.

We’ve confused loyalty with godliness. Not every train you board takes you closer to Jesus.

When Loyalty Replaces Discernment

Let’s be real—we’ve all seen it.

Someone stays in a toxic church because they think it’s “loyal.” Someone stays with an abusive partner longer than they should. Someone who hangs with the wrong crowd so long that they become one of them. Someone supports a leader who keeps hurting people but calls it “faithfulness.” Someone defends a politician who acts the opposite of Jesus—because they think loyalty to a party means loyalty to Christ.

But that’s not loyalty. That’s putting something—or someone—above God.

"The human heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" — Jeremiah 17:9

When loyalty blinds us, we’re not following Jesus. We’re just riding a train that looks spiritual but is heading the wrong direction.

And let’s talk about this idea of being “ride or die.” It sounds bold. But ride or die—no matter what?

That’s how gangs talk. That’s how cults talk. That’s how the mafia talks. And those kinds of loyalty have ruined lives, families, and entire nations.

Now we see the same mentality in parts of the Church and politics. Loyalty is often demanded before anything else—even before character, honesty, or fruit.

If someone demands loyalty first? That should raise a giant red flag.

“You shall have no other gods before me.” — Exodus 20:3

Our loyalty belongs to God. Not to tribes, movements, or leaders. Just Him.

Rehoboam’s Fall: Loyalty to the Wrong Voice

In 1 Kings 12, Rehoboam takes over for his father, Solomon. The people ask him to be kinder than his dad.

The older advisors tell him to show mercy. But Rehoboam turns to his friends—his crew—his "yes men" and guys who want him to look strong. They tell him to get tough, not soft.

Rehoboam listens to them. He stays loyal to his pride. His crew. His loyalty to his "crew" produced disloyalty to God. The result? The nation splits in two.

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." — Proverbs 16:18

Loyalty to ego ALWAYS cost more than we think, as it often produces blatant disloyalty to God.

How Loyalty Turns Toxic in the American Church

Most toxic loyalty doesn’t start that way. It begins with good intentions—honor, gratitude, shared values. But over time, it mutates into something dangerous.

Discernment gets replaced by silence. Red flags get waved off as "persecution". And things that were once clearly wrong somehow become explainable—justified as "part of the bigger picture."

Loyalty turns toxic when truth has to bend to preserve it.

And people will twist Scripture into knots to make it fit their loyalty. They’ll shape Jesus to look like the thing they’re committed to—whether it’s a political party, a leader, or a tribe—and call it true faith. But how is that any different than the Israelites worshiping the golden calf and still claiming to follow Yahweh?

History clearly shows that when someone demands loyalty—and then demonizes anyone who won’t give it—there’s something deeply wrong with their motives.

That kind of loyalty doesn’t come from love. It comes from fear, pride, and the desire to control.

Jesus never asked for that. He never demanded blind allegiance. He didn’t silence those who questioned, He welcomed them. He invited people to follow—not to bow.

Let’s be clear: He never asked for loyalty to brands, personalities, or power structures. He asked for loyalty to God alone:

“You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.” — Matthew 4:10

Who's Really Driving This Train?

In Luke 14:26, Jesus said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple."

That sounds harsh, but Jesus wasn’t promoting hate. He was calling His followers to prioritize Him above every tie and title. Loyalty to Christ has to outrank everything—family, politics, tradition, identity. Everything.

It’s worth asking the hard question: Who is actually steering our train?

Because if Jesus is the navigator, the evidence will show up. The fruit will speak. There will be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

So look at the fruit. Look at the direction. Look at what the loyalty is producing.

If a person’s “ride or die” loyalty produces arrogance, division, dishonesty, or hatred of others—Jesus isn’t the one driving. If the mission demands unquestioned loyalty and punishes those who walk away, the Holy Spirit isn’t at the wheel.

Loyalty to Christ isn’t about riding the most powerful, loudest train. It’s about riding the right train, to the right destination, with the right Spirit leading the way.

If your loyalty keeps you riding a train that Jesus never boarded, it’s time to pull the emergency brake.