In Bushido: The Soul of Japan (1900), Inazo Nitobe explains that the life of the Samurai revolves around duty, often understood as an unwavering loyalty to one’s master: “The life of the Samurai is based on duty, which includes unquestioning loyalty to one’s master. If necessary, the Samurai was expected to give his life without hesitation.” This mindset extended to the Kamikaze pilots during World War II, who believed their ultimate duty was to their country, even if it required their death. Such dedication illustrates the fierce nature of loyalty and its potential for misplaced devotion, especially when it conflicts with higher moral principles.
From a Christian standpoint, loyalty and duty are critical virtues as well. However, there is a clear distinction in what the object of this loyalty should be. While Bushido’s loyalty was often focused on a human master or nation, Scripture teaches that God must be our first and ultimate loyalty: “No one can serve two masters… you cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Jesus’ words here highlight the need for singular devotion to God, even when competing loyalties arise. Balancing our earthly obligations with our higher call to God’s kingdom is the challenge.
Navigating Loyalties in a Complex World
We are called to loyalty not just to God but to civil authorities (Mark 12:17; Romans 13:1-2), family, and the community around us. In practice, navigating these multiple loyalties requires moral discernment, but the Scriptures guide us.
The Bible acknowledges that Christians live in a complex world where divided loyalties are a reality. Jesus, in His prayer for His followers in John 17:13-18, emphasizes that though we are in the world, we are not of the world. This detachment from worldly systems allows Christians to engage with the world from a place of discernment. Our loyalty to God must supersede all other loyalties, but it also gives shape to our other duties—to family, church, neighbors, and society.
Loyalty to God Comes First
In the hierarchy of Bushido values, loyalty to one’s lord overshadowed all else, including family and self-preservation. But for Christians, when loyalties compete—such as between God, family, country, or self-interest—the answer is straightforward yet challenging: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Still, living this out is not as simple as it sounds.
The Bible teaches us over and over again in passages like Deuteronomy 6:5 (“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength”) that God comes first. But as history has shown, this sometimes places Christians in tension with the world around them, even their governments. For instance, during World War II, Christians loyal to Christ and His teachings on mercy and justice could not justify atrocities committed under the civil authorities of Germany. While Bushido would have demanded blind loyalty to one’s lord or country, Christian loyalty demands moral judgment and adherence to God’s higher law of love and justice, which often leads to resistance against evil.
Jesus Himself, when sending out His disciples, warned them that they would face persecution, legal trials, and physical punishment for their obedience to God’s command to spread the Gospel (Matthew 10:17-19). In these moments, the Samurai’s rigid adherence to their master might appear similar to the Christian’s call to follow Christ no matter the cost. But for Christians, this obedience is not grounded in loyalty to human authority—it is grounded in a relationship with God, who is the ultimate source of truth and justice.
Loyalty to Family Comes Next
This is another area where the Christian understanding of duty diverges from Bushido. Thomas Cleary writes, “In the hierarchy of Bushido values, loyalty to one’s lord was placed above everything else, even above family and self-preservation” (Cleary, 1999). We have already established that loyalty to God comes first, but what follows? I believe family must come next. God places great importance on family. The family was created before governments and serves as the foundational unit of society. God insists that we care for our families, and in 1 Timothy 5:8, Paul makes it clear that failing to do so is a serious failing.
Jesus taught that loyalty to Him would sometimes create tension even within families (Matthew 10:34-38), but this does not diminish the importance of familial duty. We are still called to honor our parents (Ephesians 6:1-3) and care for our family members. Family comes next in the hierarchy of our duties, as it reflects God’s design for human relationships and the transmission of faith and values across generations.
Loyalty to Society, Government, and Work
We also have responsibilities to civil authorities, our jobs, and our broader communities. The Bible instructs us to submit to governing authorities because they are instituted by God (Romans 13:1-7). As long as the government’s laws do not require us to sin, we should obey them. However, should they contradict God’s commands, we must remain loyal to God, as Peter declares, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
Similarly, we are called to work diligently and serve others honestly in our jobs (Colossians 3:23). Although these responsibilities do not generally conflict with our loyalty to God, they must still be ordered beneath our primary devotion to Him.
While we are called to obey human authorities, both in government and family, there are times when our loyalty to God must lead us to disobey these authorities. Christians are to “submit to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1-7), but that submission has limits. When governments or parents require us to act against God’s commands, we must refuse. As Peter boldly declared, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). This principle sets Christian loyalty apart from the Bushido code.
In The Way of the Samurai, William Scott Wilson writes, “Loyalty is the backbone of Bushido. Without loyalty, the other virtues of the samurai—courage, benevolence, and respect—become meaningless.” Similarly in the Christian life, loyalty to Christ must inform all our other virtues and obligations. When loyalty to Christ is threatened by the demands of human authorities, we are called to stand firm in our faith, regardless of the consequences.
Self Comes Last
Both Bushido and Christianity agree on this point. For the Samurai, loyalty and duty meant sacrificing self-interest for the greater good of their master or country. Christianity calls for a similar selflessness, but it is grounded in love for God and neighbor. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The Christian life is one of self-denial for the sake of God’s kingdom and the good of others.
Conclusion
As Christians, we are called to navigate a complex web of loyalties—to God, family, church, employers, government, and society. Bushido’s unwavering loyalty to a master or lord is a useful analogy for the Christian’s loyalty to Christ, but it lacks the nuance of Christian obedience. While Bushido demanded absolute loyalty to a flawed human being, Christian loyalty requires moral discernment. Our primary duty is to God, but this duty encompasses a moral responsibility to justice, mercy, and truth. Our obedience must not be blind; it must be grounded in our relationship with God and informed by His Word. This does not mean, however, that we can ignore our duty in other areas.
We must teach our children and ourselves to be both loyal and discerning in our loyalties. We must engage with the world, upholding justice and mercy, while maintaining a primary loyalty to God. This engagement is not easy; it requires wrestling with difficult decisions and navigating moral complexities.
Bushido’s virtues of loyalty, courage, benevolence, and respect resonate with Christian values, but only when framed by a higher loyalty to God. Loyalty is not simply following orders or adhering to tradition; it is, in the Christian context, following the truth and serving God above all. This sometimes means standing in opposition to the world and risking personal cost, but in doing so, we reflect the ultimate loyalty—to Christ, our Lord and King.
In a world filled with competing loyalties, may we remember Jesus’s words: “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24), and seek first the kingdom of God in all things. Only by placing God at the center of our loyalty can we faithfully navigate the complexities of duty in this life.
Questions to Consider:
- Have you ever experienced a situation where your loyalty to God conflicted with other responsibilities (family, work, or society)? How did you handle it?
- In what areas of my life do you struggle with putting God first?
- What areas of your life require greater sacrifice for the sake of others or for the advancement of God’s kingdom?
- Are you fulfilling your God-given responsibilities to care for and support your family?
Some activities you can do with your family to help teach loyalty:
Make a Loyalty Tree
Draw or craft a tree on a large piece of paper. Each family member writes acts of loyalty on leaves (e.g., praying for others, obeying parents, being faithful to God) and attaches them to the tree. As the family continues to show loyalty, they can add more leaves over time. Discuss how loyalty grows like a tree, starting small but becoming stronger and more fruitful with consistent actions.
Family Movie Night and Discussion
Watch a family-friendly movie that features themes of loyalty and faith (e.g., “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” “Prince of Egypt,” or “Toy Story”). Afterward, discuss the characters’ choices of loyalty and how those align with Christian principles. Talk about the loyalty seen in the movie—whether to friends, family, or a cause—and how that reflects or contrasts with loyalty to God. Tie in Bible verses, such as “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
By Jeremy Sprouse
Jeremy has been married to Erynn since August 1999. They are blessed with six children: Jaden, Isaiah, Isaac, Ean, Joseph, and Evelyn. Jeremy preaches for the Patrick St. church of Christ in Dublin, TX and is the author of To Train Up a Knight.
Other lessons in this series:
- Spiritual Bushido
- The Way of Righteousness
- Heroic Courage
- Benevolence
- Respect
- Honesty
- Honor
- Duty/Loyalty
- Self-Control (coming soon)
Knights of The Father 