Integrity First. Service Before Self. Excellence in All You Do. These were the principles that were drilled into my brain as I navigated basic training. They become central to your thinking as you are molded into an airman. The Air Force calls these phrases our core values. They were designed to be foundational tenets for individuals working within that particular military branch. A person could apply these principles whether you are guarding an intercontinental ballistic missile or sweeping an aircraft hangar.
We’ll take the latter as an example. If you are sweeping the floor, will you skip that hard-to-reach area, or will you employ “Integrity First” and do the right thing even when no one is watching? While sweeping, are you going to complain about the mundane task or practice “Service Before Self” to know that the needs of the service come before your personal preferences? Finally, will you hastily sweep the floor or ensure it has a mirror finish, taking pride in “Excellence in All You Do?” Every task was supposed to be viewed through this lens. And many supervisors would remind you about these phrases often to make it a smoothly operating entity.
Although there aren’t quippy phrases for Christianity, we should all have some core values. We know that having Faith is paramount,
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6). We know that we must exude love because, “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him.” (1 John 4:16).
These are foundational and formational phrases that we should put into practice. We certainly can say that these are core values for every Christian. But there is one that the Apostle Paul highlights for us all to cling to.
1 Corinthians 2:1-2 — “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
As Christ’s followers, we see the emphasis is not on my personal abilities or pithy phrases, but our foundation rests on Jesus’ sacrifice for all of us. We must be reminded of this often; we set aside a time every Sunday. However, it should form us into a new creation. In this brief phrase, we see the history of humanity: A sinful creation violating the will of God, an immense love for the world, an atoning sacrifice, and a desire to be reconciled. These have a way of transforming our minds. We needed a Savior, and He paid the price for me…
The phrase “Christ and Him Crucified” changes my perspective on every interaction. It seasons my conversations, engulfs my outlook, and propels me forward. It takes the focus off me and places it on Christ.
Galatians 6:14 — “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
The Air Force used these phrases to mold a unit of people into a collective force that placed a level of honor on military service—essentially, using these words sets service and your contributions to that service as the highest priority. The values of the Gospel transform us into placing that importance not on ourselves but on Christ. When we do this, we start to see the world from his perspective. He has already done so much for me; let me live for him- “Christ and Him Crucified” becomes our most central Core Value.