What Does "Christian Officers" Really Mean?

Robert L. VanAntwerp Jr. Major General, USA President and Bruce L. Fister Lieutenant General, USAF, Retired Executive Director

"Christian officers exercising biblical leadership to raise up a godly military." This statement expresses the notion of glorifying God through biblical fellowship. That fellowship equips and encourages OCF members to minister to our military society by exercising biblical leadership so that society may be changed for the glory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

"Christian officers" refers to OCF members.

"Exercising biblical leadership" states what we should do as professionals to impact our military society. And, "to raise up a godly military" explains the end state of our vision.

But, what do these words really mean? Beginning in this edition of COMMAND magazine, which is dedicated to the big OCF picture, we'll address what it means to be a Christian officer. Next month we'll discuss biblical concepts of leadership. And in the November issue we'll discuss what we think a godly military should look like.

So what is a "Christian officer?" Let's look in the Bible for some guidance.

In the New Testament there are four Centurions, military officers in charge of what we would call a company, flight, or department-sized unit of a Roman legion. The report on all four Centurions is generally good. The Centurion at the cross was the first gentile to profess Jesus Christ as the Son of God, when he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God." Couple this with the OCF Statement of Faith which says, "…and since Jesus Christ died for my sins…I have accepted Him as my personal Lord and Savior…" and we conclude that Christian officers must know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. And, as the phrase "Christian officers" implies, we are also called to serve our Lord and our nation as commissioned officers in the nation's armed forces. We are committed to go forth with a commission to lead and to be ambassadors for Christ as Isaiah declared, "Here am I. Send me!"

The Centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant by just saying the word, expressed great faith. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith." Faith is a significant characteristic of Christian officers. The Centurion Cornelius (Acts, chapter 10), who was devout and God-fearing, demonstrated great faith when he obeyed the angel and sent a soldier and two servants from Caesarea to Joppa to summon Peter. Furthermore, Cornelius gathered his family and friends in his home in expectation of Peter's arrival, an expression of faith.

And last, as expressed in the OCF Constitution, we would expect Christian officers to integrate their faith and profession so their lives serve as witnesses for Christ. "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." A centurion named Julius was charged with transporting Paul and several prisoners to Rome. You may recall that a storm developed and the ship eventually grounded on a sandbar near Malta. The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to keep them from escaping. Julius did not allow it. He saved Paul's life when he trusted the prisoners and ordered them to swim for shore. This centurion demonstrated discipline and professionalism expected of military officers or NCOs.

There are several other characteristics we might expect of Christian officers. We would expect them to be effective spiritual leaders in their families. We would expect them to serve with compassion and a view toward eternity. We would expect them to seek Christian fellowship. We would expect them to have a worldview based upon God's inerrant Word, and we would expect Christian officers to be servant leaders as Jesus instructed in Matthew, chapter 20.

Last, we think Christian officers should be secure in their walk with Christ so as to be bold in the profession of arms, courageous in battle, and tireless in the quest for the fulfillment of God's purpose in their lives. Before Joshua was to enter the Promised Land, the Lord spoke to him through Moses, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." We think this summarizes the picture of a Christian officer as one who trusts in the Lord for strength and purpose and serves as a professional officer and ambassador for Christ in the military. With a picture of a "Christian officer" as a foundation, next month we'll discuss how a Christian officer displays strength, purpose, courage, and professionalism through the exercise of biblical leadership.

> Part 2