Strength & Honor: Character Lessons of Centurion Leadership

“Brothers, what we do in life echoes in eternity.”-- Maximus Decimus Meridius

“I believe that character reaps destinies.” -- Colonel Jeff O’Leary (Ret.)

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24


In 2000, the movie Gladiator won five Academy Awards. It is easy to understand why, as it is the story of an unselfish, courageous leader who led by example, fought to triumph good over evil and stood firm to the end in the face of overwhelming odds. The hero of the movie was Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman Centurion. Before each battle Maximus would say to his fellow warriors, “Strength and honor.” These words were the oath of Centurion and represented the ideal to which every Roman Centurion adhered. They also hold important character lessons and represent an important model for godly leadership.

To fully appreciate the ideals of “strength and honor,” it is necessary to understand what it meant to be a Roman Centurion. The Centurion was not your standard soldier or “legionnaire.” Rather, a Centurion was a leader in charge of 100 men. In his book, The Centurion Principles, author Colonel Jeff O’Leary (Ret.) describes a Centurion:

A battle-hardened legionnaire was promoted to the rank of Centurion based on at least sixteen years of combat service and valor at the point of the spear. He was able to carry ninety pounds of equipment at least twenty miles per day and train under the harshest of conditions. The Centurion was required to equip himself at his own expense and pay for his own food, clothing, bedding, boots, arms, armor, and pay dues to the burial club. He was a skilled engineer and builder in addition to being the finest combat soldier. He held ultimate sway over the welfare of every man who served in his hundred-man century. The enlistment period was for twenty-five years, after which a cash payment and small plot of land were provided (unless the treasury was short of cash, in which case, commitment to service was involuntarily extended)… To rise to Centurion was considered the highest honor a legionnaire could attain. The Centurion always led his troops from the front.

As you can see, there was no easy way to become a Centurion. It was not a position of appointment and could not be purchased. It required complete and total dedication to a singular purpose, seasoned by harsh, brutal experience over a long period of time. It is also an excellent model for the character Christ desires in a man, because it addresses the “how and why” of Godly leadership. For that reason, it is beneficial to take a closer look at the “strength” (how) and “honor” (why) of a Centurion.

There are many different aspects pertaining to the “strength” of a leader. However, the aspect I want to focus on is strength of character. In my last blog post, I talked about the importance of developing mental toughness in order to endure hardship. This time, I want to examine the role faith plays in maintaining strength of character. 1 Corinthians 16:13 states, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.” This verse could easily be part of a Centurion’s order to his men before a battle and it effectively and succinctly summarizes the meaning of strength in the Centurion oath. The first time I studied it, however, one phrase stood out more than the others: stand firm in the faith. It begged the questions, “What does it mean to “stand firm” and how does that apply to faith?

There are many definitions for the phrase “stand firm,” but the following five seemed especially relevant: 1. Refusal to abandon one’s opinion or belief. 2. Not wavering in the face of fear or hardship. 3. Possessing fortitude (Strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain with adversity or courage) and perseverance. 4. Refuse to back down; remain solid under criticism or attack. 5. Be steadfast or upright. All of these are attributes any man would desire for himself. As for the definition of faith, one needs only to look up Hebrews 11:1-2, which states, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” If these definitions of “stand firm” are applied to the Biblical definition of faith, then the picture becomes clear. Just as the Centurion was expected to persevere until the enemy was vanquished, “standing firm in the faith” means the man of God must maintain trust in our Heavenly Father and finish the mission regardless of the pain or perceived impossibility of the situation. In short, it is an unyielding confidence in the omnipotence of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. Ironically, in Matthew 8:8-10, the Bible even uses a Roman Centurion to illustrate this truth. I do not think that is coincidence. Finally, the need for unwavering faith further reinforced by Hebrews 10:37-39, “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, ‘He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.’ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. “ How is Centurion strength of character attained? It is attained by learning to stand firm in your faith in God.

Nehemiah chapter 7 is a good place to begin examining the honor of a Centurion. The walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt and it was time for Nehemiah to appoint leaders over the city. One of the men he chose to lead was Hananiah. The Bible says that Hananiah was chosen specifically because “… he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do.” In other words, Hananiah was chosen because he understood the meaning of honor. When used as a noun, honor is our reputation. It is our character, as seen or judged by others. Nehemiah also understood that men who have a reputation of integrity and purity of character have the ability to powerfully motivate those under their care. This is especially true for leaders, whose conduct (especially during times of difficulty and stress) speaks volumes about their character. When a godly man is appointed to a position of leadership, God uses him to affect the lives of others and speaks through him to accomplish His purpose.

Honor is not just a noun. It is also a verb. When used as a verb, honor is the respect or reverence we have for another. That is what is meant by Hananiah’s fear of God. To honor God is to revere Him; to have a profound, adoring, awed respect for Him. The Roman Centurion also understood this concept. Why did he adhere to uncompromising ideals? Not just because his personal reputation was at stake but, more importantly, to show honor to his emperor. As men of God in positions of leadership over others, we must also understand this. In the words of author Jeff O’Leary, “We who lead are reminded that we are responsible to more than earthly authority when we are placed in leadership over others.” We must never forget that Christ alone is the source of our strength and that we must strive to honor Him in everything we do and say. As the Bible says in Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. “ That, more than anything else, is why the man of God must possess character that demonstrates the honor of a Centurion.

Right about now, the enemy might be trying to convince you that you do not have what it takes to develop the character of a Centurion. That is a lie. The truth is that Satan knows God uses righteous men to lead the way here on earth. Satan also knows that God doesn’t need men who are skilled at many things. Rather, He looks for men of integrity, who fear Him and are willing to go when sent. If a man possesses those qualities, God will provide him with the additional training and skill necessary to complete the mission. As Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, so eloquently puts it,

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”

Young men, take 1 Corinthians 16:13 to heart. Strive to live your life in service to the Lord Jesus Christ with the strength and honor of a Centurion.

Mike McFarland
Guest Director