The Value
Humility is the foundation of everything we do. Talent matters greatly here, but nothing matters more than humility. We value the fruit of the Spirit above virtuosic ability. We seek to ask first, "What is the Lord teaching me through this?" before forming judgments. Humility allows us to speak truth, but always in love. It keeps us curious, aware that there is often more going on than we can see. It frees us to be second, or even last, to give the limelight away, and to trust that if it is the Lord's will, our time will come. Above all, humility reminds us that we are small participants in the greatest story ever told: the Kingdom of Christ coming to earth.
The Anti-Value
Pride, entitlement, self-promotion, comparison, and ambition disconnected from Christ.
MORE INFORMATION
Scripture
"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6)
James is writing in the mid-first century to Jewish Christians scattered across the Roman world, many of whom were navigating rivalry, social pressure, and internal conflict. His language is intentionally confrontational. He does not describe pride as a neutral flaw, but as a posture that actively places a person in opposition to God. Humility, by contrast, is portrayed as the posture that receives grace. James wants his readers to understand that spiritual vitality is not achieved through self-assertion, but through submission to God's work. In a creative and leadership-rich environment, this has profound implications. Skill, visibility, or confidence alone are insufficient if they place us at odds with grace. Humility is not weakness. It is alignment.
Early Church Father
St. Augustine (354-430 AD) wrote: "It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels."
For Augustine, humility is not optional character polish. It is the dividing line between life and collapse.
How this applies to us
We promote and entrust responsibility to those who demonstrate humility, teachability, and spiritual maturity. We expect leaders and members alike to ask what God is doing in them before critiquing others. We celebrate excellence, but never at the expense of Christlike character.
Humility