Resolved!

The Puritans were not big on celebrating the New Year. As a matter of fact, they were down-right against it. Instead of celebrations, they encouraged young men to think soberly about the coming year and resolve how to live holier lives in it.

Apparently this early, U.S. tradition has been somewhat diluted in recent centuries.

Jonathan Edwards wrote 70 resolutions when he was 19 or 20 by which he determined to live his life. One of those resolved to “never speak anything ridiculous… or (a) matter of laughter on the Lord’s Day.”

This might explain “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”

Although it was not in his list of 70 resolutions, Edwards’ commitment to study the Scriptures for 13 hours each day certainly cut him off from the life of his church. Of course, on the up side, at least his congregation did not have to worry about their pastor getting involved in illicit relationships. From the news that I have received from around Christendom in the last six months, perhaps it would be good for many pastoral workers to resolve to spend more time in the Word and less doing embarrassing things.

We have had the privilege of knowing David and Rennie Garda for a number of years. The Garda’s founded and direct Cadre Ministries. In a brief explanation of why he hadn’t been sending out so many emails of late, David wrote, “I've been wrestling (with) applying what I've learned from studying the getaway’s of Jesus. I don't know anyone who filled his days more intentionally with ministry than my hero Jesus. At the same time he never let his priorities get turned up-side down by anyone else. He took responsibility for his mentoring, his pace and his soul. I want to live that way, too!”

A brief look at how Jesus took time away from ministry shows that He got away 21 times in 3 ½ years of public ministry. He spent about half of His getaways alone and the rest with His ministry team. He got away with four main purposes: to pray; to rest; to equip others; and, to align with His father’s will.

I have never been big on making New Year’s resolutions. I am certainly not opposed to saying humorous things on Sunday! However, if I was going to make a resolution for this year, I think it would be to imitate Jesus in His getaway’s… especially those to align with His will. I would like to make sure that I do not become guilty of doing silly or embarrassing things in this ministry with which I have been entrusted.