Perspective

   By L. Jim Tuck

January 14, 2023

New Year’s Resolutions?

Greetings from Phoenix,

             It is a new year, and this is the time when millions of people make resolutions, which, more often than not, they do not keep.  How often do people set a resolution or commitment knowing they will ultimately procrastinate yet another year to do whatever change is needed. 

            When did making resolutions originate and celebrating the New Year become such a big deal? Not surprisingly, it is not an American holiday. It came about around four millennia ago.  Babylonians rang in their new year with an eleven-day festival in March.  The ancient Egyptians celebrated the beginning of the new calendar year during the Nile River's annual flood. By 46 B.C., the Roman emperor, Julius Caesar, had moved the onset of the new year to January first, in honor of the Roman god of beginnings, Janus, an idea that took some time to catch on. However, in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII brought the January first New Year back in vogue with the Gregorian calendar, a concept that endures to the present. The origin of making New Year's resolutions rests with the Babylonians, who reportedly made promises to the gods in hopes they would gain favor in the coming year.

            Making resolutions is a common thing people do around the world every year. What about us?  How should a Christian view this secular New Year’s resolutions tradition?

            Did you know the celebration of New Years is never once commanded in the Bible?  Neither Jesus or the Apostles ever observed it. The concept of New Year’s celebrations and traditions originated in pagan Babylon and eventually ended up in Rome. The Romans called it “Saturnalia” in honor of the Roman god, Saturn. It was a time of reveling, drinking, orgies, and ended with a human sacrifice. The time of celebration was connected with the winter solstice and began in mid-December, ending on January first. “In its midst was December twenty-five, the day, as the Romans calculated, when the sun was at its lowest ebb…” (4000 Years of Christmas, page 28, E.W. Count)

            We must not say, “It doesn’t matter.” The Bible emphatically commands us not to learn the ways of the nations of this world (Jeremiah 10:1-2).

            At first the church resisted the practices of Saturnalia, but because there were so many immigrants coming into the ranks of the Roman church, they found they were facing an invasion of pagan customs.  Rather than resist these customs, the Catholic Church amalgamated them into their church, drawing and gaining those who hung on to these pagan practices. The habit of Saturnalia was too strong in the people, so they acquiesced (4000 Years of Christmas, page 31).   

          Typically, people promise to lose weight, get in better physical shape, get out of debt, or be a better person. No one would fault someone for trying to do any of these things, as they are worthy goals. However, the reality is most do not keep the promises they make to themselves this one time at the beginning of the year.

            The Apostle James admonished the brethren: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit;’ 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” (James 4:13-16)

            Making promises to one’s self, which are not kept, only serves to tear down the character one wishes to build. Only with God’s help can we make meaningful changes in our lives, and that isn’t a once-a-year commitment, but an everyday promise to God.  

            A vow in the Hebrew is defined as a promise.  King Solomon, with his special wisdom, gave instructions about making promises to God: “Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore, let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes through much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by his many words. 4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed—5 better not to vow than to vow and not pay.” (Ecclesiastes 5:2-5)

            God’s people especially examine themselves around Passover time, but also throughout the year.  Rather than making rash promises to God, how much better to simply set goals and work towards them all year long asking for God’s strength and help when tempted to not carry through. Overcoming for us is not a once-a-year resolution, but a lifetime of fighting daily battles.

            This is my Perspective.

            Have a great Sabbath day!