New Years Resolutions

New Years resolutions are the promises that people make to themselves at the start of each new year and then break in the first few weeks of the year.  "I'm going to lose 50 pounds."  "I'm going to be more organized."  "I'm going to learn to tolerate that obnoxious person at work."  Blah blah blah!  Almost no one is able to keep their resolutions until the end of the year.

Although not everyone, even today, keeps the same time reckoning, the modern concept of a solar year of 365 days arose in 153 BC/BCE under the Romans.  It was in 46 BC/BCE that Julius Caesar established the Julian calendar and declared the first of January as the first day of the year.  The month of January was named for the Roman god named Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances.

Returning to New Years resolutions; at my workplace we have a dry-erase board in the main restroom on which people write all sorts of messages.  Currently what is posted is a list of New Year's resolutions.  One of the resolutions, intended to be humorous is "Drive no more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit."  Of course, this started me to thinking.

The resolution is a statement of our current concept of "self-restraint."  We decide we have a right to disobey a law we feel is silly or that is limiting us. What is shows is a disrespect for authority of any sort and an elevation of the self to the place of greatest importance.  Christians are reminded of the words of Paul in Romans 13:1-7,  "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil.  Wherefore [ye] must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.  For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.   Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."


A deeper reading of Jesus' instruction to "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's ..." includes the traditional explanation of the verse but also notices that He says to give to Caesar (government) what Caesar can legitimately expect: obedience to civil laws; participation in civil activities such as voting, paying taxes, and helping during crises and disasters; possibly participating in the military and/or civil forces, etc.  We are to cooperate with the government unless, in doing so, we would come into conflict with our Christian principles.

In the fourth chapter of Acts,  Peter and John refused to obey the command of High Priest Caiaphas to not spread the name of Jesus.  "But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." Acts 4:19-20.

When we feel compelled to disobey the government, the instruction of Jesus to render unto Caesar still stands.  We must be willing to pay the legal penalties for disobeying the law.