Minister's Monthly Message

New Year Resolutions

 

In an article in the Daily Telegraph “New Year resolutions of the great and the good” perhaps the most realistic resolution was Lord Winston’s; “Not to make a resolution as I always break them”. I have some sympathy with Lord Winston because when we make unrealistic resolutions we are simply setting ourselves up to fail. That then leads us into a mindset where we expect to fail.

 

At the beginning of each year in Methodism rather than make resolutions we renew our commitment to God in the Covenant Service. An act of annual commitment that is very important in our tradition. I would like to suggest to you that participation in this act of commitment is more effective than any individual resolutions we may choose to make at the turn of the year. Recommitment to a Christian way of living is an all embracing resolution because one of our prime aims is to become more Christ like in all things.

 

We live in a world that is becoming increasingly dependent on Information Technology and many relationships are forged in the virtual world of social networking sites. Political policy statements seem high on sound bytes and low on content. “Fairness” and “absolutely” seem to be the “must use” words in any policy announcement, whether it is fair, absolute or not. The media are in the spotlight with the Leveson Inquiry ongoing with accounts of phone hacking and untrue smear campaigns against innocent and vulnerable people. For me these current affairs demonstrate the devaluing of human worth in modern society.  How refreshing it has been to once again make promises of commitment publicly in our Annual Covenant services this year. One of the readings that we looked at during the services was from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome and refers to the renewing of our minds.

 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God— this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is— his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

 

This passage has a very real and significant focus on commitment and the subsequent consequences that lead on from it. Paul’s appeal is that we should refuse to let the “pattern of the world” squeeze us into its mould, dictate how and what we think and tell us how we can and can’t behave. Instead we are to be transformed through the renewing of our minds.

 

Like many first-century Jews Paul believed that world history was divided into “the present age”, characterized by rebellion against God and the “age to come” in which God would give new life to the world and humankind bringing justice, joy and peace once and for all. Paul’s writings reflect his belief that this “age to come” had already begun in Jesus, and supremely in his death and resurrection.

 

Christians are therefore in the position of needing to stop letting the world around dictate its own terms and conditions and replace it with what is appropriate for the new age which is already breaking in. As Christians we are therefore called to be counter-cultural in those areas of life which we consider to be contrary to the new age of Jesus teaching. The key to being able to do this is through the transforming of our minds. Having our minds renewed by the persuasion of the Holy Spirit is the vital start of the true human living which is God’s loving will for all those who accept his love in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

This transformation through the renewing of our minds starts with personal commitment to the cause. In January we each had the opportunity to renew our commitment through the Methodist Covenant Service. My prayer is that we will all experience a renewing of our minds throughout 2012 as we seek to follow Jesus more closely. I finish with some slightly paraphrased words from the Covenant Service:

 

Let us give ourselves to God, trusting in his promises and relying on his grace.

Lord God, holy Father, since you have called us through Christ to share in this gracious covenant, we take upon ourselves with joy the yoke of obedience and, for love of you, engage ourselves to seek and do your perfect will. We are no longer our own but yours.

 

Wishing you all a peaceful and fulfilling 2012.                   Richard