This article first appeared in the January 2024 edition of Scholar’s Journey, the monthly newsletter of the Emerging Scholars Network. Not getting the newsletter? Click the “Join” button on this page. No dues, no required meetings–just lots of good resources for your scholarly journey!
We often look at the new year as a time for a clean slate, a fresh start. Yet with many friends I talk with, 2024 has the feeling of an approaching storm, a time we find ourselves bracing for rough going. I suspect I needn’t go into the reasons for this. Here are a few of my resolutions for 2024 that you might find helpful.
More Jesus. I’ve been struck by commentary that many people are leaving the church not because they don’t believe the church’s message, but that it doesn’t seem that the church does. I want to know Jesus, love Jesus, follow Jesus, and become more like Jesus. I also want to live as one who trusts Jesus as the Lord who is sovereign over our politics, over the nations of the earth, and, indeed, over our imperiled planet.
More Bible, Less Social Media. Our Life Group was reading Psalm 1 last night and noted that “Blessed is the one…whose delight is in the law of the Lord” (Psalm 1:1-2). We talked together of what it would be like to spend more time in delighting in what we find in scripture and less time enraged or depressed with what we see on social media.
More Relationships, Less Othering. A family member related to us her experience of volunteering in a local community organization with a person wearing an article of clothing identifying the person’s political persuasion. Yet she found the individual wonderful to work with on a personal level and just as committed to that local organization. They found common ground. Perhaps because of the isolation of the pandemic, we became more accustomed to “other” those who disagree with us, even our brothers and sisters in Christ. This won’t solve everything, and is not always possible, but where else do we begin?
Keep Politics in Its Place. That place, for me, is under King Jesus and his kingdom. While politics matter as does responsible citizenship, it is penultimate, just politics. I want to remember that there is more to life–good work to be done, cultural goods to celebrate, create, and preserve, relationships to cherish, and a creation to tend. In a saying attributed (but unsourced) to Martin Luther, he said, “If I knew the world was to end tomorrow, I would still plant an apple tree today.” If even the worst I fear should occur, I want to be found faithful.
Perhaps you may find these helpful. Or perhaps there are other things you have resolved in 2024. I’d love to hear about your resolutions–and ask me how I’m doing with mine!
Bob Trube is Associate Director of Faculty Ministry and Director of the Emerging Scholars Network. He blogs on books regularly at bobonbooks.com. He resides in Columbus, Ohio, with Marilyn and enjoys reading, gardening, choral singing, and plein air painting.