The New Year brings the annual tradition of resolutions. In February of last year, the Fisher College of Business reported that “only 9% of Americans that make resolutions complete them”…that 23% of people quit their resolution by the end of the first week, and 43% quit by the end of January.
So just how “resolute” were they? The Oxford dictionary defines that word as “admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering.” Sounds to me like a lot of wavering!
In Luke 9:51, we read,
“As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.”
Other translations might read “set His face” (KJV) or “He was determined” (NASB). But let’s just agree that Jesus was resolute!
In a message to a Gospel Coalition Gathering in October of 2017, the speaker, Don Carson, noted this important point:
“In his own time, Jesus is the misunderstood Messiah, but the readers see what Jesus’ contemporaries did not see: Jesus is resolved to go to Jerusalem to die and rise again.”
The takeaway from this is very important. Jesus was on mission. Not just A mission. Rather, THE mission. While His earthly life was filled with “ministry” His ultimate purpose was to die for you and me. And He was resolute to complete that mission.
This brings to mind a remarkable gathering that took place in Chicago in the fall of 1978.
Those familiar with the preaching and teaching of Christian leaders in that day would be impressed by those who attended. Willing to step up and be counted in defending the complete accuracy of the Holy Scriptures included Francis Schaffer, James Montgomery Boice, J.I. Packer, R.C. Spoul, Carl F.H. Henry, Erwin Lutzer, and a bevy of others totaling over 300 from the Evangelical world.
They would, as a group, sign a document that was called the “Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy.” Beyond that document, there became what might be termed the Chicago Trilogy—referring to three documents that were published by the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy from 1978 to 1986.
The first of those three documents was that initial Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy. Wording in its preface begins as such:
“The authority of Scripture is a key issue for the Christian Church in this and every age. Those who profess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are called to show the reality of their discipleship by humbly and faithfully obeying God’s written Word. To stray from Scripture in faith or conduct is disloyalty to our Master. Recognition of the total truth and trustworthiness of Holy Scripture is essential to a full grasp and adequate confession of its authority.”
This was followed by 19 Articles of Affirmation and Denial. You can read the entire document here.
Make no mistake. The event and subsequent document had plenty of detractors. Some claiming it to be a statement by primarily “white evangelicals.” I chuckled when I read that. Any lack of serious integration at any kind of similar event should never nullify the importance of it.
There are black churches across America that trust implicitly the accuracy of the Word of God. The Church in Africa would put many, if not most Protestant churches in America to shame with their devoted commitment to Christ and God’s Word.
My point here is to state emphatically that the Chicago Statement was an attempt by serious evangelicals to be resolute about their commitment to the Word of God by committing to its inerrancy.
As we begin this new year, might I ask, what are you resolute about? What cause or causes are you determined to pursue—regardless of those who don’t share your views? Will your faith commitment stand up to Jesus’ words that “whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25, ESV)
We live in an age of shifting sands. Do we have enough Christians who have built their house on the Rock? And won’t back down?
Rather than setting out those “resolutions” that have no future in the future, I suggest being resolute to deeper commitments that have substance. Eternal worth.
And if you lose ten pounds along the way, even better!
