I don’t like New Year’s resolutions. That will surprise nobody who regularly reads my posts. I tend to be contrary about a lot of things. This isn’t a conscious decision. I’m not doing it on purpose. When I was younger, I didn’t realize how “toxic” and “arrogant” and “argumentative” I am. Thanks to years of unsolicited council from dozens of offended people, I’m now fully aware that my point of view is callous, hurtful, inconsiderate, and repulsive. It’s not my choice to think like I do. But you DO have a choice about reading it.

First, there’s nothing wrong with making it a goal to be more like Jesus. If everyone in the world was striving to be like Jesus, well…hmmm…I guess we’d be in Heaven. I’m giving two enthusiastic thumbs up to the title of this list of resolutions. Wait, that’s not strong enough. I’m standing on my chair, pumping my fist in the air and shouting, “HALLELUJAH!” out my open window so loudly that the neighbors might call the cops. I agree with resolving to be more like Jesus so much that I might get arrested for disturbing the peace.

I’m so in favor of your resolution that I want to help you succeed. I noticed that, “Be more humble” wasn’t on your list. That makes sense because humility wouldn’t allow a person to publish her intention to strive for humility. Telling the world that you’re going to be more like Jesus is not something that Jesus encouraged.

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.”

(Jesus – In the book of Matthew, chapter 6 verse 5)

One of the reasons I don’t like New Year’s resolutions; they are self-aggrandizing. Publishing your intentions to improve yourself is an attempt to get credit for being good without actually doing anything. Telling me you’re imitating Jesus is easy. Imitating Jesus is hard.

Also missing from your list is, “Be punished for the crimes of others.” The reason Christ came to Earth was not just to ‘hang out with sinners’ and ‘upset religious people.’ Jesus came to humbly (there’s that word again) take the consequences for my crimes on himself.

As for ‘choosing unpopular friends,’ that’s a reckless thing to say. Some people are unpopular because they are evil. Intentionally befriending wicked people is an act of wickedness itself. Not trying to put too fine a point on this but, Jesus didn’t approve of wickedness.

In support of your resolution to be more like Jesus let me encourage you to stop bragging about your intention to be more like Jesus.