Should Christians make vows?

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KrisWampler

Guest
#1
#1
Not referring to marriage vows or swearing under oath (you could probably have a whole ‘nother discussion on those topics).

More like the Nazirite vow we read about in Numbers, a voluntary decision to consecrate oneself to the Lord through abstaining from different activities.

This is more than simply swearing off something, say social media, for a time. It’s a solemn vow to God to avoid those things at least for a temporary period.

The way Numbers describes the Nazirite vow, for instance, there was no divine command to do so but it was encouraged for those wishing to give themselves over to the Lord so they may better fellowship with and worship Him.

Is there any reason Christians cannot, or should not, make vows such as these? Maybe if we did - instead of simply “trying to be better people” (a human-centered approach) - we’d even see positive changes in our lives and in our walks?
 
OneOfHis

OneOfHis

Well-known member
#2
Mar 24, 2019
1,430
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#2
My words can't bring any more power into my actions than God can when I lean on Him.

When I hear of our vows or promises which do not hold the weight of His vows, a few verses come to mind.



Ecclesiastes 5:4-6


4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?


Matthew 5
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.



Not to say if you personally felt convicted that making a vow is surely a mistake, but in my own walk it wouldn't be remotely helpful though I have considered and prayed about this very thing and also have made promises I was unable to keep.
 
Pilgrimshope

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
#3
Sep 2, 2020
14,175
5,727
113
#3
OneOfHis said:
My words can't bring any more power into my actions than God can when I lean on Him.

When I hear of our vows or promises which do not hold the weight of His vows, a few verses come to mind.



Ecclesiastes 5:4-6


4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?


Matthew 5
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.



Not to say if you personally felt convicted that making a vow is surely a mistake, but in my own walk it wouldn't be remotely helpful though I have considered and prayed about this very thing and also have made promises I was unable to keep.
Click to expand...
I believe Jesus doctrine is meant to be considered and believed upon not like a list of rules but like concepts and ways of perceiving

so we have Moses saying “ make sure you keep any vows you make “ Jesus saying “ that’s what you heard before but I tell you don’t make any vows at all not foreswear yourself “

I think he’s giving us good advice

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12:36-37‬ ‭KJV‬‬

we know of course we’re going to be judged by our actions and deeds but if we add to our work more by obligating ourself up front it’s just more we have to do now once we obligate ourself before we’re obligated completely to do exactly what we’ve said

I think it’s just good sense coming from the judge himself explaining we don’t want to go that route
 
Pilgrimshope

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
#4
Sep 2, 2020
14,175
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#4
“And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.

And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭24:6-8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

his words and thier words were bound in blood everything in the book of the law was now required of them because they vowed to keep it all this became the curse of the law

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬


Making vows up front can bring too much on us when we aren’t prepared to live it out but if we stay with christs word we’re going to remain in belief and be brought into obedience by believing in and following him learning from him him and his promises rather than ours to keep
 
soberxp

soberxp

Senior Member
#5
May 3, 2018
2,511
482
83
#5
James 5:12
My brothers, the most important thing is not to swear. Do not swear by heaven or by earth, no matter what. If you speak, say yes or no, lest you fall under judgment.
 
Combanitorics

Combanitorics

Banned
#6
Oct 29, 2021
217
23
18
#6
KrisWampler said:
Not referring to marriage vows or swearing under oath (you could probably have a whole ‘nother discussion on those topics).

More like the Nazirite vow we read about in Numbers, a voluntary decision to consecrate oneself to the Lord through abstaining from different activities.

This is more than simply swearing off something, say social media, for a time. It’s a solemn vow to God to avoid those things at least for a temporary period.

The way Numbers describes the Nazirite vow, for instance, there was no divine command to do so but it was encouraged for those wishing to give themselves over to the Lord so they may better fellowship with and worship Him.

Is there any reason Christians cannot, or should not, make vows such as these? Maybe if we did - instead of simply “trying to be better people” (a human-centered approach) - we’d even see positive changes in our lives and in our walks?
Click to expand...
There's a part in the Bible that says not to swear by the Heavens because it is God's throne, or the Earth because it is his footstool. Having said that, if a civil magistrate tells you in court to swear on an actual Bible to "tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God", then it's a good idea to do it. I've never been asked to do so, of course. Judges these days don't own Bibles, probably just as well, since there are so many competing and often spurious translations on the market.
 
Combanitorics

Combanitorics

Banned
#7
Oct 29, 2021
217
23
18
#7
KrisWampler said:
Not referring to marriage vows or swearing under oath (you could probably have a whole ‘nother discussion on those topics).

More like the Nazirite vow we read about in Numbers, a voluntary decision to consecrate oneself to the Lord through abstaining from different activities.

This is more than simply swearing off something, say social media, for a time. It’s a solemn vow to God to avoid those things at least for a temporary period.

The way Numbers describes the Nazirite vow, for instance, there was no divine command to do so but it was encouraged for those wishing to give themselves over to the Lord so they may better fellowship with and worship Him.

Is there any reason Christians cannot, or should not, make vows such as these? Maybe if we did - instead of simply “trying to be better people” (a human-centered approach) - we’d even see positive changes in our lives and in our walks?
Click to expand...
Oh, Nazarite vows? Yes, I remember once hearing that Jesus was from Nazareth. Was he actually a member of that particular sect of Judaism, because I've heard of it? Another common conjecture is that he was a member of the Essenes.
 
G

Gideon300

Well-known member
#8
Mar 18, 2021
5,366
3,163
113
#8
KrisWampler said:
Not referring to marriage vows or swearing under oath (you could probably have a whole ‘nother discussion on those topics).

More like the Nazirite vow we read about in Numbers, a voluntary decision to consecrate oneself to the Lord through abstaining from different activities.

This is more than simply swearing off something, say social media, for a time. It’s a solemn vow to God to avoid those things at least for a temporary period.

The way Numbers describes the Nazirite vow, for instance, there was no divine command to do so but it was encouraged for those wishing to give themselves over to the Lord so they may better fellowship with and worship Him.

Is there any reason Christians cannot, or should not, make vows such as these? Maybe if we did - instead of simply “trying to be better people” (a human-centered approach) - we’d even see positive changes in our lives and in our walks?
Click to expand...
Making vows is unnecessary and maybe counterproductive. It's putting yourself under a law. That's never a good idea. Making a vow assumes that you can keep it, which in some instances is simply pride. Daily I ask Lord Jesus to live out His life in me and through me. My life has not been any easier since I started doing that but for sure the difficulties do not affect me anywhere near as much.
 
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