The most oft broken vow by Christians, says theologian Carl Trueman, isn’t marital vows to remain faithful, ministerial vows to preach the gospel, or baptismal vows to raise children in the fear and nurture of the Lord:
No. The most broken vow is almost certainly that by which church members submit to the authority and teaching of the elders in the church. It is as solemn and serious as any other vow one might take — marriage, baptism, an oath in court — and yet what does it mean? How many truly think about the implications? How many truly act as if the vow really meant something? The vows are voluntary, but once taken, they are serious and require focused commitment and a particular pattern of behaviour. Yet members feel free to speak as they wish to, and about, church leaders; they move from church to church as, so some say, the Spirit leads them; and they trample their vow to submit again and again.
I suspect Trueman is right—it’s certainly the vow I’ve broken most often.
March 2nd, 2010 | 10:04 am
I remember my marital vows, I remember the baptismal vows with regard to my children, and I have never taken pastoral vows–so that one does not apply to me; however, I do not remember taking a vow to submit to the authority of the elders in my church. Must have missed that somewhere. Also, could someone please reference the Scriptural command that applies? And how about moving from church to church?
March 2nd, 2010 | 11:32 am
Hebrews 13:17
March 2nd, 2010 | 12:24 pm
Many Christians (and this includes lay Catholics) see Church as a cultural phenomenon. Or some type of a “club” one belongs to, or feels recognized. Although recognition of another human being within the community is incredibly important, we cannot see the Catholic Church as just some organization. Certainly, there is culture that is part of, but this is perhaps secondary or even tertirary aspect of the Catholic Church. The Church is first and foremost a reality, at whose center is Christ. At whose center is Truth. This cannot be forgotten. My point in mentioning this is that the reason why people have problems submitting is precisely because they are blind to the higher reality of the Church. We must step outside of ourselves in order to recognize that reality. What’s amazing is that once that step is made, inevitably we shall see ourselves, manifested as People of God (Gaudium et spes). We shall see the person who we are called to be.
March 2nd, 2010 | 2:03 pm
Pray, tell, where is this a “vow” for Catholics, as opposed to a matter of unvowed obligation? Catholics normally distinguish carefully among evangelical counsels, obligations, promises and vows, for example.
March 2nd, 2010 | 2:37 pm
Hebrews 13:17, also see 1 Peter 5 and passages in 1 Timothy. This is a toxic element in the Western Church, both Catholic and Protestant. Yes, one can always find abuses, but that does not give us a license to engage in anarchy. I call it, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and Christ-Mart – if you don’t like the product at one church just take your business elsewhere. Hardly a Biblical paradigm.
March 2nd, 2010 | 5:11 pm
“…It is as solemn and serious as any other vow one might take — marriage, baptism, an oath in court…”
This really needs to be substantiated and supported extensively if people are not expected to balk. A vow to Elders is as serious as a vow to one’s wife? Sounds more than a little over-the-top.
March 2nd, 2010 | 8:19 pm
Most formal vows are made in front of witnesses and and are recorded in writing.
I wouldn’t consider reading a sentence of scripture to be the equivalent of a formal vow.
March 3rd, 2010 | 12:46 am
I agree with the commenters before me, this is not a vow I have taken, this is not a vow asked of people joining a church, in general.
In fact, a church which required such a vow would quickly be labelled a cult.
While there are Scriptures cited by some above which tell us to obey our leaders, one of the major principles of the Reformation was the supremacy of the individual conscience over any church authority.
Certainly that freedom of conscience can be abused, but the blanket condemnation Truman pronouces seems a bit extreme.
March 3rd, 2010 | 9:31 am
In Catholic terms, a verse of scripture is *not* a vow. A vow is a very distinct thing.
March 3rd, 2010 | 11:08 am
For Catholics, I have always understood that the “vow” was made at baptism. We promise ourselves to Christ and to His Church. Catholics renew these baptismal promises at least once a year at Easter. I know folks will argue that the baptismal “vows” aren’t specific on the obedience thing but obedience is what is called for and what is necessary to be faithful to the promises. To say otherwise is just ignorance or stubborness.
Now, you can argue that a “promise” and a “vow” are different. I would need someone else to verify which term is most appropriate for the context of baptism but it almost doesn’t matter. Is my “promise” to Jesus Christ any less binding than my “vow” to him?
March 3rd, 2010 | 9:01 pm
Thank you for your comment, Liam. In Evangelical terms, also, a verse of Scripture is not a “vow.”
Also, nowhere in the above cited Scriptures, are “elders” singled out above other “authorities”(?) within the Church universal.
And, since when is talking about elders wrong? Are they above criticism? And since when has moving from church to church become anathema? My word, where is this individual coming from!!
March 6th, 2010 | 1:54 am
The bishops allow Catholics to go to parishes outside their geographical parish. It’s okay, and isn’t even breaking their rules. Also, elders are not necessarily authority figures. If I want to obey the teaching of the Magisterium, there are a lot of Catholics, including priests, older than me who will look down on me for it, but I don’t care. I think the only vow I ever took, other than renewal of my baptismal promises, was the Confirmation statement to believe and profess all that the Church teaches. I have tried to not break that one. I didn’t think it was a “vow of obedience” though, akin to something I might take if I joined the Benedictines. The commandment to honor father and mother encompasses obedience and honor for all just authority, which includes the Church, but it is not a vow. This writer sounds like his facts are a bit off, and his word choice is so poor I don’t understand why his essay was linked on this site.
Links
Blogs
Find Us
Contact