Why Keep Vows?

The Value of Making Vows

"I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people" (Ps. 116:14).

Hippocratic Oath

One of the oldest binding documents in history, the Oath written by Hippocrates is still held sacred by physicians: to treat the ill to the best of one’s ability, to preserve a patient’s privacy, to teach the secrets of medicine to the next generation, and so on.

A Knight’s Vow

On that same day did Arthur found his Order of the Round Table, the fame of which was to spread throughout Christendom and endure through all time .... One hundred and fifty knights might take their places about it. With pomp and ceremony did each knight take upon him the vows of true knighthood:.

To obey the King

To quest for the Holy Grail.

To speak the truth and maintain the right.

To protect the poor, the distressed, and all women.

To practice courtesy and kindness with all.

To despise the allurements of ease and safety.

To maintain honor and the cause of God.

To all, with strength and will, to right the wronged.

Then they rode forth to right the wrong and help the oppressed with continual loyalty to the King.

The Pledge of Allegiance

I pledge allegiance to the Flag

of the United States of America,

and to the Republic for which it stands:

one Nation under God, indivisible,

With Liberty and Justice for all.

Enlistment Armed Services Oath

I _______ do solemly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed overme, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

Marine Corps

It is a Marine Corps tradition not to leave dead Marines on the battlefield, and Marines have died trying to retrieve those dead. This means that after his training, a young Marine has, without words, taken a vow to offer his life for another Marine.

Presidential Oath of Office

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Boy Scout Oath

On my honor, I will do my best:

* To do my duty to God and my country and to have good character

* To help other people at all times

* To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight

AWANA Pledge

I pledge allegiance to the AWANA flag, which stands for the AWANA clubs, whose goal is to reach boys and girls with the gospel of Christ, and train them to serve Him.

Virginity Pledges

Believing that true love waits, I make a commitment to God, myself, my family, my friends, my future mate, and my future children to a lifetime of purity including sexual abstinence from this day until the day I enter a biblical marriage relationship.

( According to “The Heritage Foundation” Adolescents who take a virginity pledge have substantially lower levels of sexual activity and better life outcomes when compared with similar adolescents who do not make such a pledge,)

Wedding Vow

RINGS: (Said to each One)

What token do you give in commemoration of this pledge?

(Ring is passed forming a triangle)

May the circle of this ring typify your unending happiness and may the triangle formed in its passing signify the triune relationship with Him who reigns above where all true marriages reign.

REPEAT:

With this ring I thee wed To love you, comfort you, honor and keep you In sickness and in health And forsaking all others keeping only unto you So long as we both shall live In the name of the Father and of the Son And the Holy Ghost.

- Chuck Colson "Cohabitation - It’s Training for Divorce"

80%+ of cohabiting couples do not stay together compared with 33% who get a devoice

❶ Why We Veer From Vows

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Most of us avoid the making of vows. Our life is what it is because of our vows or our lack of vows.

There are a number of reasons why we avoid the making of vows:

1. We don’t like obligations

- Accountability & deadlines binds us

2. We love the easy life

- Free to do as we please

3. We fear future outcomes

- Not going the way we hope,

4. We have a tendency to be selfish.

- We are inclined to put self at the center and then hope that everything will revolve around us.