Vows

To my brothers and sisters, who are part of the clergy:
I understand you have made vows, when you chose to leave everything you had and follow Christ.
One of them being, you cannot wed, here is what I have found:

FACT:	Therefore do no let anyone judge you by what you eat 
	or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a new moon 
	celebration or a sabbath day.
	These are a shadow of the things that are to come; 
	the reality, however, is found in Christ.  Do not 
	let anyone who delights in false humility and worship of angels
	disqualify you for the prize.  Such a person goes into great 
	detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up
	with idle notions.  He has lost connection with the
	head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its 
	ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.  Since you 
	died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why behave 
	as though you were still living the life of the world?
	Why let people dictate to you: 'Do not handle this,
	do not taste that, do not touch the other' - referring to things
 	that must all perish as they are used?
	That is to follow human rules and regulations.  Such conduct may 
	have an air of wisdom, with its forced piety, 
	and its self-mortification, and harsh treatments of the body; 
	but it is of no use at all in combating sensuality.
- Colossians 2:16-23
FACT:	Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to 
	marry. But since there is so much immorality, each
	man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
- 1 Corinthians 7:1-2

In my parish, a priest left his service because he wanted to get married. He was very troubled, but the New Testament shows us, there is no need to be troubled.

FACT:	In the past, there were also false prophets among the people, just 
	as there will be false teachers among you.  They will 
	secretly introduce destructive heresies, even 
	denying the Sovereign Lord who bought them - bringing swift 
	destruction on themselves. Many will 
	follow their shameful ways and bring the way of truth to disrepute.
	In their greed these teachers will exploit you with
	stories they have made up. Their condemnation has 
	long been hanging over them and their destruction 
	has not been sleeping.
- 2 Peter 2:1-3

Then we may ask: Who then can be an Overseer (bishop) or deacon?

FACT:	Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but
	one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, 
	able to teach, not giving to drunkenness, not violent, but gentle, 
	not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.  He must manage
	his own family well and see that his own children obey him with 
	proper respect. If anyone does not know how to manage
	his own family, how can he take charge of a congregation
	of God's people?
	He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and
	fall under the same judgment as the devil.  He must also have
	a good reputation with outsiders, so that he may not fall into 
	disgrace and into the devil's trap.
	Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere,
	not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.
	They must keep hold of the deep truths of faith with a clear
	conscience.  They must first be tested; then if there is nothing
	against them, let them serve as deacons.
	In the same way, their wives must be women worthy of respect,
	not malicious talkers, but temperate and trustworthy
	in everything. A deacon must be a husband of but one wife
	and must manage his children and his household well.  
	Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and
	great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Timothy 3:2-13

[Back to Table of Contents]