1. The
Vow of Obedience: I vow to be subject in all things to the lordship of
Christ; to follow all his statutes, as recorded in the 4 Canonical Gospels, to
seek his will for my life through prayer and contemplation, and to follow his
will regardless of the
cost.
"Why
do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I tell
you?"
-Luke
6:46
"Everyone
who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be
like
a wise man who built his house on
rock."
-Matthew
7:24
2. Vow of Community: I vow to seek out a community of believers with
which to worship and serve; to meet with them regularly, and to contribute where
I can to their
prosperity.
"Day
by day they spent much time together in the temple,
they
broke
bread in their homes and ate their food with glad and
generous
hearts."
-Acts
2:46
3. Vow of Service: I vow to serve the wider community; to feed those
who go without food, to clothe and shelter those who are exposed to the
elements, and to visit those who are
isolated.
"If
a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of
you
says
to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill.' and
yet
you
do not supply their bodily needs, what good is
that?"
-James
2:15-16
4. Vow of Simplicity: I vow to live simply; to not possess more
clothes than I can reasonably require, to watch the expense of what I eat, and
to carefully weigh the necessity of what I
buy.
"And
the crowds asked him, 'What then should we
do?'
In
reply he said to them, 'Whoever has two coats must share
with
anyone
who has none; and whoever has food must do
likewise."
-Luke
3:10-11
5. Vow of Quiet: I vow to live quietly; to listen more than I
speak, to never raise my voice in anger, and to let my actions speak for
themselves.
"...If
you say 'You fool' you will be liable to the fires of
hell."
-Matthew
5:22
"...Do
not heap up empty phrases like the Gentiles do; for they
think
that they will be heard because of their many
words."
-Matthew
6:7
"Let
everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to
anger."
-James
1:19
6. Vow of Discipline: I vow to live a life of spiritual discipline;
to actively engage in the historic disciplines of the Faith, to help those who
are struggling with discipline, and to seek help when I struggle with
it.
"...The
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness,
gentleness,
and self
control."
-Galatians
5:22-23
"Resist
the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God,
and
he
will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners,
purify
your
hearts, you double minded...humble yourselves before
the
Lord,
and he will exalt
you."
-James
2:7-10
7. Vow of Peacemaking: I vow to live a life of peace; to never
retaliate with violence, to take on the burden of those who suffer under
violence, and to never let the sun set on my anger before seeking
reconciliation.
"A
harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make
peace."
-James
3:18
"Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of
God."
-Matthew
5:9
"Be
angry, but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your
anger."
-Ephesians
4:26