Posts Tagged ‘vows’
Is a shotgun wedding or a wedding involving a lie valid?
Question: God bless brother. I have questions about marriage. If someone lies in order to get married does God acknowledges that marriage? A young man married a woman after three weeks of knowing each other. He has a severe ambivalent attachment disorder. She lied to him about her child from a previous relationship of being…
Read MoreI don’t understand Leviticus 27
Question: Can you help me? I don’t understand this chapter on redemption and who is paying who. I understand voluntary vows made as persons, property, animals are consecrated to the Lord, but I am having trouble understanding why the valuations and who is paying who? Thanks. Answer: There are times people make promises to God…
Read MoreMy husband doesn’t want more children
Question: Hi Mr. Hamilton! My husband told me more than once that we could have another child, but then he said he can’t psychologically take on the responsibilities of having another child. I’ve openly and honestly told him why I would like another child and that it was hurtful for him to break a promise…
Read MoreDid the vows I made in my head marry me to someone else?
Question: Hi! Before I married the love of my life, I would read stories online where the reader would marry either a character or a real person in the stories. I cannot remember if any of these stories included vows that I may have read and given in my head as I read. I struggled…
Read MoreWhat constitutes a vow?
Question: Hi Jeffrey, What constitutes a vow is something I’ve been trying to understand. Can you help me understand from the Bible why you say it’s a commitment witnessed by others? It seems like these thoughts I have could be considered rash vows, or they could not be vows at all. I think of them…
Read MoreI compulsively want to make vows
Question: Hello, I have a question about vows. For a year or so, when I become concerned that something I’m doing or might do is sinful, I suddenly start to think a vow to God that I won’t do that thing. This happens with no time to think about the vow, about whether I want…
Read MoreWhy can a broken vow to God be forgiven but remarriage remains adultery?
Question: If God can forgive someone who breaks a vow to Him, although we know that vows should never be made, then why is remarriage possibly considered adultery when they’re breaking a vow of marriage? What is the difference between a vow to God and a vow made for marriage? Answer: All sins that are…
Read MoreCan vows never be broken?
Question: I have a similar situation as some of the questions you received regarding OCD vows and also the one who sent his question about whether or not he must remain in poverty. Though, whether or not it was a passing thought is still a question for me, because I really don’t remember what happened…
Read MoreDo I have to keep vows that I make because of my compulsive disorder?
Question: Hi, I would first like to mention that I often struggle with compulsive or intrusive thoughts. An issue that I’ve particularly been dealing with is a compulsion to condemn myself by making “deals” with God. These thoughts would often range from “If I do (random activity), then God please to that”. Recently I was…
Read MoreHow could Paul be under a Nazirite vow since he shaved his head?
Question: Hi, You had mentioned in your answer to the question as to why Paul shaved his head in Cenchrea recorded in Acts 18:18, that it was because of the Nazarite Vow (Numbers 6:2-21)? The Nazarite Vow does require that “no razor touch your head” (Numbers 6:5). How do you explain this? Thanks Answer: “All…
Read MoreWhat are the consequences of breaking a vow?
Question: I made a vow to the Lord that I should die a painful death any day I do a certain thing. I have the urge to break the vow. What are the consequences of breaking such a vow? Will I be forgiven for breaking the vow? After seeking for forgiveness if the vow is…
Read MoreIf Paul thought long hair was bad, why did he take a Nazirite vow?
Question: Thanks for the website. I read it all the time. I have a question concerning men and long hair. I know that I Corinthians 11 talks about that. The first part of the chapter is written off by many as cultural, but I disagree with that view; however, in verse 14, it states it…
Read MoreDoes not being hasty in your heart mean that thoughts can be vows?
Question: Hello again, I’ve read again about what’s considered vowing, and saw a sentence in Ecclesiastes 5:2: “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.” Does the heart part mean after all, that our thoughts about vowing are taken as vows after all? Thank…
Read MoreI couldn’t stop myself and made a vow that God says I have to keep
Question: Can I have your opinion about Ecclesiastes 5:4-7? “When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Do not let your speech…
Read MoreI couldn’t stop myself and made a vow that God says I have to keep
Question: Can I have your opinion about Ecclesiastes 5:4-7? “When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Do not let your speech…
Read MoreDoesn’t Leviticus 27:29 indicate that God accepted human sacrifices?
Question: Dear Mr. Hamilton, In Leviticus 27:28, you say Jephthah’s daughter could not be redeemed, but Leviticus 27:29 says, “No person under the ban, who may become doomed to destruction among men, shall be redeemed, but shall surely be put to death.” Doesn’t it mean that Jephthah’s daughter should have been put to death and that human…
Read MoreAre vows made because of OCD compulsions to be kept?
Question: Hello, I have a question about OCD and the Bible. I have been a member of the church of Christ for about five years. I have been diagnosed with OCD and most of my issues revolve around my faith. I went for a few years undiagnosed and untreated because I didn’t know what was…
Read MoreWhy did Paul shave his head at Cenchrea and not at Jerusalem as was the custom?
Question: Why did Paul shave his head at Cenchrea and not at Jerusalem as was the custom? Answer: “Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. In Cenchrea he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a…
Read MoreI am compulsively making vows in my mind. Do I have to keep them?
Question: Hi, I have been going through a time of struggles dealing with so many vows: some intentional and others intrusive or unintentional. I am sure this is greatly related to OCD, but sometimes it doesn’t feel that way. For example, one time I was praying and an intrusive thought came in my head, “I’m…
Read MoreDo the redemption laws only apply to firstborn sons?
Question: In your article on Jephthah’s vow, you used the verses Exodus 13:2, 12-15 that all firstborn children belong to God, and as such Jephthah couldn’t redeem her. But I’ve heard commentaries saying that these verses only talked about males. Is there something I’m missing in this? Thanks in advance and God bless. Answer: “Consecrate to…
Read MoreAre you required to keep promises that you think about?
Question: Hi, I’m wondering if promises that randomly pop up in your head are considered valid. Are you required to keep the promises, even though they’re just thoughts? I have OCD and get these thoughts constantly. They cause me a deal of anxiety. Also, in order to treat OCD, am I allowed to purposefully think…
Read MoreShould I keep my promise of poverty that I’m not certain I made?
Question: Hello, I told God in a prayer that I give up earthly success. I think that when I said it I meant the pursuit of wealth. I am not sure because I think I was also imagining the idea of suffering like a poor person. I think the reason this situation came about was…
Read MoreCan you accidentally make a vow?
Question: About the question that asks about sinful promises: If we made a foolish or rash vow, are we to keep it? Also, can you “accidentally” make a vow? Like, if you keep thinking “don’t think about x… Don’t think about x” and then think it, is it binding? Answer: In general, a person is expected…
Read MoreI vowed to cut off my hand if I sinned again. Will God hold me to that vow?
Question: Hi, I’ve been reading the answers on your website and find them helpful. However, with regard to vows, I am not sure where I stand, even after reading some of your answers. Many years ago I was caught in some very sinful behavior that ultimately landed me in prison for a few months. While…
Read MoreI broke a promise upon my salvation. Does that mean I can’t be saved?
Question: I made a promise to God on my salvation and broke it. I accepted Jesus back, but did I lose my salvation because I broke my promise? I made my promise in my mind, so I don’t know whether I meant it or not, so please answer if I meant it and did I…
Read MoreI broke my vow to God and gave into sexual immorality. What do I do to keep my vow?
Question: Good evening sir, I once made a vow to Jehovah that if He helped me keep my job, I will never give in to sexual immorality again. Well, I lost my job and I broke the vow. Is it that Jehovah did not hear me or He just wanted to punish me? I decided…
Read MoreMy grandmother promised I would be a preacher, but I want to work in tourism. What do I do?
Question: Dear sir, Please clarify my doubts. Before I was born my grannie made a promise to God that she would dedicate her grandson to church ministry, he would do church activities and he would work as a minister. She thought that I should become a pastor and my mom also agreed. But the problem…
Read MoreWill God hold a vow I made against me?
Question: Hi, I am a Christian. If you can answer this question for me, I would be very thankful. When I was a child I had an obsessive-compulsive disorder. In my thoughts, I would say things that I didn’t mean and sometimes things that I meant, but I could not control them. Now I am…
Read MoreIf I said something that I later regret, do I have to keep my word?
Question: I’m having a hard time knowing whether or not I have made certain vows and if I ought to keep them. Someone explained to me that when Jesus says “Let your yes be yes and your no be no,” his point isn’t that vowing/swearing/making oaths are wrong (which is what some people have taken…
Read MoreWill God forgive me for not saying my prayers as I had promised?
Question: Hello, I’m 17 years old. My family has always been very secular. For a small period of time, my older sister went to a Catholic school, and I was sent to Sunday school. When I was little I was very much afraid of death and the concept of eternal nothingness. This fear led me…
Read MoreI repented of a foolish vow and broke it anyway. So what do I do?
Question: Hello, I am having real trouble with something at the moment, I fear that I have made a vow/oath to God that I really don’t want to keep. The vow does not contain anything sinful, I fear I said “I would give up my hobby.” The hobby is not sinful and I really like…
Read MoreI vowed to give up my sins, but I keep falling. Will God hold this against me?
Question: Good day minister, I greet you in the name of God. I have this issue bothering me. I have fasted, prayed, and asked for God’s mercy, but it still comes to my mind once in a while. It might sound foolish, but I am not going to lie to you, sir. Some time ago,…
Read MoreAre promises only binding when spoken aloud?
Question: I used to let my mouth get the best of me. I have learned to watch what I say very closely. The problem I have is this: because I’m trying to be so careful with what I say, I constantly think about whether I promise or vow something. My mind runs away from me…
Read MoreIs a person to keep a sinful promise?
Question: I want to know if someone made a sinful promise to God, what happens then? Is the person to keep that promise still? Are we to keep our promises no matter what? Answer: “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he…
Read MoreDo I have to keep a foolish promise that I made?
Question: I want to talk about something that has troubled me for a couple of years. My hobby was to make websites, and I had a couple online. One night, I felt compelled by something to utter a promise to Jesus. A promise to remove my web sites. Feeling compelled by this (thought or whatever…
Read MoreIs it wrong to love a non-Christian?
Question: I am 20 years old, and I have a boyfriend. We both really love each other. Although he is not a Christian, I can’t leave him. Is it wrong to love a non-Christian? We both sometimes end up having dry sex. He says it’s not a sin because we truly love each other. I…
Read MoreDo I need to keep foolish promises I made in the past?
Question: I have been worrying about things in the past. Before I became a Christian I was scared and considered being a nun. In prayer, I think I spoke concerning being a nun because I was scared of going to hell. I am not 100% sure I stated as a fact I would become one…
Read MoreCan a broken vow to God be forgiven?
Question: I read your response to “What does God do if you make a deal with Him and don’t keep it?” Question: When a broken promise has nothing to do with another person, does the Bible state anything about a person repenting for breaking a promise made specifically to God? What are the consequences of…
Read MoreCan you tell me what the vow was that caused Paul to cut his hair?
Question: Can you tell me what the vow was that caused Paul to cut his hair? Answer: “So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a…
Read MoreWhat is the significance of a vow taken with the hand under the thigh?
Question: In Genesis 24:2 it reads, “And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:” Why did he have to put his hand under his thigh? Was is the meaning of this? Answer: We know very little about…
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