Ongoing promise to god

Docbrown1985 · Apr 8, 2022

I’ve gotten different answers on this from Christians but I made a promise to God I do not want to keep.

James 5:12 states that those who don’t keep their vows will be condemned. This is in the New Testament so it appears the strict command to keep vows and oaths was carried from the Old Testament

Anyways I am do not want to keep this promise no matter what. It is NOT yet broken, meaning I will always be able to fulfill it yet I am DELIBERATELY and WILLINGLY choosing to NOT keep the promise.

It is not something broken as I can still keep it. It will not be broken until I die and am technically no longer able to fulfill it.

If my understanding of Christianity is correct, this means that I am going to be dying in willful sin and there is no hope in Christianity for me as long as I live my life not keeping this promise.

Some Christians say that gods grace is enough but obviously works are mentioned of importance and nobody has been able to give me any scripture that makes me feel good about continuing in Christianity despite my situation. From what I’m gathering in the Bible, I would be hell bound unless I am incorrect. I would like to see if anyone can convince me that I am forgiven despite willfully not keeping my always keepable promise or reaffirm my suspicions that I may indeed be a willful sinner going to hell if Christianity is true.

I feel that I may leave the religion because I really don’t want to keep this promise badly enough that I may have to change my entire outlook on life. Again the promise is not broken and never will be unless I die. Does this promise damn me to hell if I knowingly take it to my grave not fulfilling it?

disciple Clint · Apr 9, 2022

Docbrown1985 said:
I’ve gotten different answers on this from Christians but I made a promise to God I do not want to keep.

James 5:12 states that those who don’t keep their vows will be condemned. This is in the New Testament so it appears the strict command to keep vows and oaths was carried from the Old Testament

Anyways I am do not want to keep this promise no matter what. It is NOT yet broken, meaning I will always be able to fulfill it yet I am DELIBERATELY and WILLINGLY choosing to NOT keep the promise.

It is not something broken as I can still keep it. It will not be broken until I die and am technically no longer able to fulfill it.

If my understanding of Christianity is correct, this means that I am going to be dying in willful sin and there is no hope in Christianity for me as long as I live my life not keeping this promise.

Some Christians say that gods grace is enough but obviously works are mentioned of importance and nobody has been able to give me any scripture that makes me feel good about continuing in Christianity despite my situation. From what I’m gathering in the Bible, I would be hell bound unless I am incorrect. I would like to see if anyone can convince me that I am forgiven despite willfully not keeping my always keepable promise or reaffirm my suspicions that I may indeed be a willful sinner going to hell if Christianity is true.

I feel that I may leave the religion because I really don’t want to keep this promise badly enough that I may have to change my entire outlook on life. Again the promise is not broken and never will be unless I die. Does this promise damn me to hell if I knowingly take it to my grave not fulfilling it?

No it does not, Jesus paid for all you sins, you are not judged by the law, you have the righteousness of Jesus, you are covered by the blood. Read Romans and Hebrews.

Skye1300 · Apr 9, 2022

God is a forgiving God, He forgives all sins. Under what circumstance did you make the promise? Were you still a child? Was it under duress or stress? (Like if you're drowning and you say save me Lord and I will give all my money to the poor for the rest of my life! Or something like that.) It doesn't matter because is still forgiven. But if it was made under stress or as a 6 year old kid, it's not considered as a legitimate promise anyway, if that helps.

Tolworth John · Apr 9, 2022

[QUOTE="Docbrown1985, post: 76636334, I made a promise to God I do not want to keep.[/QUOTE]

Learn from this and Do Not make rash vows or promises you cannot or do not want to keep.
As Jesus said, "Let your yes be yes and your no be no. " don't add vows, oaths oor promises to what you say.

TzephanYahu · Apr 9, 2022

Hi @Docbrown1985

It is a serious thing to break a vow before God.

Don't believe in the attitude which excuses all sinful behaviour of “Jesus paid for all your sins, you'll be fine". This is true, in part, but we are expected to stop sinning and not to continue and rely on this as some kind of mantra.

I speak the truth to you. I'm not here to tickle your ears and comfort you on this matter, which I know you are seeking. Perhaps your bigger sin than potentially breaking a vow is your attitude here...

Docbrown1985 said:
I would like to see if anyone can convince me that I am forgiven despite willfully not keeping my always keepable promise or reaffirm my suspicions that I may indeed be a willful sinner going to hell if Christianity is true.

I feel that I may leave the religion because I really don’t want to keep this promise badly enough that I may have to change my entire outlook on life.

If you want to effectively blackmail an good answer by suggesting you may leave "the religion", then leave. You clearly never had the revelation of how real the Living God is if you could say such a thing.

However, in the chance I am wrong and you do truly understand that the God of the Bible is real, the repent. First for this attitude of seeking comfort for sins and then threatening to leave over it, and then for the vow.

I'm sure the Most High knows we make mistakes and say silly things and make foolish vows. I would speak to Him on this matter and seek forgiveness and ask to be released from this vow. Then, it is up to Him to decide the judgment on the matter. I would then make a point to not make a vow again.

Apologies that my words have been sharp. But if you will get many words of comfort and few words of truth. My words are from the latter camp — I write them for your good. If my words were of the former camp I would be bringing you harm.

Peace.

Docbrown1985 · Apr 9, 2022

TzephanYahu said:
Don't believe in the attitude which excuses all sinful behaviour of “Jesus paid for all your sins, you'll be fine". This is true, in part, but we are expected to stop sinning and not to continue and rely on this as some kind of mantra.

So if we are expected to stop sinning, in this case, does that mean deciding to keep the vow/promise?

Or is repenting for deciding to not keep the vow enough and then one doesn’t have to keep it anymore? I think you say this later in your reply but I am just making sure.

I appreciate the honest response and I’m here for truthful answers. I’m just looking for clarity on the situation whether it’s an answer I would or would not want.

Docbrown1985 · Apr 9, 2022

Skye1300 said:
God is a forgiving God, He forgives all sins. Under what circumstance did you make the promise? Were you still a child? Was it under duress or stress? (Like if you're drowning and you say save me Lord and I will give all my money to the poor for the rest of my life! Or something like that.) It doesn't matter because is still forgiven. But if it was made under stress or as a 6 year old kid, it's not considered as a legitimate promise anyway, if that helps.

It was rather impulsive and came to me as an unwanted thought. The thing is I feel that I willfully engaged in it, however, but I don’t really feel I ever truly intended to keep a vow anyways.

Docbrown1985 · Apr 9, 2022

Docbrown1985 said:
It was rather impulsive and came to me as an unwanted thought. The thing is I feel that I willfully engaged in it, however, I don’t really feel I ever truly intended to keep a vow anyways.

Skye1300 · Apr 9, 2022

Docbrown1985 said:
It was rather impulsive and came to me as an unwanted thought. The thing is I feel that I willfully engaged in it, however, but I don’t really feel I ever truly intended to keep a vow anyways.

Oh okay I see. It sounds like it wasn't a legitimate promise if it came as an unwanted thought. Then it sounds like you tried to keep it but all along knew it was not something you wanted to do.

In my opinion a true legitimate promise or vow is one that you make as an adult in your right mind of your own free will, that you really desire to do. If it came as an unwanted thought, that implies it wasn't of your free will to begin with. You have to be in your right mind, know exactly what you are promising and truly mean the vow in your heart when you make it for it to be legitimate.

I would say, just repent and ask God's forgiveness and move on with your life. But don't ever make any promises or vows again. Because you never know what the future may hold or what you may want later in life. God is an understanding and forgiving God.

TzephanYahu · Apr 9, 2022

Docbrown1985 said:
So if we are expected to stop sinning, in this case, does that mean deciding to keep the vow/promise?

Or is repenting for deciding to not keep the vow enough and then one doesn’t have to keep it anymore? I think you say this later in your reply but I am just making sure.

You should keep vows to men at all costs, so how much more our Creator. Therefore, you should keep the vow if it is reasonably possible to do so.

However, if you think your resolve is weak and this matter will drive a wedge between you and God, then perhaps seek His forgiveness and asked to be released from the vow. It's up to Him to decide on the matter though. He may release you from this, just as a father might have compassion on his son who broke a vow to him.

But remember this thereafter - you must not hold anyone to their vow or promise they make to you. You must accept it when people break their word, without judgment or punishment. Because if you want to be released and forgiven, you must do likewise. Else God may call you to answer for this hypocritical stance. As well as this, don't make a vow again before the Creator (which I don't think you would anyway).

I hope this makes sense. And thank you for seeing that I mean you well with my answer, rather than insult.

Peace

FutureAndAHope · Apr 10, 2022

Docbrown1985 said:
I’ve gotten different answers on this from Christians but I made a promise to God I do not want to keep.

James 5:12 states that those who don’t keep their vows will be condemned. This is in the New Testament so it appears the strict command to keep vows and oaths was carried from the Old Testament

Anyways I am do not want to keep this promise no matter what. It is NOT yet broken, meaning I will always be able to fulfill it yet I am DELIBERATELY and WILLINGLY choosing to NOT keep the promise.

It is not something broken as I can still keep it. It will not be broken until I die and am technically no longer able to fulfill it.

If my understanding of Christianity is correct, this means that I am going to be dying in willful sin and there is no hope in Christianity for me as long as I live my life not keeping this promise.

Some Christians say that gods grace is enough but obviously works are mentioned of importance and nobody has been able to give me any scripture that makes me feel good about continuing in Christianity despite my situation. From what I’m gathering in the Bible, I would be hell bound unless I am incorrect. I would like to see if anyone can convince me that I am forgiven despite willfully not keeping my always keepable promise or reaffirm my suspicions that I may indeed be a willful sinner going to hell if Christianity is true.

I feel that I may leave the religion because I really don’t want to keep this promise badly enough that I may have to change my entire outlook on life. Again the promise is not broken and never will be unless I die. Does this promise damn me to hell if I knowingly take it to my grave not fulfilling it?

Mat 5:36-37 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Jesus made it clear that making promises is not his way of doing things. He said that making promises is motivated by satan. Satan tries to trap us in promises that we can not keep or have no desire to keep. To try to get us to feel condemned, and sometimes to enter condemnation.

The fact to look at is yes there "can" be a judgment for breaking a promise, but God is both fair and just. I don't believe that he will put the heavies on us if we are in such a state that we just can no longer keep a promise (because it is hurting us), one which was never motivated by God.

God will certainly not send you to hell for breaking a promise. The verse which speaks of a penalty says:

Ecc 5:6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?

We know God is slow to anger. I also believe that he understands our weaknesses, and can sympathize if we have made a vow that hurts us.

The devil is the reason for this vow, not God. You should not be angry with God. See God in a less harsh light, He is not wanting to send you to hell.

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Ongoing promise to god

Docbrown1985

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disciple Clint

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Skye1300

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Tolworth John

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TzephanYahu

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Docbrown1985

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Docbrown1985

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Docbrown1985

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Skye1300

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TzephanYahu

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FutureAndAHope

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