I've thought often about what kind of vows I consider taking should I ever have the privilege of marrying someone.
Without going to far into my own thoughts on what I would say, I offer these as a good set of vows. They are clearly Christian, and they are deeply rooted in the text and context in which we understand Ephesians 5. Before anyone takes offense about misogyny or chauvinism, I submit to you that having a husband who leads by sacrificing isn't 重男轻女。。。The challenge to any couple making vows like those below is realizing that they are both unattainable as broken humans, but that they can remain a sign post or a pole with which to organize one's marriage and responses to the stress and challenges that are implicit in the journey of marriage.
Mull. I'll respond to these more personally in a later post by this weekend.
Yes, it's been a long time.
Thanks CY and TC, EN and MN!
Bride-
I vow to you before friends, family, and God these things, which apart from the grace of God, I cannot fulfill because of my present weaknesses and continued sinfulness.
As the church loves Christ sacrificially
so I vow to give up all things to love you apart from Christ
As the church loves Christ supremely above all else
so I vow to always delight only in you apart from Christ
As the church loves Christ eternally
so I vow to love you until my dying day
As the church cherishes Christ
so I vow to regard you as my greatest treasure next to Christ
As the church submits to Christ
so I vow to submit to you
As the church represents Christ
so I vow to represent you with all dignity and honor
As the church obeys Christ
so I vow to respectfully obey you
As the church serves Christ
so I vow to serve you with all humility and patience
And just as the church
Will forever remain the bride of Christ
So I vow to never depart from or abandon you,
For richer or for poorer
In sickness and in health
For better or for worse
Until death do us part
By my love, I hope to prepare you
For the Lord Jesus Christ, whose love
I can only hope to faintly imitate.
Groom
I vow to you before friends, family, and God these things, which apart from the grace of God, I cannot fulfill because of my present weaknesses and continued sinfulness.
As Christ loves His church sacrificially
so I vow to sacrifice all for your sake apart from Christ
As Christ loves His church supremely
so I vow to forever delight in only you apart from Christ
As Christ loves His church eternally
so I vow to love you until my dying day
As Christ provides for His church
so I vow to provide for you
As Christ sanctifies His church
so I vow to lead you in holiness
As Christ cherishes His church
so I vow to make you my greatest treasure next to Christ
As Christ leads His church
so I vow to lead you in accordance to the holy commandments
of our God and King
As Christ serves His church
so I vow to serve you with all humility and patience
And just as Christ has promised
Never to leave or forsake His church
So I vow to never depart from or abandon you,
For richer or for poorer
In sickness and in health
For better or for worse
Until death do us part
By my love, I hope to prepare you
For the One whose love
I can only but hope to faintly imitate.
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