Vow of poverty

W

Wan

Hello, just wondering if anybody's taken the vow of poverty and what it's like.

I had always thought that taking this vow meant one owned pretty much nothing, only enough stuff to live on. For example, medieval monks who lived in monasteries, they had all that they needed from the church, they didn't need much else, so they all gave up personal belongings. But, a while ago I read about someone in our contemporary world who had taken this vow, and according to him, it wasn't like that at all. He said that he shared stuff communally with his fellow Christians, however, he still had money to say, go and visit his family. Apparently he had a car that he could drive too, but it too was communally owned.

Anyway, I just think it's very interesting. Would love to hear your thoughts.
 
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Hello Wan;

It's always a blessing to see you here and discuss your interesting threads. A Vow of Poverty is a question and commitment that can be answered on a broad range.

Monasticism is almost as old as Christianity itself and its unique way of worshiping God and communal line didn't occur until the fourth and fifth centuries. Western monasticism include monks who made a vow of poverty with various rules generally followed the Egyptian pattern.

In 2004 this study of monasticism sunk in deeply as I prayed for several years about serving God in the Pastoral ministry.

When God called me to Pastor a Church I made a vow of poverty to serve full time. I knew I would not get rich but rely on God to provide all my needs. When I retired from my career in Accounting, my salary immediately dropped, the Church had a budget and could afford to pay me within it's means.

I did apply some valuable lessons from the secular world. We worked hard to keep our debt ratio low to zero. We sold both our homes six years ago.

Today, many of our closest loved ones and friends attained their dreams and are enjoying life.

We live a good life, are spiritually content and thank the Lord for each day.

This is just a small testimony on a decision I made for the Lord and He has provided all our needs.

God bless you, Wan, and thank you for Vow of Poverty.
 
Thank you Bob.

A follow-up question if you don't mind: you said that you were the pastor to a church. Does this mean you went to a theology school or seminary?
 
Wan said:
Thank you Bob.
A follow-up question if you don't mind: you said that you were the pastor to a church. Does this mean you went to a theology school or seminary?
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Hello, Wan;

In 2004 I was serving as a Deacon, then an Elder when my my former Pastor encouraged me to take just one course at seminary to get some Biblical education under my belt. I lacked confidence in studying "theology" (study of God) but I did well and it boosted my academic confidence. So I took two classes next semester and so on for the next 15 years and graduated in 2008, 2015 and my masters 2019.

Speaking for myself, if I had become a Pastor without the education I felt I would limit myself in executing teaching, preaching and outreach to people. The education allowed me to expand these and other areas in the ministry God gave me.

There are other Pastors at CFS such as Major, forgiven, Pastor Gary, Pastor Mayende and Pastor Mei who can share Vow of Poverty and their education experience.

God bless you, Wan, and thank you for asking.
 
I recently watched a video of a monk who took a vow of poverty. It seems the intent is to let go of earthly ambition to obtain wealth but instead to focus our financial resources to helping the poor. And , like mentioned in the original post, he still had money for his basic needs.
 
This makes us all think about our Christian walk. Can we give up everything we own and follow Christ, as did his disciples?
What food for thought because most of us are wealthy beyond measure, even if we are living below the American national poverty level.

KJV Mat. 19:21 “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me".
 
Wan said:
Hello, just wondering if anybody's taken the vow of poverty and what it's like.

I had always thought that taking this vow meant one owned pretty much nothing, only enough stuff to live on. For example, medieval monks who lived in monasteries, they had all that they needed from the church, they didn't need much else, so they all gave up personal belongings. But, a while ago I read about someone in our contemporary world who had taken this vow, and according to him, it wasn't like that at all. He said that he shared stuff communally with his fellow Christians, however, he still had money to say, go and visit his family. Apparently he had a car that he could drive too, but it too was communally owned.

Anyway, I just think it's very interesting. Would love to hear your thoughts.
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My thoughts?

"Communally shared and cars communally owned" is Communism!

Giving stuff to others, and sharing your income and still having God meet your needs is the blessings of God.

I do not believe a vow of poverty is anymore needed or required than is a vow of not eating for a time.

For thousands of years, monks have taken vows of poverty and secluded themselves from the rest of the world but is that biblical? No.
"The Bible says to go to the world and spread the gospel!!

Imagine if all of the Apostles had taken a vow of poverty and stayed in some hidden corner of the world? Would all those churches they planted been raised up? Jesus commands His disciples to go into all the world to make disciples of all nations and that couldn’t be done without the financial support of the church.

Some may certainly take a vow of poverty, but what is the real motivation behind it? Usually, that just like a vow to not eat is done so the men will "see you" instead of an act to glory God.
 
Major said:
My thoughts?

"Communally shared and cars communally owned" is Communism!

Giving stuff to others, and sharing your income and still having God meet your needs is the blessings of God.

I do not believe a vow of poverty is anymore needed or required than is a vow of not eating for a time.

For thousands of years, monks have taken vows of poverty and secluded themselves from the rest of the world but is that biblical? No.
"The Bible says to go to the world and spread the gospel!!

Imagine if all of the Apostles had taken a vow of poverty and stayed in some hidden corner of the world? Would all those churches they planted been raised up? Jesus commands His disciples to go into all the world to make disciples of all nations and that couldn’t be done without the financial support of the church.

Some may certainly take a vow of poverty, but what is the real motivation behind it? Usually, that just like a vow to not eat is done so the men will "see you" instead of an act to glory God.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if this was meant to be funny.... I doubt it.... because well.... YOU are not generally funny... HAHAHAHA.
HOWEVER.... this gave me a very good and healthy CHUCKLE....

Love, DA SHEEP ( who is VERY FUNNY ) :D
 
I can't believe I am just seeing this thread now.

Well... vow of poverty.... I just finished writing about this being something that some Catholic nuns and priests must adopt in order to follow their pursuits as clergy within the Catholic church.

To a lesser degree... you have the ideology of shared living.... like the Amish or Mennonites. Where by... all basic needs are covered for those who live within the commune. Not sure if one could consider this the vow of poverty. It is at least living in community and learning to co-habitate with others... sharing everything with each other.

Then in this modern world... we have minimalism.... I am in this category... but it is not for the reason of living in poverty. IT IS however for the reason of living in SIMPLICITY.

I am on low income.... I do not own a vehicle.... I do not have a credit card.... or a telephone or a television. I am not against technology.... I simply don't need a lot to survive. My little Chromebook allows me to communicate effectively via messenger with my daughter.... and my old cassette/radio allows me to listen to the Christian radio station. I am happy with that. I live on CASH... and I don't owe anyone a penny. THAT is a WONDERFUL and FREEING way to live.

I don't even think about it. I am frugal because I need to make ends meet. I absolutely DISLIKE the world of INFLUENCERS....and I am certainly not a consumer of GOODS.... as most of my things are purchased from the THRIFT store.

Simplicity is indeed a lifestyle.... and it does require some GIVING up of things.... Perhaps because my lifestyle has developed over a long period of time... I have not noticed the changes I have had to make to live a lifestyle according to my budget.

I don't feel poor... actually the opposite.... I feel very fulfilled...
 
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Major said:
My thoughts?
"Communally shared and cars communally owned" is Communism! Giving stuff to others, and sharing your income and still having God meet your needs is the blessings of God. I do not believe a vow of poverty is anymore needed or required than is a vow of not eating for a time. For thousands of years, monks have taken vows of poverty and secluded themselves from the rest of the world but is that biblical? No. "The Bible says to go to the world and spread the gospel!! Imagine if all of the Apostles had taken a vow of poverty and stayed in some hidden corner of the world? Would all those churches they planted been raised up? Jesus commands His disciples to go into all the world to make disciples of all nations and that couldn’t be done without the financial support of the church. Some may certainly take a vow of poverty, but what is the real motivation behind it? Usually, that just like a vow to not eat is done so the men will "see you" instead of an act to glory God.
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In Awe of Him said:
I can't believe I am just seeing this thread now.

Well... vow of poverty.... I just finished writing about this being something that some Catholic nuns and priests must adopt in order to follow their pursuits as clergy within the Catholic church.

To a lesser degree... you have the ideology of shared living.... like the Amish or Mennonites. Where by... all basic needs are covered for those who live within the commune. Not sure if one could consider this the vow of poverty. It is at least living in community and learning to co-habitate with others... sharing everything with each other.

Then in this modern world... we have minimalism.... I am in this category... but it is not for the reason of living in poverty. IT IS however for the reason of living in SIMPLICITY.

I am on low income.... I do not own a vehicle.... I do not have a credit card.... or a telephone or a television. I am not against technology.... I simply don't need a lot to survive. My little Chromebook allows me to communicate effectively via messenger with my daughter.... and my old cassette/radio allows me to listen to the Christian radio station. I am happy with that. I live no CASH... and I don't owe anyone a penny. THAT is a WONDERFUL and FREEING way to live.

I don't even think about it. I am frugal because I need to make ends meet. I absolutely DISLIKE the world of INFLUENCERS....and I am certainly not a consumer of GOODS.... as most of my things are purchased from the THRIFT store.

Simplicity is indeed a lifestyle.... and it does require some GIVING up of things.... Perhaps because my lifestyle has developed over a long period of time... I have not noticed the changes I have had to make to live a lifestyle according to my budget.

I don't feel poor... actually the opposite.... I feel very fulfilled...
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Good morning, Major and In Awe of Him;

I agree. I always found the study of Monasticism during the Early Church interesting.

The early Monks who vowed a life of poverty secluded themselves from coexisting with the world, as not to attract attention when they were actually attracting attention. Their secluded way of life went against Christ's teachings.

In other parts of the western world Monks developed agricultural methods, crafts and hand / write copying of books in order to support themselves. This opened up to coexisting with the community.

Many Monks did drop out and later became Monk kees. lol!

In some ways I compare this with the hippy and Jesus people movement in the late 60s and early 70s. They attempted a commune lifestyle in some forest where everyone lived and shared everything. But history shows this was short lived in America and Canada.

God bless everyone.
 
In Awe of Him said:
I'm not sure if this was meant to be funny.... I doubt it.... because well.... YOU are not generally funny... HAHAHAHA.
HOWEVER.... this gave me a very good and healthy CHUCKLE....

Love, DA SHEEP ( who is VERY FUNNY ) :D
Click to expand...
You don't think I am funny????

At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam’s ribs.
Later in the week, his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and she said, ‘Johnny, what is the matter, young boy?’
Little Johnny responded, “I have pain in my side. I think I’m going to have a wife.”

What did the classmate say when asked why they kept walking next to the same person at school?
“I was told I’m supposed to walk by Faith!”


Listen sis.........Have you ever seen my picture?

1743626737129.png
 
bobinfaith said:
Good morning, Major and In Awe of Him;

I agree. I always found the study of Monasticism during the Early Church interesting.

The early Monks who vowed a life of poverty secluded themselves from coexisting with the world, as not to attract attention when they were actually attracting attention. Their secluded way of life went against Christ's teachings.

In other parts of the western world Monks developed agricultural methods, crafts and hand / write copying of books in order to support themselves. This opened up to coexisting with the community.

Many Monks did drop out and later became Monk kees. lol!

In some ways I compare this with the hippy and Jesus people movement in the late 60s and early 70s. They attempted a commune lifestyle in some forest where everyone lived and shared everything. But history shows this was short lived in America and Canada.

God bless everyone.
Click to expand...
I can't help but think that Monks choose the easy way out.
 
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