1689 LBCF 23:2
XXIII
LAWFUL OATHS AND VOWS
23:1
23:2
Therefore to swear an empty or ill-advised oath by that glorious and awe-inspiring name, or to swear at all by anything else, is sinful and to be abhorred.
Yet in weighty and significant matters, an oath is authorized by the Word of God to confirm truth and end all conflict.
So a lawful oath should be taken when it is required by legitimate authority in such circumstances
23:2
23:2
23:2
23:2
What does it mean to swear by God’s name?
Think of how people often swear. Someone might say, “I swear on my mother’s grave.” The person is connecting something of honor to the oath.
If the truth and nothing but the truth is communicated by the oath, then Mom’s grave (memory) is honored.
If it is a lie or there is no follow through with the promise, then Mom’s grave is dishonored.
The idea is that a person would certainly not desecrate his mother’s grave. Therefore, he or she must be telling the truth or be definitely committed to what has been promised.
To swear by God’s name is to attach His honor to the oath. If we are lying or not committed to what is promised, we have desecrated His name
Why must we swear by God’s name exclusively
First, Scripture reveals this to be a universal duty of all men and to swear by any other name is a form of idolatry, stealing honor that belongs only to Him
Second, to swear by someone other than God is to essentially ascribe to that person those divine attributes mentioned in the first paragraph that belong to God alone—the ability to infallibly know the truth or falsity of the oath taken and to judge the person swearing the oath
Third, to swear by something other than God’s name can open the door to justifying dishonesty because the moral pressure to be absolutely truthful is lessened
It is lessened because there is not the sense of seriousness that comes from knowing that God will curse those who swear falsely by His name
Therefore to swear an
Therefore to swear an
Yet in
Swearing an oath should be reserved for matters of weight and moment (matters of great importance), when much is at stake and the recipient of the promise needs an extra added confirmation of truth.
For example, marriage is a covenant (
God Himself provides the great example of this principle
Reserving oaths for these serious matters helps us understand the import of Christ’s words when He says, “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (
Again, our Lord is not forbidding swearing oaths absolutely. The point is that swearing oaths should not be a part of
Our word should suffice without the need of an oath. If a person characteristically says, “I swear,” in everyday conversation, that may be an indication that he is not trustworthy.
truthful person generally feels no need to do anything other than to speak the truth
So
...
...t
However, if indeed, swearing oaths in “matters of weight and moment” is “warranted by the Word of God,” a believer has no scriptural grounds to conscientiously refuse to do so when it is “imposed by lawful authority in such matters
For example, a believer may be called to bear witness in a legal proceeding such as a court trial where he or she will be “placed under oath.”
It is entirely appropriate to swear an oath in that situation, because a person’s statements can make the difference between someone’s freedom or incarceration, or even life and death
If in reading this you are thinking, “I only want to take an oath when it is absolutely necessary,” then you have gotten the message
