1689 LBCF 23:4-5
XXIII
LAWFUL OATHS AND VOWS
23:1
23:2 People should swear by the name of God alone and only with the utmost holy fear and reverence. 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.
23:3 Whoever takes an oath authorized by the Word of God should consider with due gravity the seriousness of such a weighty act and to affirm nothing in it except what one knows to be true. For the Lord is provoked by ill-advised, false, and empty oaths, and because of them this land mourns
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
23:4
23:4
23:4
One form of swearing
When accused of lying, the dishonest person will defend himself by exclaiming, “You misunderstood what I was saying.” He then will put a spin on his words to prove how he did not lie. “What I meant was …”
Swearing an oath sincerely is when we intend to be understood according to the
23:4
An oath is to be taken . . . without
23:4
“Mental reservation” is defined as “a
Consider the following example of mental reservation. A man and a woman take the traditional wedding vows, “in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, etc.”
He files for divorce after only a year of marriage because she burns the toast. She reminds him of the promise he swore to her. He explains that as he was taking the wedding vows he had the qualification, “only if she is a good cook,” in his mind as he made those promises to her.
Again, this is a deceitful effort to get out of the commitment while avoiding the charge of lying.
The overarching point is that sincerity in swearing an oath demands that we use our words according to how the other person will normally and legitimately interpret what is said.
Anything less than that is to swear deceitfully.
23:5
23:5
V. A vow is of the like nature with
This is not a mere change of terminology to avoid monotony. There is a difference.
The Hebrew term in the Old Testament translated “vow” is always used to refer to commitments made to God, so the Confession is correct when it asserts that a vow is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone.
Vows should be made and performed with the most
VII. No man may vow to do any thing forbidden in the word of God,
or what would hinder any duty therein commanded,
or which is not in his own power,
and for the performance whereof he hath no promise or ability from God.
23:5 A vow must not be made to any creature but to God alone. Vows should be made and performed with the most conscientious care and faithfulness...
However
Instead, they are superstitious and sinful snares in which Christians
In contrast to the Anabaptists, the Roman Catholic Church had no issues with swearing oaths or vows. Their problem is that they take vows outside the boundaries of Scripture. Rome teaches that those who join a religious order are to make “popish monastical vows” to God.
“
Roman Catholic monastical vows . . . are by no means
“
Roman Catholic monastical vows . . . are by no means
“
...
