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The Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism
1. Lawful oaths are part of religious worship.[1] On proper occasions believers may solemnly swear and call God to witness that what they assert or promise is true, and they may ask God to judge them according to the truth or falsehood of what they swear.[2]
[2] Ex 20:7, Lv 19:12, 2 Cor 1:23, 2 Chr 6:22-23
2. The name of God is the only name by which men should swear, and that name is to be used with holy awe and reverence.[3] Therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and mighty name or to swear at all by any other name is sinful and to be abhorred.[4] Just as in important matters an oath is warranted by the word of God, under the New as well as the Old Testament, so a lawful oath, required by legitimate authority in such matters ought to be taken.[5]
[4] Ex 20:7, Jer 5:7, Mt 5:34,37, Jas 5:12.
[5] Heb 6:16, 2 Cor 1:23, Is 65:16, 1 Kgs 8:31, Neh 13:25, Ezr 10:5, Mt 26:63-64.
3. Whoever takes an oath ought to consider fully the importance of such a solemn act, and so he should swear to nothing but what he is completely convinced is true. No one may bind himself by an oath to anything but what is good and just, to what he believes to be true, and to what he is able and determined to perform. It is a sin to refuse to swear an oath about anything good and just, when it is required by lawful authority.[6]
[6] Ex 20:7, Jer 4:2, Gn 24:2-3,5-6,8-9, Nm 5:19,21, Neh 5:12, Ex 22:7-11; see citations under Section 2 above.
4. An oath is to be taken in the plain, ordinary sense of the words used, without any equivocation or mental reservation.[7] It cannot obligate one to sin; but once taken about anything not sinful, it must be performed, even to one's own harm,[8] and must not be broken, even if made to heretics or atheists.[9]
[7] Jer 4:2, Ps 24:4, Ex 20:7.
[8] 1 Sm 25:22, 32-34, Ps 15:4.
[9] Ez 17:16,1 8-19, Jos 9:18-19, 2 Sm 21:1.
5. A vow is similar to an oath promising something and should be made with similar religious care and performed with similar faithfulness.[10]
[10] Is 19:21, Eccl 5:4-6, Ps 61:8, 66:13-14, Dt 23:21,23.
6. A vow should be made to no one but God.[11] In order to be accepted it should be made voluntarily in a faithful and conscientious way as thanks for mercy received or as means of getting what we want. A vow binds us more strictly to necessary duties or to other things to such an extent and for as long as is appropriate.[12]
[12] Dt 23:21,23, Ps 50:14, Gn 28:20-22, 1 Sm 1:11, Ps 66:13-14, 132:2-5.
7. No one may vow to do anything forbidden in the word of God, anything hindering a duty commanded in the word, or anything not in his own power, which he has neither the ability nor warrant from God to perform.[13] In this respect monastic vows of perpetual celibacy, professed poverty, and consistent obedience do not perfect us but are actually superstitious, sinful traps, in which no Christian should entangle himself.[14]
[13] Acts 23:12,14, Mk 6:26, Nm 30:5, 8, 12-13.
[14] Mt 19:11-12, 1 Cor 7:2,9, Eph 4:28, 1 Pt 4:2, 1 Cor 7:23, 1 Thes 4:11-12.
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