Thought you might be interested to watch the following minute long video. Michael Horton is asked what five books every Christian should read. Check out #4!
Lord’s Day 37
101. Q. BUT MAY WE SWEAR AN OATH IN GOD’S NAME IF WE DO IT REVERENTLY?
A. Yes, when the government demands it, or when necessity requires it, in order to maintain and promote truth and trustworthiness for God’s glory and our neighbor’s good. Such oaths are approved in God’s Word and were rightly used by Old and New Testament believers.
102. Q. MAY WE SWEAR BY SAINTS OR OTHER CREATURES?
A. No. A legitimate oath means calling upon god as the one who knows my heart to witness to my truthfulness and to punish me if I swear falsely. No creature is worthy of such honor.
The Heidelberg dedicates two days to dealing with the 3rd commandment. In our context, it is hard to understand the need for such emphasis. However, this was an important issue amongst the reformers. In the 16th century, you had many swearing vows to saints and angels, and as Kevin DeYoung points out in his book, ex-Catholics who did not know how to think in regards to the vows that they had made; monasticism, celibacy, etc. (175)
The Catechism then, pastorally helps us think biblically about oaths. Since “oaths are approved in God’s Word and were rightly used by Old and New Testament believers," there are places where oaths or vows are appropriate. However, since God alone “knows my heart,” it is sinful to “swear by saints or other created things” in that “no creature is worthy of such honor.”
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