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In Scripture God very specifically addresses the matter of using his name in a reverent manner:
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.” (Exod. 20:7)
“It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.” (Deut. 6:13)
In the Third Commandment God forbids using his name vainly, but does that include taking an oath in God’s name as is often done in courts of law, entering government service, and in marriage vows?
We should never take oaths lightly.
Essentially, an oath is calling out to God who knows our heart and the truth of what we affirm. The Heidelberg Catechism, first published in 1563, is a highly regarded summary of the Christian faith and has the following to say about the Third Commandment:
“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 oath-taking is grounded in God’s Word and was rightly used by the saints in the Old and New Testaments.” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 101)
By swearing an oath in God’s name we are 1) following the command of Scripture (for example, Deut. 6:13); 2) trusting God to either confirm the truth of our oath or punish falsehood; and 3) demonstrating to others that it is God himself who we ultimately look to for the sureness of what we affirm in our oath. Because of this, we should never take oaths lightly.
God calls on us to be honest and truthful in our oaths made in his name.
Before taking an oath we should carefully consider what we are saying and ensure that we are sincere in what we are committing ourselves to perform. God knows our heart, and he will surely strengthen and encourage us for the commitments we truthfully make in his name.
Though we are never to use the Lord’s name in vain, God calls on us to be honest and truthful in our oaths made in his name. We can rejoice that he leads us in all truth while calling on us to perform to the Lord that which we have sworn.
Daniel Rowlands is content editor for Beautiful Christian Life.
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The Three Forms of Unity: Subordinate Doctrinal Standards (The Heidelberg Catechism, The Belgic Confession of Faith, and the Canons of Dort)
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