Chapter 23 - OF LAWFUL OATHS AND VOWS

1 Taking a lawful oath is an act of worship. In doing so, a person truthfully, righteously, and with sound judgment, solemnly calls upon God to witness what they are swearing to and to be their judge based on whether their words are true or false.

2 Only God's name is to be used when taking an oath, and it must be done with complete reverence and holy fear. It is a sin and to be condemned to use God's glorious and awesome name in a trivial or reckless manner, or to swear by anything else. However, when dealing with important matters, an oath is a tool sanctioned by Scripture for confirming the truth and resolving disputes. Therefore, when a lawful authority imposes a lawful oath in such circumstances, it is a duty to take it.

3 Taking an oath is a serious and weighty matter, and it should only be done when it's in line with what the Bible teaches. When you swear an oath, you should be absolutely certain that what you're saying is true. God is angered by oaths that are made rashly, falsely, or for trivial reasons, and such actions bring judgment upon the land.

4 An oath must be taken in the plain and common meaning of the words, without any deception or secret mental reservation.

5 A vow should be made only to God, not to any person or created thing, and it must be kept with the utmost diligence and sincerity. Vows like those in the Roman Catholic tradition for a lifelong single status, poverty, and absolute obedience are not a path to a more perfect spiritual life. Instead, they are misguided and sinful traps that no Christian should get caught in.