Lawful Oaths and Vows
Rev. Angus Stewart defends the Reformed position on lawful oaths and vows against Anabaptist objections, arguing that Christ's teaching in Matthew 5:33-37 forbids only rash and profane swearing, not legitimate oaths made in proper contexts such as court testimony, baptism, church membership, and marriage vows. Stewart grounds this position in extensive biblical evidence from both Old and New Testaments, including Christ's own testimony under oath and God's redemptive oath-swearing in covenant history.
Rev. Angus Stewart In response to “Should Courts Drop Swearing on the Bible?” (English Churchman 7886), it should be noted that lawful oaths were not only made in the Old Testament (e.g., Gen. 24:2-9; Deut. 6:13; 10:20; Isa. 65:16) but also in the New Testament. The apostle Paul made oaths to God to attest the truth of his claims (Rom. 1:9; 9:1; II Cor. 1:23; Gal. 1:20). The mighty angel from heaven swears “by him that liveth for ever and ever” (Rev. 10:6). Jehovah delivered the gospel...