Let Your Yes Be Yes and Your No Mean No by Rev. Benjamin Glaser

It used to be the case that you could trust someone’s word. It was good enough for deals to be made on a handshake with the understanding that violating that covenant meant more than just a transaction gone bad, it meant you could not longer be a valued business partner. That mattered to people. One of the great sins of our age is that people treat covenantal matters like toilet paper. Good enough for the moment, but at the end of the day it can get flushed without much care. You can just declare bankruptcy, or ignore the requirements of the contract and move on. No big deal.

A way we see this play out in real life in the Church is with congregational vows. It is not uncommon for folks to Church hop like a snowshoe hare. They’ll make promises to seek the peace, prosperity, and purity of one place…but will only mean it as long as they are getting what they want out of it. As soon as some other thing comes into view there is little compunction to going somewhere else for worship and praise. Little concern appears in their eyes and heart for the people they abandon along the way, the sheep (and shepherds) that they hurt in their schismatic movements. 

It seems no bother to some to just keep moving along to the next Church like changing socks.

This kind of thing should be strange to be honest, but it's not. Everyone should be able to see and testify to the true selfishness of this act. Not only does it look bad, but it puts into question the seriousness in which people take their word.

In our Confession of Faith Chapter 22, Of Lawful Oaths and Vows, there is an interesting portion of that segment in Westminster where there is much laid down as to why as Christians we should be known as men and women who take seriously our yes meaning yes, and our no being no.

Here is that portion of the chapter:

A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein, upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly calleth God to witness what he asserts or promises; and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he swears. 

While the writers would agree that all vows that we make, whenever we sign our name on the dotted line or make a verbal agreement with a friend or neighbor are to be honored and defended what they really have in mind here are the oaths that we make in the ordinances of the Church. 

If we take anything seriously it should be them. 

Things such as when we present our children for Baptism we are telling the Lord God that we will raise the child up in the Church, or that we will shepherd the adult convert likewise. 

Are we serious in making that statement or not?

If we aren't then we should say no and at least be honest.

By making that vow at the Baptism of our children (and other's kids) for example we must really mean it or the person we are hurting is not just that child, but ourselves. Sin is corrosive. Failing to uphold our vows to God and man carry real consequences. 

What we should be saying yes to is that we, Husband/Father, Wife/Mother, and the body of believers gathered on Sunday morning will make sure that the child (or adult in some cases) is shown Christ from that day forward. That they will be treated to the covenant promises and not held back from the privileges of Lord's Day worship or the fellowship of the saints or the guidance of the Elders. Again if we have no intention on keeping that vow then we shouldn't make it. It's better to not break the 3rd Commandment than to risk judgment.

If we are telling God Almighty that we will raise the young one up as a member of the covenant family telling them of the Scriptures so that they know from the earliest age that they have been sanctified, set apart in Baptism and are part of something with history and heft then we need to so live out that vow in real life, not just with words.

This is one of the reasons later on in the Confession in the chapter on Baptism that they mark it is a, "...great sin to [treat with contempt] or neglect this ordinance." It matters if we are baptized or not for sure and it really matters if those presenting us for Baptism mean it as well.

For those who have been baptized it is worth remembering that your membership in the family of the Church is also part of your vow. Even if you may not have been old enough to be part of that witness there is no denying you were present for it. This is meant to be a great blessing as you grow more and more in the knowledge of Christ. It is also meant to challenge you if you are living in sin. By virtue of your Baptism you have brought your Lord into that world. On a more positive note you also can look back to the vow that God made on that day, as well the promises your mom and dad and the Church made in the Lord and be encouraged and strengthened by it. 

While the Confession also has in mind things like the vow we make every time that we take the Lord's Supper, or the oaths we made when we either joined the Church as an adult or confirmed the aforementioned covenant as a sign of our inward faith (baptized children don't "join the church" they are already members of it) there is a solemn seriousness that comes in the Baptismal promise that we need to reconsider every time we think of where we are in Christ. That is something that can give us hope in the midst of trial. It is a great comfort to know that a seal of grace was laid upon your soul. 

In closing it is a wonderful thing to make a vow to the Lord as part of our walk with Christ. However, we must never forget that our God is a jealous God and that we must take our promises to Him with a seriousness that knows the danger of forsaking and ignoring the bond of faith contained therein. So as you go about your day today do find peace in the Baptismal promise. 

However for the bigger picture of this post you need to ask the question whether or not you have neglected your vows to yourself or to others? Take a moment to think about it. If this describes you re-commit yourself today to the vow you made when you met with the Session to be a present part of whatever church you are a member of, and seek to be an active part of the life of your church remembering God's grace in it.

Everyone, including yourself, will be better off for it.

Take Care!