Swearing on the Bible in court.

You know, I think that the main reason we are instructed not to make oaths or swear is because, when we do so, we are asserting our own ability to keep our word. We are promising to perform some duty as if we conrol our own destiny and are able to, without fail, bring about what we have sworn to. This is not resting in the grace of God. Perhaps a more righteous thing for us would be to say, "By the Grace of God, yes, I will (or no, I won't)." The difference is in whom are we placing our trust, in God's power or our own? It is, at its root, an issue of pride.

 

Mat 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all

I just can't seem to get around the fact that Jesus said this and a lot of people are saying something else. Now, who should I go with???

 

Gen 14:22-23
22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,

23 that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, "I have made Abram rich.'
NASU

Gen 22:16-17
16 and said, "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son,

17 indeed I will greatly bless you,
NASU

Ex 17:15-16
Moses built an altar and named it The LORD is My Banner;

16 and he said, "The LORD has sworn; the LORD will have war against Amalek from generation to generation."
NASU

Ps 89:35-36
Once I have sworn by My holiness;
I will not lie to David.
36 "His descendants shall endure forever
And his throne as the sun before Me.
NASU

Gen 50:5-6
My father made me swear, saying, "Behold, I am about to die; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me." Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.'"

6 Pharaoh said, "Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear."
NASU

Deut 6:13
"You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name.
NASU

Isa 45:23
3 "I have sworn by Myself,
The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness
And will not turn back,
That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.
NASU

Isa 65:16
6 "Because he who is blessed in the earth
will be blessed by the God of truth;
And he who swears in the earth
will swear by the God of truth;
Because the former troubles are forgotten,
And because they are hidden from My sight!
NASU

Jer 12:16
16 "Then if they will really learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, "As the LORD lives,' even as they taught My people to swear by Baal, they will be built up in the midst of My people.
NASU


What do you do with these verses?

 

You are taking it a little too literal. To give "more" would be to add a condition concerning the oath. Example: "I swear I will tell the truth and if I do not, by the Throne of God may my stomach swell and I lose all but three hairs." That particular one wouldn't work for me, but you get the picture.

 

You are allowed to NOT SWEAR but to AFFIRM.
Most courts probably don't remind you of
your American rights in this matter.

 

I read them. What do you do with them?

 

I read them. What do you do with them? </font>[/QUOTE]I read them and I decide to give the President of the United States a free pass to go ahead and take the oath of office; indeed I may get a lump in my throat on the occasion.

I freely give any oath desired in court.

In conversation with friends, I am careful to let my yea be yea and my nay be nay, seeking to avoid the evil that our Lord warned against that comes from the casual use of oaths to impress the listener.

And in all of this I believe I am fulfilling the command of our Lord.