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The Oath

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My brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. James 5:12

“Do you swear by the Almighty and ever living God that the testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you, God?” As a witness in the trial of two game law violators, I was required to give an honest account of my knowledge of the violation. However, having only recently read the Biblical prohibition against swearing, I simply affirmed that my testimony would be truthful. The defense attorney objected but was overruled by the presiding judge. 

Swearing an oath is the act of calling upon God Himself to vouch for the accuracy of a statement, whereas affirmation is a simple declaration that the statement is true. Christians are required to be honest and truthful in all matters, and swearing to the veracity of any statement is both unnecessary and unscriptural. 

The raising of the right hand to substantiate the truth of a statement also signifies calling upon God as a confirming witness. In Genesis 14:22-23, Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD . . . That I will not take from a thread even to a shoe latchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich.” Abram could rightly do this because the swearing of oaths was acceptable under the Old Covenant. His statement shows the meaning of the raised hand. 

When legal documents require a signature swearing to their accuracy, the word swear may legally be crossed out and affirm written in its place. Although this may seem to be a petty distinction, we need to remember that God’s Word is the final authority, and obedience to Him is essential lest we fall into condemnation. 

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matthew 12:37 

~ Pete Lewis 

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