The Word for Wednesday: Matthew 5:33-37

Welcome to The Word for Wednesday meme! Each week, you're invited to post a scripture that has touched your heart, whether it's an old favorite, new light from the Holy Spirit, or something you're pondering.

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Oaths

In the summer of 2007, the son of a good friend was doing the official Explorer scout deal, and we were invited to attend the ceremony at a local church. As scouts are wont to do, they started with the pledge of allegiance. I got this far: "I pledge allegiance to the fl-" before the Holy Spirit stopped me. I was surprised, but just stood there silently until it was finished.

When I had a little time to think, it occurred to me that pledging allegiance to a piece of fabric was probably a pretty silly thing to do, even though it was ingrained in any of us who attended public schools. In fact, I can recall that when I was a kid, the pledge and the Lord's prayer were the two things I had been forced to memorize ... and I would end both of them with "Amen." That's probably not a good thing, either.

So, of course, I started seeking the Lord about this, and he brought to mind this passage:

"Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.' But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil. (Matthew 5:33-37)

That led me to this one.

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment. (James 5:12)

With some prayer, I realized that making an oath was a snare of satan. How could I promise before God to obey my government when that same government does not obey God? I'm not recommending anarchy, but if it comes right down to a choice between serving God and serving my country, I must stand with Peter and John:

Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:18-20)

And then I found one more.

A Psalm of David. O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; (Psalms 15:1-4)

Since that explorer meeting, I have not recited the pledge of allegiance, and suspect that I never will again. I also will not officially join a church or a club or anything else that requires any kind of loyalty statement.

If you'd like to dig into this a little more, there's a good discussion about oaths here and in the book Come Out of Her My People by Paul Shirk, available here.