Does Your Church Require An Oath to Be Elders & Deacons?

[ChristB4us]

Here is why the oath is unbiblical for any Christian to make when serving Him as an elder or a deacon.

James 5:12 But above all things, 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.

Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Matthew 5:36 testifies to why it is evil to bind yourself by an oath to be an elder or a deacon because you cannot make yourself an elder or a deacon by keeping an oath but by faith in Jesus Christ enabling you is how you serve Him in that capacity.

This is why just saying yes or no and nothing more is required to serve Him by faith in Jesus Christ as an elder or a deacon or not.

 

[ChristB4us]

Contenders may say "But God will help us to keep our oath as an elder or a deacon."

Not true in according to His words. By His words, you have to do everything that proceeds out of your mouth as it is your oath and therefore you are to keep it as in finishing that oath and not leave it undone.

Numbers 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

This is why we are warned as that oath represents what you are going to do and thus your work and if you keep that oath, the credit & glory goes to you. If you do not finish the oath, you cause your flesh to sin, & God will destroy the works of your hand.

Ecclesiastes 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

So ask Jesus Christ to forgive you and set you free to rest in Him as your Good Shepherd & Friend to help you to follow Him, & also in serving Him as an elder or a deacon.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Galatians 5:1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.... 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:... 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

[ChristB4us]

Contenders may scoff and say it is the same as keeping your commitment to follow Christ.

But Jesus never put that bondage on any of His disciples for how to follow Him. Instead He said this;

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

So we are to deny ourselves as able to follow Him by the flesh & will power of keeping such a commitment and instead take up the cross daily as it is not we who live but Christ Who lives in us as we are to trust Him a sour Good Shepherd to help us to follow Him which is what He is asking us to do when He says "Follow Me".

Galatians 2:15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

So righteousness is not going to be obtained by you keeping that commitment to Christ or to follow Him by since we are to follow Him by faith.

Galatians 3:1O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

So ask Jesus Christ to forgive you and set you free to rest in Him as your Good Shepherd & Friend to help you to follow Him, & also in serving Him as an elder or a deacon.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Galatians 5:1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.... 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:... 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

[ChristB4us]

If any readers is still wondering about his, look at how it is evil to make plans for tomorrow without saying something in respect to the Lord be willing or not.

James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Now if anyone says .."But God will help us to keep our plans and our commitments and our oaths to be an elder or a deacon; I refer you to post #2.

And this warning below;

2 Corinthians 11:19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. 20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: ...

Matthew 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

 

[makesends]

Here is why the oath is unbiblical for any Christian to make when serving Him as an elder or a deacon.

James 5:12 But above all things, 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.

Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Matthew 5:36 testifies to why it is evil to bind yourself by an oath to be an elder or a deacon because you cannot make yourself an elder or a deacon by keeping an oath but by faith in Jesus Christ enabling you is how you serve Him in that capacity.

This is why just saying yes or no and nothing more is required to serve Him by faith in Jesus Christ as an elder or a deacon or not.

There's a difference between oath and promise, in the context of James 5:12. To say, "I do", when asked a question, is not what James says not to do.

 

[ChristB4us]

There's a difference between oath and promise, in the context of James 5:12. To say, "I do", when asked a question, is not what James says not to do.

"Will you so and so, take this so and so as your lawfully wedded spouse?"

"I do" or "Yes" is the same answer and that marriage bond is finished as joined by God as one flesh until death do them part.

Those who add personal extra vows of love to that marriage covenant God performs are sinning against God because by those vows of love is the knowledge of sin and how one measures & judges not only the other but themselves that the devil can tempt with condemnation.

Not to mention that love is not boastful and when "romantic love" is fleeting and when our spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, we need His love in us to help us love one another for that marriage to continue.

But to make an oath take the office of an elder or a deacon is not a requirement to be an elder or a deacon, but this is below.

2 Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

I see no requirement of an oath for either one of them to take that office because they have to do that by faith in Jesus Christ not by keeping an oath.

Thank you for participating.

 

[makesends]

"Will you so and so, take this so and so as your lawfully wedded spouse?"

"I do" or "Yes" is the same answer and that marriage bond is finished as joined by God as one flesh until death do them part.

Those who add personal extra vows of love to that marriage covenant God performs are sinning against God because by those vows of love is the knowledge of sin and how one measures & judges not only the other but themselves that the devil can tempt with condemnation.

Not to mention that love is not boastful and when "romantic love" is fleeting and when our spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, we need His love in us to help us love one another for that marriage to continue.

But to make an oath take the office of an elder or a deacon is not a requirement to be an elder or a deacon, but this is below.

2 Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

I see no requirement of an oath for either one of them to take that office because they have to do that by faith in Jesus Christ not by keeping an oath.

Thank you for participating.

I agree completely, yet, I have to say, "let your yea be yea, and your nay be nay", implies things the modern church sometimes doesn't take seriously. One who agrees to execute the office of elder in any one body of believers MUST be shown the seriousness of his charge, if there is any reason to doubt it, and, I tend to think, words to that effect should be brought out when the charge is made. One way I have loved to see is, in lieu of "oaths" a certain formal gathering of the members, a presentation to and agreement from the members as a body and the officials in a laying on of hands and praying, in which ceremony the person himself never says a word, unless asked, in which case he merely answers, 'yes'. Like with a wedding, the members of a congregation have a duty to hold an elder to his job —or so I think, as things have developed in the modern Church.

 

[ChristB4us]

I agree completely, yet, I have to say, "let your yea be yea, and your nay be nay", implies things the modern church sometimes doesn't take seriously. One who agrees to execute the office of elder in any one body of believers MUST be shown the seriousness of his charge, if there is any reason to doubt it, and, I tend to think, words to that effect should be brought out when the charge is made. One way I have loved to see is, in lieu of "oaths" a certain formal gathering of the members, a presentation to and agreement from the members as a body and the officials in a laying on of hands and praying, in which ceremony the person himself never says a word, unless asked, in which case he merely answers, 'yes'. Like with a wedding, the members of a congregation have a duty to hold an elder to his job —or so I think, as things have developed in the modern Church.

I can understand why churches do not take these oaths seriously for why they are glossing over Jesus's words not to do them because society has conditioned us to think it is okay to make religious but vain oaths.

Like in the Cub Scouts or in the Boy Scouts.

The Scout Oath or Promise <--- at that link to view

Then you have that Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

Then you have that oath at the witness stand in court to swear on the Bible, no less, to "tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help ye God". when by His words, He cannot help you keep that oath. And lawyers asks questions that insist on a yes or no answer but not all questions are yes or no answers and if the witness does not answer, the judge can fine them in contempt of court when refusing to answer as ordered by the judge. So the way it is set up in the judicial court system, God cannot help the witness tell the whole truth even when bound by an oath to do so.

Frankly, all the judicial court system needs to do is inform the witness before taking the witness stand the penalty for lying on the witness stand rather than for lying under oath and by swearing it on the Bible too.

So we can see how society can have influence on believers in churches, even from our youths, especially when some are Freemasons as members of the church that may have been responsible for introducing the concept of having the bishop & deacon swear an oath in taking those offices just like when people do for when they take a political office.

Some do not see the difference but there is between saying "Yes, I shall take the office of being an elder in this church" from "Yes, I promise to be an elder to this church".

 

[Sereni-tea]

The cultural background of the 1st century sheds light on this verse and is helpful to us so that we don't misunderstand what James is saying here.

An oath was a heightened form of confirming that you were telling the truth. However that can imply that other forms of the 'truth' were ... well less than truthful.

In the 1st century Jewish culture there was an elaborate system of oath-swearing that had developed. In his commentary on James, Dr John Dickson says "Swearing by Jerusalem or by the temple, for instance, was regarded as a non-binding oath. On the other hand, swearing by the gold of the temple or by some of the utensils used in the temple was considered fully binding. Other oaths involved swearing by 'heaven' or by 'earth' as James indicates here."

So basically it meant that people could avoid telling the truth by taking 'low level oaths'. This is the system that Jesus rejected in Matthew 5:37 and James is reaffirimg here. Does that mean that oaths today are wrong in themselves - no it doesn't. That was not the intention of either James or Jesus. Christians are called to be always truthful - there is no such thing as "graded truth". Whether we take any sort of oath today is not what is being forbidden.

 

[ChristB4us]

The cultural background of the 1st century sheds light on this verse and is helpful to us so that we don't misunderstand what James is saying here.

An oath was a heightened form of confirming that you were telling the truth. However that can imply that other forms of the 'truth' were ... well less than truthful.

In the 1st century Jewish culture there was an elaborate system of oath-swearing that had developed. In his commentary on James, Dr John Dickson says "Swearing by Jerusalem or by the temple, for instance, was regarded as a non-binding oath. On the other hand, swearing by the gold of the temple or by some of the utensils used in the temple was considered fully binding. Other oaths involved swearing by 'heaven' or by 'earth' as James indicates here."

So basically it meant that people could avoid telling the truth by taking 'low level oaths'. This is the system that Jesus rejected in Matthew 5:37 and James is reaffirimg here. Does that mean that oaths today are wrong in themselves - no it doesn't. That was not the intention of either James or Jesus. Christians are called to be always truthful - there is no such thing as "graded truth". Whether we take any sort of oath today is not what is being forbidden.

How can you apply that to specifically that kind of oaths when Jesus explained why we are not to make any oath in verse 36?

Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

I wish also to point out that James was not just speaking against the type of swearing but the oath themselves too.

James 5:12 But above all things, 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.

So I am not to make an oath to tell the truth & certainly not to make an oath to do something that I am supposed to be trusting Jesus Christ to do as only God can do.

 

[Sereni-tea]

How can you apply that to specifically that kind of oaths when Jesus explained why we are not to make any oath in verse 36?

Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

I wish also to point out that James was not just speaking against the type of swearing but the oath themselves too.

James 5:12 But above all things, 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.

So I am not to make an oath to tell the truth & certainly not to make an oath to do something that I am supposed to be trusting Jesus Christ to do as only God can do.

As I said, both James and Jesus were referring to a specific cultural issue in their time, that was designed to allow for half-truths, non-binding oaths or straight out lies. It is this system that we are warned to stay away or fall into condemnation. I don't know of any similar system that we have today, but if there is one we too should stay away from it.

We are called to be people of the truth and whatever we say should always be the truth. We don't need to make an oath to make it clear we are telling the truth because it is how we should always be.

Today, an oath is usually more about a promise that we are making or a declaration that we understand what is required of us and are going to do it. It is not the same thing. So there is no problem if we can called on to make some sort of oath, but we should never do so lightly.

 

[makesends]

I can understand why churches do not take these oaths seriously for why they are glossing over Jesus's words not to do them because society has conditioned us to think it is okay to make religious but vain oaths.

Like in the Cub Scouts or in the Boy Scouts.

The Scout Oath or Promise <--- at that link to view

Then you have that Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

Then you have that oath at the witness stand in court to swear on the Bible, no less, to "tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help ye God". when by His words, He cannot help you keep that oath. And lawyers asks questions that insist on a yes or no answer but not all questions are yes or no answers and if the witness does not answer, the judge can fine them in contempt of court when refusing to answer as ordered by the judge. So the way it is set up in the judicial court system, God cannot help the witness tell the whole truth even when bound by an oath to do so.

Frankly, all the judicial court system needs to do is inform the witness before taking the witness stand the penalty for lying on the witness stand rather than for lying under oath and by swearing it on the Bible too.

So we can see how society can have influence on believers in churches, even from our youths, especially when some are Freemasons as members of the church that may have been responsible for introducing the concept of having the bishop & deacon swear an oath in taking those offices just like when people do for when they take a political office.

Some do not see the difference but there is between saying "Yes, I shall take the office of being an elder in this church" from "Yes, I promise to be an elder to this church".

I agree with that. Well said.

 

[ChristB4us]

I agree with that. Well said.

I thank the Lord for that as He is the One that is helping me to share the talents He has given me in the knowledge of Him & His words. I thank Him that I know I am still growing in my walk with the Lord to be open to correction by Hs words so that I may bear more fruit.

 

[ChristB4us]

As I said, both James and Jesus were referring to a specific cultural issue in their time, that was designed to allow for half-truths, non-binding oaths or straight out lies. It is this system that we are warned to stay away or fall into condemnation. I don't know of any similar system that we have today, but if there is one we too should stay away from it.

We are called to be people of the truth and whatever we say should always be the truth. We don't need to make an oath to make it clear we are telling the truth because it is how we should always be.

Today, an oath is usually more about a promise that we are making or a declaration that we understand what is required of us and are going to do it. It is not the same thing. So there is no problem if we can called on to make some sort of oath, but we should never do so lightly.

If we were to actually address what making an oath does.. is to bind one's soul to finishing it Numbers 30:2 whereby God cannot help us as it is a work of our hands per Ecclesiastes 5:4-7.... I can see His warning in Matthew 5:36 of Matthew 5:33-37 as to why we should not be making any oaths or promises that are His to keep since it is not we who live but Christ in us;

Galatians 2:15-3:4 KJV

I hope in the Lord that you can see that truth in His words that goes beyond what educated scholars of the day are applying His words to only mean.

 

[makesends]

If we were to actually address what making an oath does.. is to bind one's soul to finishing it Numbers 30:2 whereby God cannot help us as it is a work of our hands per Ecclesiastes 5:4-7.... I can see His warning in Matthew 5:36 of Matthew 5:33-37 as to why we should not be making any oaths or promises that are His to keep since it is not we who live but Christ in us;

Galatians 2:15-3:4 KJV

I hope in the Lord that you can see that truth in His words that goes beyond what educated scholars of the day are applying His words to only mean.

No. An oath does not mean God cannot help us to carry it out. In fact, the words sometimes attached to an oath —"so help me God"— are entirely appropriate.

Is not repentance an oath? It is not conditional, certainly. So, help me God.

 

[ChristB4us]

No. An oath does not mean God cannot help us to carry it out. In fact, the words sometimes attached to an oath —"so help me God"— are entirely appropriate.

Numbers 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
That is God's word on the matter of making an oath or a vow or a promise or a commitment or any man made yoke of bondage.

If God could help the believer that did those things, why issue this warning at all?

Ecclesiastes 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

So there is no help me God in keeping an oath but there is help for when they break it by asking for forgiveness and help not to do that sin or take up that oath again which would double the sin.

Is not repentance an oath? It is not conditional, certainly. So, help me God.

In relation to any oath, God will not help them keep it in according to His words for why Jesus warned us against doing such a thing at all when it is His work to do as only God can do God's work in changing our hair white or black per verse 36 below.

Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

I still see repentance as believing in Jesus Christ since it is on Him to save us and turn us from our iniquities.

And since our believing in His Son is a manifested work of the Father, we truly are saved by the grace of God.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Mathew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

 

[Sereni-tea]

If we were to actually address what making an oath does.. is to bind one's soul to finishing it Numbers 30:2 whereby God cannot help us as it is a work of our hands per Ecclesiastes 5:4-7.... I can see His warning in Matthew 5:36 of Matthew 5:33-37 as to why we should not be making any oaths or promises that are His to keep since it is not we who live but Christ in us;

Galatians 2:15-3:4 KJV

I hope in the Lord that you can see that truth in His words that goes beyond what educated scholars of the day are applying His words to only mean.

I take the Word of God very seriously, and I believe it is our duty as followers of Jesus to seek to study and apply His Word as they were intended.

Cultures change over time, and the same word can mean different things in different cultures. Historians can provide us with a background of the culture of biblical times to help us better understand the context of various passage. Every passage in Scripture has it own literary and cultural context and it is important for us to try as best we can to understand what that context is.

This is especially important for us today as we are 2000 years removed from the 1st century (and even more from OT times) and living in a vastly different part of the world. It is wrong to approach the Bible with a purely modern, western cultural mindset. This leads to distortions and misunderstandings about what the Bible is actually saying. In this instance, it can lead to restrictions in taking an "oath" today (which can appear in many different forms), which bears no resemblance to the situation the Biblical authors are addressing.

For example, if we were to take the passages as saying we are not to make any oaths, would this not preclude Christians from the US Congress since they have to take an "Oath of Office" (US friends correct me if I am wrong here)? Likewise in a courtroom where we promise to "tell the whole truth". This too is a form of an oath.

 

[ChristB4us]

I take the Word of God very seriously, and I believe it is our duty as followers of Jesus to seek to study and apply His Word as they were intended.

Cultures change over time, and the same word can mean different things in different cultures. Historians can provide us with a background of the culture of biblical times to help us better understand the context of various passage. Every passage in Scripture has it own literary and cultural context and it is important for us to try as best we can to understand what that context is.

This is especially important for us today as we are 2000 years removed from the 1st century (and even more from OT times) and living in a vastly different part of the world. It is wrong to approach the Bible with a purely modern, western cultural mindset. This leads to distortions and misunderstandings about what the Bible is actually saying. In this instance, it can lead to restrictions in taking an "oath" today (which can appear in many different forms), which bears no resemblance to the situation the Biblical authors are addressing.

How does one know if cultures is not influencing believers to see nothing wrong with making any kind of oath today?

For example, if we were to take the passages as saying we are not to make any oaths, would this not preclude Christians from the US Congress since they have to take an "Oath of Office" (US friends correct me if I am wrong here)?

I do not see why anyone need to take an oath for public office. It doesn't make them good or be good as obvious by some like President Biden.

Likewise in a courtroom where we promise to "tell the whole truth". This too is a form of an oath.

Again, why say an oath when just informing the witness on the witness stand that telling a lie will incur penalties? since people have gone to jail & fined for lying under oath, I fail to see the point of it other than they sin twice by lying and under oath too.

Then you have that oath at the witness stand in court to swear on the Bible, no less, to "tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help ye God", when by His words, He cannot help you keep that oath. Lawyers asks questions that insist on a yes or no answer but not all questions are yes or no answers and if the witness does not answer, the judge can fine them in contempt of court when refusing to answer as ordered by the judge. So the way it is set up in the judicial court system, God cannot help the witness tell the whole truth even when bound by an oath to do so. See how exasperating the court system can be?

 

[Sereni-tea]

How does one know if cultures is not influencing believers to see nothing wrong with making any kind of oath today?

I do not see why anyone need to take an oath for public office. It doesn't make them good or be good as obvious by some like President Biden.

Again, why say an oath when just informing the witness on the witness stand that telling a lie will incur penalties? since people have gone to jail & fined for lying under oath, I fail to see the point of it other than they sin twice by lying and under oath too.

Then you have that oath at the witness stand in court to swear on the Bible, no less, to "tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help ye God", when by His words, He cannot help you keep that oath. Lawyers asks questions that insist on a yes or no answer but not all questions are yes or no answers and if the witness does not answer, the judge can fine them in contempt of court when refusing to answer as ordered by the judge. So the way it is set up in the judicial court system, God cannot help the witness tell the whole truth even when bound by an oath to do so. See how exasperating the court system can be?

I tried to point out the historical context of the passage to explain why it is OK for Christians to make oaths today if required - as many do in one context or another. It is not sinful for them to do so.
I didn't say all oaths today are good, or makes a person good.

 

[ChristB4us]

I tried to point out the historical context of the passage to explain why it is OK for Christians to make oaths today if required - as many do in one context or another. It is not sinful for them to do so.
I didn't say all oaths today are good, or makes a person good.

But that is what Jesus is speaking against when in regards to verse 36 where you cannot make one hair white or black. Only God can. We are not to make an oaths or promises that are His to keep & finish in according to the New Covenant He has made and all He asks from us is to believe Him. Making any oath that is for Him to keep & finish is akin to not believing Him and resorting to your own power under the law to do it for Him.

Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.