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What is the purpose and intent for using this tradition in swearing-in ceremonies and courtrooms? Is it because the people who require this ritual actually fear God and the Bible? If so, what if the person that is being sworn-in DOESN'T believe in God or the Bible? Is that person still expected to tell the truth? Or else!

Would God all of a sudden become less powerful because He was no longer included in swearing-in ceremonies or courtrooms? Maybe God is not big enough to keep himself included, so he needs us to help Him out, you know, stick up for Him? So what am I saying?

Yes, God is big enough to keep Himself front and center when He wants to. He really doesn't need our help. If we don't believe that He can take care of Himself without our help, then maybe our concept of God is too small. Perhaps our concept of God is too shallow to understand who God really is and what His purpose for letting evil prosper in the earth is really all about.

Here's what the Bible says about taking oaths.

God Himself tells us not to swear or take oaths. Since God inspired the writing of the Book people are swearing in with, perhaps we should see what He has to say about this tradition.

"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 you fall into condemnation." James 5:12

So why would someone fall into condemnation?

The religious people of the time of the writing of the Bible were famous for swearing, taking oaths and using heaven, earth, Jerusalem, the temple, the alter and anything else to give their words credibility.

After a while, people excused their oaths by thinking they could make them with mental reservations so they didn't have to honor what they said. Such a person soon became known as a hypocrite and someone who's words could not be trusted.

So the condemnation is not from God, it's actually condemnation from the people who would end up labeling them as a hypocrite for not keeping their word. So why do we expect God to condemn people who would dare swear-in and then tell a lie under oath?

God knows that we're not perfect and that we will do things like lie, cheat and all kinds of other things that are morally wrong. So what consequences do we hope God will measure out to people who lie under oath? Fire and brimstone? A plague or disease? How about the earth opening up and swallowing them up alive?

Someone who is dishonest at heart won't all of a sudden mysteriously become an honest person just by swearing on a Bible that they don't really believe. Conversely, someone who is honest doesn't need to swear on anything to keep on telling the truth. We're told to keep it simple and answer yes or no whenever we're asked questions or making statements. Don't use God's name in vain to try to give yourself or anyone else credibility.

In a courtroom, what is the judge and jury for? They're there to determine whether the person on trial is actually telling the truth or not. If swearing on the Bible guaranteed that everybody told the truth, we wouldn't need judges and juries. So the question that remains is. WHY are people forced to swear on the Bible today? Especially when the majority of people in our modern day society doesn't even believe God or His word. God doesn't require swearing on His word, so why do we? One reason is because people have what the Bible calls "a zeal without knowledge."

If I was asked to swear on the Bible, I would adamantly refuse and say that it was against my faith in God's word. If they gave me a hassle, I would take the book they're holding in their hand and turn to and read the verse quoted above. God doesn't require it of me, so I would never expect anyone else to do it.

Learn more about this author, Ron Beauchamps.
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