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There are many ways in which this once God-fearing country has excluded God and the Bible from places where they should rightfully be, such as removing the Ten Commandments from courthouses. However, using the Bible in a way in which it should not be used is just as problematic. The simple truth is that using the Bible as part of an oath-swearing ceremony is in opposition to what the Bible itself says. Consider this:

"But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath; but let your 'yes' be 'yes,' and your 'no,' 'no'; so that you don't fall into hypocrisy." James 5:12 (HNV)

James is quoting and summarizing Christ himself speaking in Matthew 5:33-37. In other words, it is hypocrisy practiced at the highest levels of government to use the Bible in this way, and unfortunately, has been from the beginning. George Washington himself set the precedent of being sworn in on the Bible, and most presidents have continued the tradition. He may have thought it showed respect for the truth of the Bible and the responsibility of his office, but it does not.

Furthermore, while the early Presidents may have truly respected the Bible, while simultaneously not having read it carefully enough, the country today has much less respect for it. Criminals and Presidents alike are called to make oaths upon it, and which is more likely to keep their oath? Most criminals do not even believe in the truth of the Bible, or they probably would not have committed their crimes. How disrespectful and ultimately meaningless it is to have someone who does not even respect the Bible as truth make an oath on it, when it says not to do such a thing in the first place.

Ultimately, whether someone tells the truth in a trial or fulfills the office of President with justice and honor is a matter of his own principles, not whether he has made a particular gesture, sworn a particular oath, or put his hand on a particular book. A Bible is not a substitute for the presence of God. This is not to say that criminals should not be made to promise to speak truth, as a reminder that that is the right thing to do. It does not mean that Presidents should not be made to promise to fulfill their office well. However, those promises should be made like a marriage vow, truthfully, before God, but not as an oath upon a Bible. Let's take the Bibles out of ceremonies where they do not belong and put them in the hands of citizens and judges so that the nation may become law-abiding and God-fearing once more.

Learn more about this author, Reiko Yukawa.
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