From Discipleship Weekly

(a publication of the Presbyterian Church of Islip)

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A Word from Our Sponsor I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by earth for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. . . .But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' -- Matthew 5:34-35, 37a The Heidelberg Catechism: Part 3 - Thankfulness Week 37: The Third Commandment (continued) 101. Q. But may we swear oaths by the name of God in a devout manner? A. Yes, when the civil authorities require it of their subjects, or when it is otherwise needed to maintain and promote fidelity and truth, to the glory of God and the welfare of our neighbor. Such oath-taking is grounded in God's Word and has therefore been rightly used by God's people under the Old and New Covenants. [Gen. 21:24; 31:53; Deut. 6:13; 10:20; Josh. 9:15; I Sam. 24:22; I Kings 1:29-30; Jer. 4:1-2; Rom. 1:9; II Cor. 1:23; Heb. 6:16] 102. Q. May we also swear by the saints or other creatures? A. No; for a lawful oath is a calling upon God, as the only searcher of hearts, to bear witness to the truth, and to punish me if I swear falsely. No creature deserves such honor. [Matt. 5:34-37; 23:16-22; Rom. 9:1; II Cor. 1:23; James 5:12] Suggestions for discussion and review: 1. What's wrong, or right , about the following statements? "Do you swear to tell the truth. . .so help you God? "On a stack of Bibles, I swear. . ." "I swear, on my mother's grave. . ." "As God is my witness, I swear. . ." "Do you promise to love, honour and cherish. . .?" "I do." 2. Some religious groups refuse to pledge allegiance to the flag, or serve in the armed forces, or even be "sworn in" in a court of law because they believe these actions involve violations of the Third Commandment. How would you, in love, explain to a member of one of these groups why it would be acceptable to take an oath in those circumstances? * * * * * * * * * * The church must be reminded that it is not the master or servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. -- Martin Luther King, Jr.