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Christianity Today, March, 2007 |

Tidings

Why Isn't 'Yes' Enough?

The fuss over swearing-in ceremonies reveals a deeper problem.

Ted Olsen | posted 2/23/2007 08:41AM

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We could parse Scripture to codify hard rules for oaths, but then we're right back to being confronted by Jesus.

Maybe we're supposed to be less interested in oaths than in becoming a community of truth-tellers. As Philo said, the more emphasis one puts on swearing, the more "the swearer shows that there is some suspicion of his not being trustworthy."

Related Elsewhere:

Throughout January, Christianity Today's Weblog linked to several news articles and opinion pieces about oaths.

A version of this column originally ran in the March 2007 print edition of Christianity Today. The column "Tidings" was formerly called "Weblog in Print." Earlier columns by Ted Olsen include:

Bottom-Up Discipline | What do you do when your pastor—or your entire denomination—strays? (Jan. 16, 2007)

The Year Conservatives Saved Christmas | We bullied stores out of "Happy Holidays." Hooray? (Dec. 8, 2006)

What Really Unites Pentecostals? | It's not speaking in tongues. It may be the prosperity gospel (Dec. 5, 2006)

Does Islam Need a Luther or a Pope? | American pundits debate whether centralized religious authority restrains violence. (Oct. 20, 2006)

Asylum vs. Assistance | Offering sanctuary isn't about political protest. (Sept. 26, 2006)

We're Not Spectators | Mideast Christians writing for our website expressed their anguish—and anger. (Aug. 28, 2006)

Latter-day Complaints | Mormons and evangelicals fret over movies, politics, and each other. (Jul. 6, 2006)

Peace, Peace | From the front page to the obits, one day's news about Christian peacemaking. (Apr. 18, 2006)

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March 2007, Vol. 51, No. 3

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cds	Posted: February 24, 2007 12:30 AM

It is my understanding that the Qur'an that Ellison used for his private ceremony was Thomas Jefferson's, with a note in the front of this copy of the Qur'an saying TJ acquired it so his fellows could read and understand what they were up against. He got it after personal negotiations with the Barbary authorities. They assured him that they were not interested in peace and that their scripture told then to make Jihad against the infidel USA. That happened before he became president. As president he built up the navy & sent the Marines to the shores of Triploli to fight the pirates and the Barbary Muslims who sponsored them. I wonder if Ellison knew this.

Ted Voth Jr

Posted: February 23, 2007 2:09 PM

James, the Lord's brother, writes in the 5th chapter of his tough little epistle 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. And according to Matthew in his 5th chapter vv 34-37 Jesus our Lord Himself said 'I say unto you, Swear not at all… 37 But let your communication be, "Yea, yea"; "Nay, nay": for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.' What's so hard about that? Absolutely doctrinally and practically antiChristian, even to have raised the issue. But since the time of Constantine the venal have found a hypocritical use of Christianity politically profitable. Would that we Christians would not allow ourselves to be driven by wolves, however fetching their plundered fleeces, would that we'd listen to the Spirit of Christ: 'I come to seek and save the lost.'

Jeff	Posted: February 23, 2007 12:36 PM

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus clearly sets himself up as the one who interprets the Hebrew Scriptures for us. For Christians, his word comes before all others, including Paul or Augustine, Luther or Calvin. His prohibition against taking oaths is very clear, yet since Constantine we Christians have been doing our best to wiggle out of it - and the rest of the Sermon on the Mount, for that matter.

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