Should the Bible continue to be used for swearing-in ceremonies and in courtrooms?

Jesus taught on the sermon on the mount that, “But I tell you, do not swear at all, whether by heaven for it is God’s throne, or by the earth, for it is the city of the Great King” – Matthew 5:34-35. James 5:12 echoed Jesus’ words as, “Above all, my brothers, do not swear-not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” no, or you will be condemned”.

If we read the Bible carefully, we can see that the teaching is not condemning the taking of solemn oaths in ceremonies and in courtrooms. Rather, it is condemning the flippant use of God’s name or a sacred object to impress persons talking to or onlookers. Swearing by the Cross, by the Bible, by His Holy Name as only a gesture without intention to serious commitment is prohibited by this teaching.

Swearing, not necessary to God, but to Pete’s sake, mother’s grave, His other creatures, lightly without really mean it is also prohibited in the same teaching. All the things used for swearing are in some way related to God and is blasphemous – Dt. 23:21-22.

The condemnation, however, is not the use of God’s name, Bible, or any other objects. It is neither the action of swearing itself nor the wordings. The importance is the attitude and the occasion in swearing. 

God Himself swore, “When God made His promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for Him to swear by, He swore by Himself” – Hebrew 6:13. Jesus too swore before Caiaphas in Matthew 26:63-64. Paul also swore by God in Rome 1:9 and Jesus and the Holy Spirit in Rome 9:1.

So, what should we do in swearing? Should we because of some bad apples and throw away the whole basket? Should we stop flying just because some planes crashed and killed people? Should we stop nuclear energy because of Chernobyl or some crazy countries are developing it as weapon? 

Isaiah 45:23 says, “By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked. Before me every knee will bow by me every tongue will swear”. The 9^th commandment implies that we should swear too. And so I would pause and fore-settle here that we should continue to use Bible for swearing-in ceremonies and in courtrooms?

However, we should do it correctly, appropriately, solemnly with a right attitude. First we should do it when there is an important occasion or event. All swearing or oath taking cases in the Bible are serious matters even it involves only 2 persons as in exodus 22:30.

Secondly, do not ask a person who does not know God to swear. The Bible says you do not have to do so. It is meaningless. The purpose of swearing is to promise before our Lord that we will keep the promise. If we do not have God, we do not know who should we keep our promise and hence no promise.

Third, and by far the most importance, is the attitude of the person taking the oath. Attitude is both outward as posture, position of the body or inward like manner of thought or feeling. We can present and be seen all our outward attitude, but God knows our inward feeling. So, make sure we are promising God together with the audience we are swearing.

Swearing-in ceremonies and in courtrooms meet both our first and third criteria in swearing. It, however, does not meet the second criteria of Biblical teaching.  This makes it impossible to take an absolute stand in this debate of Yes or No for both are not Biblical. I will, therefore, have no alternative but to conclude that we should continue to use Bible for swearing-in ceremonies and in courtrooms, with an alternative not to take part. This will give the God loving individual an opportunity to swear before Him of one’s intention. At the same time, it will make swearing a sacred and respectful act to all.