Christians Do Not Need to Make Promises

Friday, 26 June 2009

Christians Do Not Need to Make Promises
For a few years now, I have become increasingly more intentional about the language I use and do not use. Part of this discipline for me is no longer making promises or swearing any form of oath. I work hard to be the type of person who says what he means and means what he says. I embrace this discipline because Jesus taught me to do so.

Matthew 5:33-37
Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Jesus had a tendency to review the Jewish law and then make it stricter through divinely authoritative alterations (which he was justified to do since he was one with the Father as John 14:10 illustrates). The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) gives a good picture of Jesus’ bulk teaching. These were the words he said most often.

In this teaching Jesus comments on how Israelites were told to keep whatever oaths they made (Numbers 30, Ecclesiastes 5:4-5) and then alters the command by saying “But I tell you, do not swear at all.” After that he spends time examining popular things people swore by and showed how it is wrong to swear by them. Jesus finishes this teaching by saying “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’” Not only is Jesus instructing his followers to cease making oaths and to let their honest speech be plain and simple but he takes the teaching to a completely more dramatic level by saying that anything beyond this form of speech is “from the evil one.”

The people of G-D are honest and dependable and therefore have no need of oaths.

The Didache (teaching of the disciples) reads, “Let your speech be neither dishonest nor empty, but let it be full of significance through action.”

Aristides wrote of the Christians in 137 A.D. saying “They speak no untruth.”

As the disciples point out in the Didache, our speech can not be empty. Our speech is deemed empty or full depending upon our actions. If I am committed to letting my “Yes” be “Yes” and to speak simply and honestly then my actions must accompany my commitments. I must not only commit myself to not swearing oaths but also to living up to my word in as much as I am able. This may take time and my “Yes” and “No” may be stronger tomorrow than today. Yet this should not be discouraging since I am dedicated to enhancing the legitimacy and trustworthiness of my “Yes” and “No.” To embrace simple speech is to also embrace honest and trustworthy living.

Without becoming legalistic, it may be important to determine the difference, if there is any, between swearing an oath on one’s head, heaven or anything else and simply saying “I promise.” While the promise is not made on anything like an oath, we must admit that the purpose of each is shared. Both exist to emphasize commitment to the “Yes” or “No” given. Matthew Henry notes in his commentary “it comes from that deceitfulness which is in men, All men are liars; therefore men use these protestations, because they are distrustful one of another, and think they cannot be believed without them.”

Oaths and promises are both products of widespread dishonesty. The world is broken, and man is fallen. However, the Christian person does not give into the ways of the world but functions in a manner as directed by their Lord, who is Christ Jesus. After all, they are not of the world just as Christ was not of the world (John 17:16). Therefore, the Christian person will not speak beyond “Yes” and “No” and will work to live in such a way that they do not speak with empty words. Simultaneously, the Christian person will not require oaths or promises of other believers but will trust their siblings at their word. Consequently, Christians will have a hard time testifying in court since they believe more firmly in the Holy Bible than the actual court.

In step with most of Christ’s commands, this one works at it best when obeyed by the entire community of faith. The Church is the alternative in the world and is to function as a society within societies. The Church represents the eschatological hope that the kingdom of G-D will soon be fulfilled by the Messiah. Accordingly, believers are to live as the established kingdom of G-D on earth (continuing what Jesus started). However, this also means that when the entire community of faith does not follow these commands, problems arise. The world is in darkness so the Church (as a community) must be obedient in order that there may be light.

How often do you swear or promise that you'll do something? How often do you break a promise?