Taking An Oath / Swearing

[Earthling]

The question of if it is okay to swear or take an oath is a relatively simple one to answer, but it can become somewhat more complicated when considering the proper reason for doing so. To simply answer the question, the answer is yes, it is okay. Jesus and James were advising against the frivolous oath taking that had become an unfortunate habit of the Jewish people. Making an oath by the heavens, earth, and Jerusalem as a sort of collateral which they had no real authority over. It was, Jesus and James were pointing out, more significant to be honest and truthful in all matters so that it wasn't necessary to establish every trivial detail by a frivolous oath, undermining not only your integrity but those things that belonged to Jehovah God or his appointed king. (Matthew 5:34-37 / James 5:12 Also see Matthew 23:16-22)

Jesus wasn’t prohibiting the taking of an oath as is evident by his giving answer without objection to being placed under oath before the high priest at his own trial. (Matthew 26:63-64)

An oath is a statement stressing the truthfulness of something someone promises to do or not to do. There are two Hebrew words translated as oath; shevuah, which is an oath or sworn statement. Shava is a related term that means “swear” and comes from the same root as the Hebrew word for “seven,” so swear originally meant to be under the influence of seven things. (Genesis 21:27-32) Beer-sheba means “well of the oath” or “well of seven.” (Genesis 26:28-33). Shevuah doesn’t contain the connotation of a curse or hardship placed upon the person making the oath should he not fulfill it.

The other Hebrew word translated as oath is alah, meaning “oath, cursing” or “oath of obligation.” (Genesis 24:41; 26:28)

The Greek horkos, “oath” and omnyo, “swear” are both found in James 5:12. The Greek anathematizo means to bind with a curse. (Acts Of The Apostles 23:12, Acts Of The Apostles 23:14, Acts Of The Apostles 23:21)

 

[stvdv]

but it can become somewhat more complicated when considering the proper reason for doing so

I learned my lesson the hard way. I never take an oath again. Because I never know if I live to keep it up. Or it must be very, very specific, making sure I can keep it.

When I read in the scriptures, genesis 1:29 and stuff that God gave us for food quite specific diet. I said one fine night inwardly to God. God I want to surrender to you. If it's really your plan that I should follow this genesis diet then please come to me in a vision and I will do it. [I never had a vision before, and I thought that would be nice]. I didn't think this one over very well

That night I had a wonderful vision from God. So next day I started my new diet. Did it like 2 weeks. If I remember correctly (now 20 years ago or so), I got a vision every day I followed this diet. But after 2 weeks only raw food I couldn't control myself anymore and ate something cooked. No vision that night. So after a few days no vision I decided to go back to my diet. Bingo vision again. I went up and down. But gradually got more in balance.

Whenever I could not control my diet I felt guilty. That was no fun. After 6 years God took my guilt feeling away. And I never do such stupid promises again. Of course this was very nice, all the visions. But the guilt feeling became unbearable. Anyway I learned my most valuable lesson "never promise anything that I can't keep". So I will never marry. 60% divorce rate. Even if I can keep my promise big chance she can't. Better safe than sorry. Never again I make a promise to God [unless I first test out if I can keep it]

Of course it was all within God's Masterplan. I happened to have extreme health problems and by this very clean diet, health got much better. I learned to say "sorry God for making a promise I can't keep" [to be honest I phrased it adding "but your fault also a bit, because I specifically said `if it's good for me`]. So it was a good experience after all, but when in the middle of it, it was quite stressful.

Of course the best thing out of this was, that I learned that I can speak to God and God responds. But better think twice what I ask, because He might grant it to me, and I might not like it.

 

[Earthling]

I learned my lesson the hard way. I never take an oath again. Because I never know if I live to keep it up. Or it must be very, very specific, making sure I can keep it.

When I read in the scriptures, genesis 1:29 and stuff that God gave us for food quite specific diet. I said one fine night inwardly to God. God I want to surrender to you. If it's really your plan that I should follow this genesis diet then please come to me in a vision and I will do it. [I never had a vision before, and I thought that would be nice]. I didn't think this one over very well

That night I had a wonderful vision from God. So next day I started my new diet. Did it like 2 weeks. If I remember correctly (now 20 years ago or so), I got a vision every day I followed this diet. But after 2 weeks only raw food I couldn't control myself anymore and ate something cooked. No vision that night. So after a few days no vision I decided to go back to my diet. Bingo vision again. I went up and down. But gradually got more in balance.

Whenever I could not control my diet I felt guilty. That was no fun. After 6 years God took my guilt feeling away. And I never do such stupid promises again. Of course this was very nice, all the visions. But the guilt feeling became unbearable. Anyway I learned my most valuable lesson "never promise anything that I can't keep". So I will never marry. 60% divorce rate. Even if I can keep my promise big chance she can't. Better safe than sorry. Never again I make a promise to God [unless I first test out if I can keep it]

Of course it was all within God's Masterplan. I happened to have extreme health problems and by this very clean diet, health got much better. I learned to say "sorry God for making a promise I can't keep" [to be honest I phrased it adding "but your fault also a bit, because I specifically said `if it's good for me`]. So it was a good experience after all, but when in the middle of it, it was quite stressful.

Of course the best thing out of this was, that I learned that I can speak to God and God responds. But better think twice what I ask, because He might grant it to me, and I might not like it.

That's a cool story, thanks for sharing. I don't think I could have lasted as long as you did. I like meat too much.