Sunday May 29, 2022
Truth Decay
We live in a culture in which the truth is often the first casualty of interactions between men. We have an incredibly elaborate system of lawyers and contracts and notaries and binding signatures to ensure that we do what we say we will do – at least when it’s perceived to be important enough. And none of it makes people any more truthful. In fact, most people don’t even believe truth is an objective reality!
A recent study by Barna Research found that only 22% of adults in America believe there is even such a thing as absolute moral truth. Among that specific group, only 32% of adults and only 9% of teenagers said they believe moral truth is unchanging or absolute.
There’s much to be said for being a person of integrity and doing what you say you’re going to do. There’s even more to be said, however, for being a person who carefully considers decisions with God’s input and sticks to those decisions once they’re made. God is, after all, the same yesterday, today and forever. If we are to be like Him, we must show ourselves faithful and dependable, with a divine sincerity as well. (See WORD WISDOM for a deeper study of sincerity)
Generally, true Christians do not have to make sworn oaths. This is because they obey Jesus, who said: “Just let your word Yes mean Yes.” He meant that a person should keep his word. Jesus prefaced that command by saying: “Do not swear at all.” He said this in condemnation of the casual habit that many people have in their daily conversation of repeatedly swearing to this or to that, without ever intending to do what they say. By going “in excess” of a simple Yes or No to state their intentions, such people may reveal that they are really untrustworthy and thus under the influence of “the wicked one.”
Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord. But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; and anything beyond these is of evil (Matt.5:33-37)
The Lord’s desire is that we not bind ourselves in oaths or vows (Matt.5:34), but simply be people of our word. “…Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’…” Put away the mixing of words and equivocation. Employ plainness of speech, whether in the affirmative or negative. There is no need for grandiose, ego-stroking oaths – just keep your words simple, and keep your words.
James seems to echo the words of our Lord in his epistle, and he puts special emphasis on this command, introducing it with the words, “above all.” How serious a thing is it to have taken an oath, and to not fulfill it? It is evil, brings condemnation upon us, and makes us then an agent of the evil one.
Those who are in Christ should have no need for an oath or vow, to swear that they will do this or that, or that what they have said here or there is true. If we conduct ourselves as people of integrity, then folks will know that our ‘Yes’ means ‘Yes,’ and our ‘No,’ ‘No.’ A vow is a serious matter.
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed. Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. (Ecc.5:4-5)
It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, and afterward to reconsider his vows. (Pro.20:25)
Jephthah is an extreme example of one who kept a horrible oath (Judg.11:29-40). Jephthah promised that if God would grant him victory over the nation of Ammon, he would sacrifice the first thing that came out of his house when he returned. It was a rash vow because it was his daughter who came out to welcome him home.
We have all promised to do something and then not kept the promise. Some of us make promises never intending to do what we say. Others make promises and are forever canceling obligations, or making one excuse after another. The excuse may be a good one, but God says, we should “swear to our own hurt.” What kind of promises do you make? Our words show that our plans and promises depend on God with the intent that we will fulfill our obligation to our own hurt.
Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? (Ps.24:3)
Here is the answer: (Based on Ps.24:4) Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.
Let’s be such a people. Let’s not undergo truth decay! Amen? Amen.
