Just Say It (Then Just Do It)
How is this hard?
There are elements of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5-7 that must seem so simple, they have become meaningless to countless of his followers. Over the years, “swearing” somehow became about a particular short lexicon of words and less about the intent of our speech. In today’s passage, swearing is about trying to add veracity to something we say (I promise I won’t!, or I swear I’ll do it!, or I swear to God, I didn’t say that!). All of these things seem to be going against what Jesus is saying here in Matthew 5:33-37.
Don’t swear by anything. Just say your piece (and then follow it up).
Why isn’t this a bigger deal?
A recent church trial that put a minister’s credentials on the line called for that preacher and his witnesses to swear to tell the truth. How ironic that in a setting in which someone’s Christian integrity is being challenged, he is forced to go against Jesus’ teaching to demonstrate that very integrity.
Why would this happen?
A significant part of it is that nonChristian culture continues to shape our Christian practice. In this case, Western legal systems have so shaped our practices that they’ve infiltrated our own.
Why does no one call out the practice of placing a hand upon and swearing on a Bible?
Matthew 5:33-37
“Again you have heard that it was said to those who lived long ago: Don’t make a false solemn pledge, but you should follow through on what you have pledged to the Lord. But I say to you that you must not pledge at all. You must not pledge by heaven, because it’s God’s throne. You must not pledge by the earth, because it’s God’s footstool. You must not pledge by Jerusalem, because it’s the city of the great king. And you must not pledge by your head, because you can’t turn one hair white or black. Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no. Anything more than this comes from the evil one.”
Prayer
God,
I’m not even sure we know what integrity is anymore. It’s easy enough to pontificate about politicians. But honestly, I’m much more concerned about those of us in the Church.
It seems so simple - in understanding, at least - that our yes would be yes and our no would be no. I know I can’t control the words and actions of others, so I pray today for my own.
Help me to live rightly. Keep me from saying things just to impress someone or to make someone feel better unless I’m to follow it up in action. Help me to take seriously the things I say and to realize that more often, this might mean I don’t say anything at all.
But when I do, give me the fortitude to follow it up, to do it as I’ve said it.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.