Christians, Oaths, Political Office and the scripture
2007
While discussing the Bible with friends, an interesting point was raised about Christians seeking political office and the swearing-oath of office.
In many secular circles, our involvement with the world system and the requirement for swearing an oath, swearing on a Bible, raising our right hand, or saying a pledge is commonplace. Jury duty, military enlistment, law enforcement, many clubs, lodges, and fraternal groups, government employment, and political office are all examples where an oath is required to participate.
Jesus said Mat 7:24 "Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock". And then He said "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine".
Let's look at another commandment of Jesus in regard to what we hear and do.
Matt 5:33-37. "Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shall not forswear thyself, but shall perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Again in James 5:12 we read " BUT ABOVE ALL my brethren, SWEAR NOT, neither by heaven, nor by earth, NOR ANY OTHER OATH; but let your yea be yea and your nay be nay, THAT YE FALL NOT UNDER JUDGEMENT.."
That sounds like a pretty serious warning to the "brethren", wouldn't you say?
Yet sadly, preachers and the loyal "brethren" drive their congregational vehicles full speed ahead over this spiritual warning sign even encouraging political partisanship and the political candidacy of Christians.
Christians seeking political office might consider the Biblical admonition in 2 Timothy 2:4 -
"No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Does political office concern itself with affairs of earthly kingdoms or heavenly? The answer should be self-evident. Personally, I cannot think of anything more entangled with the affairs of this life than politics!
Jesus again rebuked the religious leaders in regard to swearing oaths is in Mat23:16
"Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever swears by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, swears by it, and by all things thereon. 21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, swears by it, and by him that dwells therein. 22 And he that shall swear by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him that sits thereon."
Before someone says "NOT ME LORD!"
The NT church, the temple "made without hands" which Paul said "YE ARE" in 2Cor. 6:16, is become a common place to make pledges and commitments, to "partner" in ministry with, to "support", to pledge formal membership to, to sacrifice to, to pledge to bring your gifts and offerings to, and even the telethons pledge drives.
This puts Christians (the temple) in the position of swearing (a promise, oath or pledge) to do something in front of others, pledging their money (gold) and their personal sacrifices (the altar). The same applies to any Christian enrolling in church "membership", which is an agreement or pledge to keep and adhere to the rules and directives (laws) of that body. Nowhere in the NT is mention of any "church membership", "membership classes" or the like. The Biblical church without a doubt followed in the Words and walk of Jesus in regard to oaths, pledges, and forswearing.
Do you make pledges or vows to a church or favored ministry?
"Oath" means a pledge or a promise. Jesus said not to. Period.
What would happen if folks suddenly started doing what Jesus said to do?
A lot of television ministries would go "sayonara" off the air because the only way they know how to obtain funds is by pledges, vows, or sales of "stuff". And the big building program that you are supporting in your church might just go bust, or worse, be forced to borrow from "Babylon".."
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed... John 8:31-32
Next we ask, "Can a Christian seek elected political office, swear an oath, and not fall under judgment?"
If the California Constitution is typical of the state and federal, we quote:
CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 20 MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS
SEC. 3. Members of the Legislature, and all public officers and
employees, executive, legislative, and judicial, except such inferior
officers and employees as may be by law exempted, shall, before they
enter upon the duties of their respective offices, take and
subscribe the following oath or affirmation:
"I, ______, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support
and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Consti-
tution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign
and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the
Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the
State of California; that I take this obligation freely, without
any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will
well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about
to enter.
8.f. A California appellate court has held:
"Given the basic purpose of the oath it follows in reason that the requirement of execution of the oath "before" entering upon the duties to be undertaken establishes the execution of the oath as a condition precedent to a lawful undertaking of those duties. It becomes, in a sense, a matter of eligibility, for one who cannot take the oath, in effect, is rendered ineligible for public employment. (Cf. Reed v. Hammond, 18 Cal.App. 442 [123 P. 346]; Searcy v. Grow, 15 Cal. 117.) While the employment which is the subject of this appeal is undoubtedly not a "public office" as contemplated by Government Code, section 1303 (Hirschman v. County of Los Angeles, 39 Cal.2d 698 [249 P.2d 287, 250 P.2d 145]), nevertheless the importance of the oath of office as a prerequisite in the eyes of the Legislature is indicated by its action in declaring the exercise of the function of a public office before taking the oath of office to be a misdemeanor."
That's right, it is a crime to serve in the Calif. government without first swearing the oath. When you read in scripture what God says in regard to our oaths and vows, we realize how serious it is for a Christian to "bind" himself to Herod.
Remember the Pledge of Allegiance?: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America...."
We ask, is the pledge also an oath? Maybe the Christians will not be so patriotic as the great Eagle turns on and persecutes them just as Germany, Rome, and many other "beast" kingdoms of history have done...
In 2006, by Executive Order, the President signed into law the governmental oversight of churches in an unspecified national emergency. http://newswithviews.com/Levant/nancy51.htm The separation of church and state is gone with the stroke of a pen. March 7, 2006, our nation's leader signed another Executive Order, which tied the Department of Homeland Security to our leader's "faith-based" churches.
What about Christians and political office seeking?
A few scriptures to consider in addition to those above which speak to the "oath of office" requirement:
John 18:36 - "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." Then does it make any sense for Christians to do the OPPOSITE of what Jesus spoke about?
James 4:1 - "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?" Politics by nature is about struggle, strife, power, ego, and compromise. And have you noticed many politicians campaign advertising uses the words "I will fight for......"?
Politics by nature is rooted in the world and a work of the flesh.
Gal. 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
And The oath of office is where the devil and politicians shake hands.
Let's look at a few challenging scriptures:
Hebrews 11:15 - And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
2 Timothy 2:4 fits right in with that verse again - "No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier". Are politics to do with "the affairs of this life"?
Hebrews 11:16 - But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Can a Christian seriously think politics can make this "a better country"?
Mt. 4:8 "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And said to him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me."
There are large (political) kingdoms and small political kingdoms throughout this fallen world, satan rules over every one of them. Later, we will show who is put in charge of them...
Revelation 2:13 "I know thy works, and where thou dwells, even where Satan's seat is"
Satan's seat of power is over the kingdoms of this world.
The church is called to "come out from among them" and enter into the kingdom of God just as Jesus refused the glory, honor, and power associated with political office when tempted by the devil AND when well intentioned followers sought "to take him and make him king".
He even warned; "Beware of the leaven of Herod", the earthly king, a servant of the Roman "beast" kingdom (symbolized by the eagle), and Jesus warned of the temptation to partake of earthly government.
Rev. 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
-do we really want to become some small cog in the gears of that administration?
God also showed the prophet Daniel kingdoms of this world as "beast" kingdoms who carried out the nature of their father, the devil, and the history of earthly nations is that of non-stop strife and war as they act out the nature of their father, the devil.
example:
Daniel 8: 20: The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
And consider 2Cor. 6: 14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? (the God of this world) or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
The majority of our pledges, oaths, and swearing to perform bind us to an ungodly world system contrary to what Jesus spoke to on two occasions and James reaffirmed warning Christians to avoid. Political office oaths serve to bind Christians to the dead body of the beast kingdom they swear to serve.
What if someone working in the government or a politician is or becomes a Christian?
-In Scripture there are several examples:
1. Matthew Levi, the tax collector left his government job to follow Christ.
2. In Acts 8:27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians.
3. Philippians 4:22 - All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.
4. Luke 3:14 - And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
In these instances we note Matthew forsook everything to follow Jesus.
The Ethiopian government official went back to serve Queen Candace apparently, and serve his job. Caesars household may have been family, servants, or government employees who became Christian.
In Luke, Jesus told the soldiers to be content with their pay and do no violence. He did not tell them to quit.
In Acts, after Cornelius believed the gospel, there is no instruction for him in scripture to quit his position but he would have continued in the word the Lord gave other soldiers.
We might add, that being a servant-employee means being faithful and honest in fulfilling our job, like the prophet Daniel did and Joseph did in serving in their respective pagan governments.
"The Christian's clear choice in voting according to scripture is neither of Satan's political parties."- William Taylor.
2 Corinthians 4:4 says that Satan is the god of this world. The born-again believer is "NOT TO BE PARTAKERS OF OTHER MEN SINS" and keep ourselves pure as stated in 1Timothy 5:22.
Proverbs 17:15 says: He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even THEY BOTH are abomination to the LORD. In regards to politics, (the activities and affairs of a government) in order for a Christian to not be a partaker of the worlds political sins they MUST not endorse (give approval or support to) this present day Babylonian system wickedness.
The Christian's ONLY biblical role in politics (the activities and affairs of government) is to pray for those in authority of the earthly kingdoms regardless of who they are that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.
The Scriptures declare that God gives power, and as the supreme Governor of the universe, he delegates authority to whomsoever he will.
Notice in Daniel 4:17 it is God that gives power in the political world to what God has termed "low-lifes":
"to the intent that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men.
Not exactly the best of company to travel with according to God. And to make SURE, those who read the Bible get the message, He repeated that in verses 25, and 32, 35, and again in Ch. 5:21
... until he knew that the Most High God ruleth in the kingdom of men, and that he setteth up over it whomsoever he will.
Because the church has apostasized (departed from scripture), Christians and their leaders endorse politicians and participate in politics.
This is currently illustrated by major figures such as Rev. Pat Robertson endorsing New York mayor Giuliani for president, and other major leaders in Christianity throwing their support in the direction of other political candidates.
William Taylor said it this way: "This world's system is ungodly no matter how many outwardly "good things" IT SEEMS TO DO.
It does not reverence, obey, or fear the Living God of all creation. It purposely, continuously, and blatantly dishonors the name of the Holy God and is fit for the recompense of its "ERRORS" promised to them that endorse and support its wickedness.
ALL persons who hold a political office whether they confess to be a Christian or not inevitably compromise a matter. For a "true Christian" if this compromise is contrary to the spiritual and lawful duties to God this person just willfully sinned violating the laws of God and conscience. (It is better to obey God then men).
1 John 3:7-8 LET NO MAN DECIEVE YOU: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (Including satan's political-Babylonish system) - William Taylor Sr. www.actioncross.net
Was Christ politicaly involved? Utterly not. He even warned His disciples "Beware of the leaven of Herod". Herod represented human government.
God bless you, may you repent in this matter also as we have.
