Article 20. Truth and the Avoidance of Oaths

We commit ourselves to tell the truth, to give a simple yes or no, and to avoid swearing of oaths.

Jesus told his disciples not to swear oaths at all, but to let their yes be yes, and their no be no. 1 We believe that this teaching applies to truth telling as well as to avoiding profane language. 2 An oath is often sworn as a guarantee that one is telling the truth. This implies that when one has not taken an oath, one may be less careful about telling the truth. Jesus' followers are always to speak the truth and, in legal matters, simply to affirm that their statements are true.

Jesus also warned against using oaths to try to compel God to guarantee the future. In faith, we commit our futures to God. 3

Throughout history, human governments have asked citizens to swear oaths of allegiance. As Christians, our first allegiance is to God. 4 In baptism we pledged our loyalty to Christ's community, a commitment that takes precedence over obedience to any other social and political communities.

Commentary

2. We follow the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition, which has usually applied Jesus' words against taking oaths in these ways: in affirming rather than swearing in courts of law and in other legal matters, in a commitment to unconditional truth telling and to keeping one's word, in avoiding membership in oath-bound or secret societies, in refusing to take oaths of allegiance that would conflict with our ultimate allegiance to God through Christ, and in avoiding all profane oaths.

Jesus' counsel to tell the truth without oaths and to be true in our relationships applies to family life, business dealings, advertising, and other agreements we make.

Introduction
Summary

1. God
2. Jesus Christ
3. Holy Spirit
4. Scripture
5. Creation and Divine Providence
6. The Creation and Calling of Human Beings
7. Sin
8. Salvation
9. The Church of Jesus Christ
10. The Church in Mission
11. Baptism
12. The Lord's Supper
13. Foot Washing
14. Discipline in the Church
15. Ministry and Leadership
16. Church Order and Unity
17. Discipleship and the Christian Life
18. Christian Spirituality
19. Family, Singleness, and Marriage
20. Truth and the Avoidance of Oaths
21. Christian Stewardship
22. Peace, Justice, and Nonresistance
23. The Church's Relation to Government and Society
24. The Reign of God

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