Guided by principle, grounded in purpose ∙∙
A man who makes a vow to the LORD or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do. – Numbers 30:2
Matthew 5:33-37
33 You have also heard that our fathers were told, “You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the LORD.”
34 But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, “By heaven!” because heaven is God’s throne.
35 And do not say, “By the earth!” because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, “By Jerusalem!” for Jerusalem is the city of the great King.
36 Do not even say, “By my head!” for you can’t turn one hair white or black.
37 Just say a simple, “Yes, I will,” or “No, I won’t.” Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
The 21st century has witnessed a significant decline in objective journalism and factual reporting. Unfortunately, much of today’s news is biased, leading to widespread confusion about whom or what to trust. Regrettably, much of the news is now so often biased, Fake News, that we no longer know who or what to believe. Even online fact-checkers have let us down. The courtroom oath, “I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God,” has lost its weight for many people.
In 2018, former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani famously remarked, “Truth isn’t truth.”
What is authentic news? Authentic news is defined by key characteristics that guarantee its credibility and reliability: it is accurate, unbiased, transparent, and accountable, originating from trustworthy and dependable sources. By adhering to these principles, news organizations build trust with their audience, fostering an informed and engaged public.
“The Wall Street Journal” strives to answer this by committing to share information that is Guided by principle and grounded in purpose.
“United under the banner ‘free markets, free people,’ ‘The Wall Street Journal’ Opinion section has long served as a forum for intelligent, values-driven commentary. While we aim to persuade, every word we publish is the product of rigorous reporting, research, and debate. And though we uphold the same standards, we operate completely independently from the newsroom” (Street Journal Opinion).
To be guided by principle, one must be grounded in absolutes, eternal truths, and extrapolations from the Word of God. This, in turn, is based upon the assumption that God exists and that His Word is the Ultimate Truth.
Of all people on earth, the Jewish people were chosen to receive the Truth of God and preserve it for all humanity. They were to meditate on it day and night, hide it in their hearts, and live it out daily. However, human nature found ways to circumvent these practices, similar to how we might make promises today with our fingers crossed.
Some cunningly created a system of evasive swearing. Oaths were categorized into two categories: binding and non-binding ones. Oaths invoking God’s name were binding; otherwise, they were not. Consequently, swearing by God required strict adherence, while swearing by heaven, earth, Jerusalem, or one’s head allowed for flexibility. “The result was that evasion had been brought to a fine art. The idea behind this was that if God’s name was used, God became a partner in the transaction; whereas if God’s name was not used, God had nothing to do with the transaction” (Barclay).
In modern America, evasive swearing has become commonplace.
REFLECT & PRAY
The Declaration of Independence concludes with a profound commitment of noble words: “We pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” Honor and duty are superior to rights and self-interest.
Father, inspire and empower me to lead a life of unwavering integrity in Your sight.
INSIGHT
Vows either took the form of a promise to give something to God, usually a sacrifice, or a pledge to abstain from something. The Scriptures are explicit regarding vows. When they are made, they are to be kept.
Ecclesiastes 5:4 When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him.
Deuteronomy 23:21-23
21 When you make a vow to the LORD your God, be prompt in fulfilling whatever you promised him. For the LORD your God demands that you promptly fulfill all your vows, or you will be guilty of sin.
22 However, it is not a sin to refrain from making a vow.
23 But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the LORD your God.
Yet a familiar pattern often plays itself out again and again. In times of crisis, people turn to God in prayer. And their prayers usually take the form of vows: ‘If God helps me now, then . . . [Fill in the blank, etc.]. But when the crisis passes, and the prayer is answered, there is a temptation to forget the vow.
Regarding vows, the Lord Jesus Christ had a far superior idea. His solution was not to swear at all.
Matthew 5:34, 37
34 But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, “By heaven!” because heaven is God’s throne.
37 Just say a simple, “Yes, I will,” or “No, I won’t.” Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
The core of our identity, the essence of who we are, outweighs the promises we make with our words.
The Lord Jesus Christ teaches that our integrity should be so strong that others can trust our words without needing an oath (ESV notes).
How can we achieve this?
We must make a definitive decision to live by the principles found in the Word of God and renew this commitment every day. Our reputation and the lives we live speak for themselves.
We decide to be trustworthy, and that defines us. We are recognized as individuals who are dependable, reliable, responsible, truthful, faithful, reputable, ethical, honest, incorruptible, principled, and upright.
Moreover, the words of the Lord Jesus Christ contain profound layers of wisdom beneath the surface.
“In effect, Jesus is saying that, far from having to make God a partner in any transaction, no one can keep God out of any transaction. God is already there. Heaven is the throne of God; the earth is the footstool of God; Jerusalem is the city of God . . .. Our lives are God’s; there is nothing in the world which does not belong to God; and therefore, it does not matter whether God is actually named in so many words or not. God is there already” (Barclay).
But there is even more.
The fundamental truth that transcends all aspects of life is that the presence of God cannot be compartmentalized. It is imperative to acknowledge that the Father is omnipresent and transcends all spheres of existence. Therefore, the use of language, conduct, and ethical standards should be consistent across all domains of life, be it in religious settings, professional environments, or personal interactions.
Psalms 139:7-8
7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.
The Father does not require a formal invitation to partake in specific areas of life while being excluded from others; instead, the Father is omniscient and omnipresent, encompassing every facet of human existence. Consequently, every word spoken and every action performed is within the realm of His awareness, irrespective of whether it is explicitly carried out in His name.
The Father is omnipresent and cannot be evaded, deceived, or fooled. His presence is involved in every transaction, and ultimately, all promises are made in the presence of God (Barclay).
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© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 