What does the Word of God say about keeping a confidence or a promise. I guess this would fall under the concept of swearing an oath. Certainly with regards to swearing an oath unto the Lord this would make sense. But what about oaths sworn to other men?! Doesn't the word speak of oath breakers? Much like lawyer and client privelage, or confidentiality. Or the RCC's insistence of things spoken or shared within a confessional? Even to the point of refusing to acknowledge great crimes, acts of violence and even murder in some cases. Is there then a valid oath binding anyone priest or not to withhold this type of information? Would this not be unlawful? So then does the Word bind someone to be unlawful? And if so, why then would it be binding only for an ordained priest under the law?! Hmmm. I could use some help understanding what the Word of God says in this regard?! TR Wherein is the moral and spiritual high ground of this matter, as opposed to the political and lawful? Is a professional and corporate oath of silence demanded by employers and clergy alike fulfill spiritual high ground?! And yet how many have broken the "pledge of allegiance" taken as children with regards to our nation? TR I guess what I am asking if there is any solid scriptural basis for the "sanctity" of the confessional in God's Word? And if not, why does the law make this exclusion possible both for the confessional and the law profession?! Where then is the moral ground when in all other instances it is punishable by law?! TR 2 Timothy 3:2-5 I have a brother that promises things but, half the time, he doesn’t follow through and breaks his promise. My Aunt taught me “expect nothing from anyone and you won’t be disappointed” and I apply that wisdom towards anything he says. I had a college friend who would constantly say “can I borrow $1.00 I will pay you back?” I finally got sick of her false promises and said “nope, because you still never paid me back from all the other times ... not one dime.” Her response ... she laughed and then quickly found someone else in the snack shop to beg for some money. She never changed ... back in 2005 she was living in Massachusetts and wanted to meet at a restaurant and was bringing 5 kids while her husband was in the Marines and wouldn’t be there. I told her “nope, but I’ll see ya in heaven!” B-) Per Gotquestion.org There are about 30 biblical references to vows, most of which are from the Old Testament. The books of Leviticus and Numbers have several references to vows in relation to offerings and sacrifices. There were dire consequences for the Israelites who broke vows, especially vows to God. The story of Jephthah illustrates the foolishness of making vows without understanding the consequences. Before leading the Israelites into battle against the Ammonites, Jephthah—described as a mighty man of valor—made a rash vow that he would give to the Lord whoever first came out of doors to meet him if he returned home as the victor. When the Lord granted him victory, the one who came out to meet him was his daughter. Jephthah remembered his vow and offered her to the Lord (Judges 11:29–40). Whether or not Jephthah should have kept this vow is dealt with in another article. What this account shows is the foolishness of rash vows. Jesus taught concerning vows, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No ,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:33–37). A little background information is helpful in understanding Jesus’ words here. The religious leaders of the day advocated keeping a vow if it was a public vow using God’s name; however, if the vow was made in the course of everyday conversation, referencing only “heaven” or “earth” or “Jerusalem,” it was not really binding. People had a loophole. They could lie or exaggerate in their conversations and lend themselves an air of credibility by saying, “I swear by heaven that this is true!” They could not be held to account because they did not specifically swear by God’s name and the vow was private. Jesus countered that idea. If you swear something, it had better be true, He says. In fact, all you need to say is “yes” or “no.” Your word should be good. There’s no need for overwrought expressions to bolster your case. Psalm 15:4 describes a righteous person as one “who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind.” Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5 supports this biblical principle. Oaths are binding, even when spoken frivolously or privately as part of everyday conversation. A promise is a promise, and there is no loophole in God’s eyes to allow a person to renege on an oath. So, Jesus was not condemning all forms of promises, contracts, or agreements. Jesus was speaking of the kind of spontaneous vow made when a person says, “I cross my heart and hope to die” or “I swear on a stack of Bibles” or “I swear on my mother’s life.” Jesus warns against using those types of flippant oaths. His teaching in Matthew 5 is not meant to discourage careful, thought-out promises, such as wedding vows or a legal contract. The principle here is clear for Christians: be careful about making vows, either to the Lord or to one another. The fact that we are prone to errors in judgment means that we may make vows foolishly or out of immaturity. Further, the informal vows we make (“I swear by all the angels in heaven!”) are completely unnecessary. Our word is our bond. - Fair Use - Thanks for the info Sis. The breaking of an oath or promise brings shame upon the one who breaks his own word. But in regards to the instance of a confessional when heinous crimes are revealed, how did the Church get the law of the land to honor such a commitment and refuse to divulge sin and the laws of the land?! Not a crucial point, but curious none the same. Is this simply a matter of "religion" or faith?! TR
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
