A couple of weeks ago I had something happen to me which some might find interesting, or useful, or maybe not. But several weeks ago I got a summons for jury service, which I really didn’t want to go to as most people don’t. But what really bothered me about going was something I read in the scriptures several years ago about not forswearing yourself to an oath, which is required for jury duty.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:33-3433 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; ….” And also in James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
I even did a little research on the matter, both in the scriptures and per man’s law and became convinced that this was something (in all good conscience) I just could not do. In Numbers 30:2 we read “If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.” I then thought wow! That sounds pretty serious to bind ones soul with a bond by an oath.
Then I found in scripture that the word oath has the same meaning as the word curse. So then I’m thinking it’s like saying “to bind ones soul with the bond of a curse.” I then wondered how many people would agree to swearing to that kind of statement in a court of law?
Well after becoming convinced I couldn’t do such a thing I sent a letter back to the jury coordinator asking to be excused on the basis I couldn’t forswear any oath on account of my faith, and also on account that I thought it was against my rights under the constitution (involuntary servitude), which I figured wouldn’t fly. And it didn’t. I got a letter back from the jury coordinator explaining that she did not have the authority to excuse me for the reasons I stated, and if I didn’t show up on the date of the summons I would be held in contempt of court and fined $500.00. So even though it was against my own will, I felt I needed to go.
On the day of the summons I was thinking there might be 30 or 40 people there, and so standing up for my religious freedom in front of a small crowd wouldn’t be too bad when they throw me in jail for contempt of court. But when I got to the courthouse the parking lot it was full, and when I got to the courtroom there were hundreds of people there, which added to my anxiety.
So after a few minutes the judge stands up in front of everybody and says “now it’s time for you to be sworn in” and he asked everyone to raise their right hands (which I didn’t) and then he began his “Do you swear” oath. During this time the bailiff looks at me like “why ain’t your hand up?” And I just shook my head with a “no” gesture. Then when the judge got done with his words “so help you God” the whole crowd said a resounding “I do”.
But then it was my turn. I said “sir, excuse me, but I have to say… I don’t.” Then there was silence…… and I felt like every eye ball in the room was fixed right on me. Then the judge said “what is that?” I repeated “I have to say no to forswearing an oath on account of my faith”. And the judge said “what faith is that?” I said “my faith in the word of God which says for me not to forswear myself to an oath.”
Now I’m ready to start qoutin scriptures when the judge says “well, we also allow one to affirm an oath as well.” This response I was prepared for because I had studied the court laws concerning the matter. But found that affirming an oath is just another fancy rewording of swearing an oath, as it is also considered equal to swearing an oath by law; if it were not so they could not charge one with perjury under an oath.
And so I told the judge the same, that I could not affirm an oath either. Then I figured the contempt of court charge was soon coming, but to my surprise it didn’t. The judge then says to me, “well, will you try to tell the truth?” I said “sir, I try to tell the truth each and every day of my life, but I still cannot forswear myself, or even affirm myself to an oath to do so.” And the judge said “that’s good enough for me.”
Which really surprised me because I was expecting to be held in contempt of court, but I guess I got a reasonable judge. I know it will not always play out like this in most instances, as it depends on the judge I suppose. But I really wonder how many people realize just what it is they are doing when they forswear themselves to an oath? I believe sometimes the Devil is truly in the details, what do you think?
Jesus said in Matthew 5:33-3433 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; ….” And also in James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
I even did a little research on the matter, both in the scriptures and per man’s law and became convinced that this was something (in all good conscience) I just could not do. In Numbers 30:2 we read “If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.” I then thought wow! That sounds pretty serious to bind ones soul with a bond by an oath.
Then I found in scripture that the word oath has the same meaning as the word curse. So then I’m thinking it’s like saying “to bind ones soul with the bond of a curse.” I then wondered how many people would agree to swearing to that kind of statement in a court of law?
Well after becoming convinced I couldn’t do such a thing I sent a letter back to the jury coordinator asking to be excused on the basis I couldn’t forswear any oath on account of my faith, and also on account that I thought it was against my rights under the constitution (involuntary servitude), which I figured wouldn’t fly. And it didn’t. I got a letter back from the jury coordinator explaining that she did not have the authority to excuse me for the reasons I stated, and if I didn’t show up on the date of the summons I would be held in contempt of court and fined $500.00. So even though it was against my own will, I felt I needed to go.
On the day of the summons I was thinking there might be 30 or 40 people there, and so standing up for my religious freedom in front of a small crowd wouldn’t be too bad when they throw me in jail for contempt of court. But when I got to the courthouse the parking lot it was full, and when I got to the courtroom there were hundreds of people there, which added to my anxiety.
So after a few minutes the judge stands up in front of everybody and says “now it’s time for you to be sworn in” and he asked everyone to raise their right hands (which I didn’t) and then he began his “Do you swear” oath. During this time the bailiff looks at me like “why ain’t your hand up?” And I just shook my head with a “no” gesture. Then when the judge got done with his words “so help you God” the whole crowd said a resounding “I do”.
But then it was my turn. I said “sir, excuse me, but I have to say… I don’t.” Then there was silence…… and I felt like every eye ball in the room was fixed right on me. Then the judge said “what is that?” I repeated “I have to say no to forswearing an oath on account of my faith”. And the judge said “what faith is that?” I said “my faith in the word of God which says for me not to forswear myself to an oath.”
Now I’m ready to start qoutin scriptures when the judge says “well, we also allow one to affirm an oath as well.” This response I was prepared for because I had studied the court laws concerning the matter. But found that affirming an oath is just another fancy rewording of swearing an oath, as it is also considered equal to swearing an oath by law; if it were not so they could not charge one with perjury under an oath.
And so I told the judge the same, that I could not affirm an oath either. Then I figured the contempt of court charge was soon coming, but to my surprise it didn’t. The judge then says to me, “well, will you try to tell the truth?” I said “sir, I try to tell the truth each and every day of my life, but I still cannot forswear myself, or even affirm myself to an oath to do so.” And the judge said “that’s good enough for me.”
Which really surprised me because I was expecting to be held in contempt of court, but I guess I got a reasonable judge. I know it will not always play out like this in most instances, as it depends on the judge I suppose. But I really wonder how many people realize just what it is they are doing when they forswear themselves to an oath? I believe sometimes the Devil is truly in the details, what do you think?
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