by Golden Girl 4 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Does anyone remember how they used to view this?..Like in a court of law..when they have to put their hand on a bible and swear to tell the truth?
I always though they didn't do that.
But the latest Watchtower says it is a personal decision..yet they quote nothing but scriptures to support doing it!..I can't remember what they taught. Do you?
Snoozy....
Cant remember the WT statement but it was definately a no no. This is a change in policy as we certainly were not allowed to swear on the Bible. "Swear by nothing in heaven or on earth" was the Scripture they used. Plus a simple "Let your yes be yes and no be no" as a back up.
Then what did Fred Franz swear by when he was on trial in Scotland in the 1950's? I remember reading he took the WITNESS STAND (no pun intended) several times. Was that teaching in effect then?
*** w76 7/15 447-8 Questions from Readers ***
There is no Scriptural objection to doing so, though each person must decide whether to comply or to ask to be excused from this.
The practice of taking an oath while touching some object that is viewed as sacred has been widespread. For example, the ancient Greeks lifted up the hand to heaven or touched an altar while taking an oath. Among the Romans a juror held a stone in his hand and swore that if he were lying Jupiter should cast him away as he then cast away the stone.
Such acts manifested mankinds inner inclination to recognize that there is a divine power to whom humans are accountable and who observes what is said and done. Certainly the worshipers of the true God, Jehovah, recognized this. And the Bible shows that they took oaths, in the presence of God, as it were, or with him as a witness. (2 Sam. 3:35; 1 Ki. 2:23, 24; Ruth 3:13; Jer. 38:16) True worshipers also permitted others to put them under oath.Gen. 21:22-24; Matt. 26:63.
Sometimes when an oath was taken before Jehovah, the one swearing to it also made an accompanying gesture. The angel speaking to the prophet Daniel "proceeded to raise his right hand and his left hand to the heavens and to swear by the One who is alive for time indefinite." (Dan. 12:7; Gen. 14:22) Even God spoke of himself symbolically as raising his hand in an oath. (Isa. 62:8; Deut. 32:40) Another gesture that evidently was used in confirming an oath was that of placing the hand under the other persons hip or thigh.Gen. 24:2, 3, 9; 47:29-31.
Of course, a true Christian does not have to take an oath so as to back up every statement that he makes in daily life. His Yes should mean Yes, and his No, No. (Matt. 5:33-37; Jas. 5:12) But if in court he is asked to swear that his testimony is truthful, he may feel that he can take such an oath. Or he may be permitted to give an affirmation that he is not lying.Gal. 1:20.
When the courtroom procedure is that of raising a hand or of placing a hand on the Bible when swearing, a Christian may choose to comply, having in mind the Bible examples of accompanying an oath with a gesture. But more important than whether a person makes a certain gesture with his oath is the fact that he is swearing before God to tell the truth. Such an oath is serious. So if a Christian feels that he can and should answer a question put to him in such circumstances, then he is under oath to tell the truth
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So said the WT in 1976.. .. If I had been asked , I would have said the same as the earlier posters. My impressions were that it was viewed as "wrong somehow"
Incidentally , if called to court the witnessess that I knew would chose to afirm that their testimony was true. This satisfied the Court without having to swear on the Bible.
Edited by - BluesBrother on 3 December 2002 15:55:11
Thanks Blues Brothers I really appreciate the time it took for you to look that up and post it!.
Hubby is a inactive JW and I asked him if it was right or wrong..and he said wrong..he thinks. This was apparently the idea orthought they wanted to convey but not directly. The new Watchtower did say it was a conscience matter. More than less sugested it was OK to do so. Funny how they drop such "Little" hints!
I remember them saying "A christian ALWAYS tells the truth"...
Snoozy....
