To the  Justice Minister

We are supposed to live in an age of “Equality and Inclusivity” but in reality that is not the case at all, especially for Christians who want to follow the Lord Jesus Christ – the most persecuted people on Earth. The “Secular State” is by no means neutral!

According to the words of the Lord Jesus Christ and his brother James in the Bible, we are commanded to never take any oath but to always speak truthfully. Therefore, many Christians rightly see taking any oaths as evil, Satanic and condemning of those who take them. This is according to the very book people often swear an oath on in court – Matthew 5:33-37; James 5:12.

Matthew 5:33 “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your oaths; you must carry out the oaths you make to the Lord.’ 34But I say, do not make any oaths! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. 35And 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. 36Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. 37Just let your, ‘Yes be yes’ or ‘No be no;’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

James 5:12 But above all, my brothers, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not be condemned.

(While I am not condemning anyone for ever having taken an oath in the past, we need to look forward in truth.)

According to the Lord Jesus and many Christians’ rational faith conviction and conscience, this oath taking is therefore abhorrent. This is a view that should be respected in view of freedom of conscience and faith.

Just because our legal culture depends on oaths, does not make it right. Jesus says we should not take any oaths as it is evil.

I see as particular hypocrisy, mockery, idolatry and blasphemy, this abuse of the Bible for swearing oaths. It is deeply offensive. The alternate provision “The Oath of Affirmation” without abusing the Bible, it is just another abhorrent oath in disguise but not quite so hypocritical. (Oath Acts 1978, 5(4)A solemn affirmation shall be of the same force and effect as an oath.)

We also have a technical problem.

For a Christian to compromise on their belief in Jesus’ command against oath taking and yet submit to the coercion to take an oath, is knowingly sinful and hypocritical. How could their testimony then be trusted if they were so willing to compromise on what they believe to be the truth?

If a court accepts such testimony, knowing the compromise it has coerced, it then compromises its own righteousness and has the appearance of hypocrisy and injustice.

If coerced testimony is inadmissible so also coerced oaths should be inadmissible.

The situation is unacceptable for everyone. The system is broken.

A possible solution could be a “Statement of Faith” from a Christian. Like this for jurors: “I believe Jury service is a very solemn and serious task that needs to be approached carefully and rationally, on the basis of the the evidence and that faithfulness and truth are imperative in reaching a verdict. I believe that I am under the constant gaze and attention of the ultimate judge who sees past my words and into the intentions of my heart and to whom I am ultimately accountable.”

This way Christian conscience would not be violated, Christians can be taken seriously and the court is not in danger of the appearance of compromise, hypocrisy and injustice.

Urgent Request: 

In view of the Biblical understanding of oaths being evil and bringing condemnation, Christians should be free to obey Jesus and free of any obligation to take any oath in any circumstance because of freedom of conscience and religion. Any coercion or penalty, is a violation of our Human Rights, resulting in injustice. Cultural norms within the legal system have no moral authority.

• Stop the idolatry, mocking and the blaspheming of the Word of God in the courts.
• Stop the coercion of Christians to take oaths in the courts, allowing freedom of conscience, without penalty of any kind.
• Stop discriminating against Christians.
• Stop the injustice and hypocrisy.
• Fix the broken system.

It is imperative for the Minister and the Government to urgently sort out this problem, of injustice, inequality and persecution. The justice system clearly appears to be unjust and therefore the idea that justice is seen to be done is compromised.