Today, topics include using the Bible in America when affirming oaths of office, and the separation of church and state. Millions of Americans from every faith will appeal to GOD and make petitions through prayer on behalf of the Nation and its leadership. Yet, the inauguration to install our 45th President will be a secular ceremony, not an act of anointing, consecration, ordination, or worship. Affirming an oath is like agreeing to be accountable by signing ones own signature. Despite “pomp and circumstance,” many mature Christian believers acknowledge the holy writings as a form of the divine presence, and will continue to call forth and evoke other benedictions, sacred blessings and displays of divine power. Similarly, the gesture of placing ones hand upon the Bible continues to be widely understood as a silent prayer for divine gifts and tools that may include approval, courage, guidance, hope, miracles of order instead of chaos and confusion, prosperity, virtue, vision, and wisdom. Lawful citizenship for all Americans is a status established by the giving and fulfilling of promises. Where one makes or swears to an oath, they jeopardy and place at risk their good name and reputation as having honesty and quality. So to speak, their words are to be validated by the excellence, fruitfulness, and integrity of their unselfish actions and service. A fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “2017” (Level 7 with 61,448 points, a member since December 25, 2008) posted the following:
Why is the bible used to swear in official things like the inauguration and in courts, when church and state is supposed to be separate?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Hebrews 6: 13-20, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: A Learned Council of Elders? (05/10/2016); World Peace Is Coming? (05/08/2016); From Cover to Cover? (01/04/2016); American Culture and Law? (07/13/2015); Jesus As America’s President? (05/20/2015); God Bless America? (09/12/2013); Law, Slavery and Redemption (09/13/2013)
“2017”, in effect promises and solemn oaths are taken agreeing to forfeit and suffer loss of ones most precious possessions in payment for failure to complete the terms of a contract. The system of government for America is a Democracy among representatives of the populace (we say, a Republic). The goal of the Nation’s founders was to fashion a social covenant that would combine and secure the highest known benefits, influences, principles, values, and visions. While there may be a huge percentage of the Nation’s citizens committed to systems of belief such as Christianity, a constitutional structure is in place to insure balance, fairness, and full participation for all through law. The church is to always have a presence through the citizens as they exercise franchise being a free people, rather than by operating as a controlling institution. The social traditions where a person is “sworn in” to serve in government offices, various roles during legal procedures (e.g., expert witness, jury member, translator), and positions that entail continuing trust (e.g., first responders, law enforcement officers, medical practitioners) acknowledges that endorsement and evidence for the validity of a person’s word must come from a higher and objective source, and may not merely be subjective and on the authority of that person’s opinions of himself. Completeness and integrity for every living creature goes beyond the “gang of three” (i.e., me, myself, and I), and pertains to the absolute sum of their total substance and worth that appears through their acts of self-will), exchange within ongoing relationships, and utterance (we say, breath, life essence, speech, spirit, word). Described in simple language, we say, A man is as good as his word. By “good” reference is made to aspects of character and maturity such as accountability, consistency, dependability, honor, nobility, predictability, reliability, righteousness, stability, and trustworthiness. At the onset of their service, there must be a clear display of a person’s determination to carry out and ethically fulfill the contracts, duties, and obligations of citizenship—even at the cost of their lives. Thus, their committed and principled conduct will mark and set apart the entire Nation as distinguished and excellent. Consider again the following:
(1.) Numbers 30: 2, King James Version (KJV): 2 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.
(2.) Deuteronomy 23: 21-23, KJV: 21 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. 22 But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. 23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.
(3.) Matthew 23: 16-22, KJV: 16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
(4.) James 5: 12, KJV: 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.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5.) Matthew 12: 35-37, KJV: 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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