ANSWER:
The answer is that a Christian should not swear by oath. The Bible is clear on this point: “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No,’ lest you fall into judgment” (James 5:12).
Jesus also said, “Again you have heard, that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord (see Leviticus 19:12). But I say to you, do not swear at all neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one’” (Matthew 5:33-37).
This Biblical instruction is not meant to imply that oaths are by themselves sin but rather to emphasize that we mortal human beings are often powerless to fulfill even our strongest intentions. God commands us not to swear by His name in any oath. Failing to fulfill an oath would be taking God’s name in vain. Therefore, a Christina should simply say “Yes” or “No,” according to what one honestly believes to be true, even in legal matters. The law of the United States permits affirmation: that is, saying “Yes” or “No,” without raising the hand to swear.
