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In my days as a worship
pastor (I write as if it was sooooo long
ago—it’s been about a year since I was exclusively a worship pastor), I
would sometimes be asked if the song “I Swear” could be performed at a
wedding.  It’s a stereotypical love song
about swearing by the “moon and stars in the sky” and swearing “by the shadow
that’s by your side”.  It’s really a
sweet thought.

 

I’m quite sure the authors Gary
Baker and Frank J. Myers were not trying to make a theological statement
but I wondered every time someone asked about doing that song at their wedding:
do you have to swear by everything on God’s green earth before your beloved
will believe you?”

 

And every time—not some
times but EVERY time—the words of James 5:12 came to mind:  “Above all, my brothers and sisters, do
not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is
a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.”

 

But the question is bigger
than just our weddings.  In our every day
lives, why is it we need to say, “I promise” at all? Shouldn’t we simply say we
will do something (Lord willing) and we will do it?  Perhaps this is exactly what Christians to
whom James wrote were doing: they were having to swear by the temple or the
gold in the temple when their word should be their bond.

 

James takes his cue from
the Master in Matthew 5:33-37.  Jesus
told us (Matthew 5:37), “all you need to say is simply ‘yes’ or
‘no’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”  Strong words
too, huh?

 

Here’s my challenge to you:
go an entire day without making a promise. 
Seriously.  Don’t make a single
one, but if you tell someone you will do something, do it (Lord willing).  Let’s make our “yes” and “no” something that actually
means something again!

 

Oh—and to all those brides
who wanted “I Swear” but had this crazy guy suggesting other songs, I know you had to smile at hearing this again!  J