Article 2, Section 1, of the U.S. Constitution prescribes the oath of office.

From Senate.gov website:(https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Oath_Office.htm)…”The Constitution contains an oath of office only for the president. For other officials, including members of Congress, that document specifies only that they “shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation to support this constitution.” In 1789, the First Congress reworked this requirement into a simple fourteen-word oath: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States.””

George Washington was the first President to take his oath of office by swearing on the bible. Since then, each President has done the same. It’s become a respected tradition. It has also become a tradition that all elected officials to swear (or affirm) before they take office, and for citizens to do the same before they testify in court.

There is only one problem with that…

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Yahuah has VERY CLEARLY FORBIDDEN taking oaths! He FORBIDS swearing.

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Matthew 5:34-37 

³⁴ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is Yah’s throne; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let ^[a]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

James 5:12 

¹² 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 ^[a]judgment.

You can’t get more clear than that!

So, why do people who claim to believe in Yah feel it is okay to swear or take an oath when Yahuah said DO NOT DO IT?

Why do people feel it is okay to swear or take an oath with their hand on the same bible that forbids it?

The Constitution is an important document, and I have high respect for it, but it is by no means a perfect document. That’s why it’s a living document and needs to be changed as we learn and grow. Unfortunately, many Americans are more passionate about following the Constitution to the letter even more than they are about following the bible to the letter.

The ‘founding fathers’ were great men, but they were far from perfect. They were ordained by Yahuah (Romans 13), but they were not Elohim. Many of them who signed the Constitution also signed bills of sale for slaves with the same hand.

I’m quite certain that someone will take the previous two paragraphs out of context because what I just said offended them. If it offends you, examine yourself and what spirit is provoking you to be offended. Yahusha the Messiah also offended the religious leaders when He came to warn them about how their traditions need to change…

Matthew 15:1-9 

15 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Yahusha, saying, ² “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

³ He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of Yahuah because of your tradition? ⁴ For Yah commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ ⁵ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to Elohim”— ⁶ then he need not honor his father ^[a]or mother.’ Thus you have made the ^[b]commandment of Yah of no effect by your tradition. ⁷ Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

⁸ ‘These people ^[c]draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
⁹ And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

Notice what Yeshua said about oaths when He rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees in Matthew Chapter 23…

Matthew 23:16-17  (NKJV)

¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ ¹⁷ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that ^[a]sanctifies the gold?

He called them fools. It makes no sense to swear on the bible. Which is greater, the cover of the bible carry more weight than the words you are speaking? Which is greater, the Bible or the words in it that make it holy? Besides, someone who doesn’t believe in Yahuah or take His word serious enough has no problem with putting their hands on the bible and telling a lie.

If we really love Yah, then we want to do what He said without trying to justify otherwise because we want to place our will over his…

John 14:15 

¹⁵ “If you love Me, ^[a]keep My commandments.

One of the problem with many Christians is they prove by their actions that they feel the only sins that Yahuah is concerned with are homosexuality, abortion and gambling.

However, Yahusha the Messiah has made it clear that we are to NEVER SWEAR.

I do feel it is okay to make an ‘affirmation’. I feel it is okay to say, “I affirm to support the Constitution or I affirm to tell the truth” in court. But NEVER on a bible.

But, any elected official who proclaims an ‘oath of office’ or is ‘sworn in’ begins their term with a sin.

And, anyone who swears not to tell a lie in court promises not to commit one sin by committing another one.

As we work to make the Constitution an even better document by including amendments that secure the rights of everyone, don’t you think we should change it in a way to please the God of our salvation first? And do it ASAP.

AL not AI

If Yahuah makes it so easy to join His organization (Romans 10:9), why do we make it so hard to join some of ours?

I was watching a television show in which a young lady hoping to join a prestigious college band was beaten into intensive care during her initiation, and it was swept under the rug and defended by those in authority to protect their tradition.

I’ve heard many comment and reason that such behavior is just ‘part of the process’…that some initiations and inductions are just ‘part of growing up’.

I’ve heard that enduring this foolishness with others breeds loyalty, brotherhood/sisterhood, comradery, etc.

Some of these organizations claim to be ‘Christian’ organizations.

Now, I’m sure some of you reading will defend it out of loyalty to your own beloved organizations and traditions, but if you’re a believer…if you know Yahuah word…if you know the character and culture of His Kingdom…and if you’re honest with yourself, you know it’s not of Yahuah and makes no sense. You know that some of the activities people are forced to participate in are clearly not of Yah.

If it’s not of Yah, then it’s of the devil…

If it’s of the devil, then it’s straight from Hell.

How do I know it’s not of Yahuah?

Because God made joining His organization EASY for us!

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It’s interesting how so many organizations, teams, clubs etc. make it so DIFFICULT to join…initiations, rituals, rites of passage, hazing, traditions…while, Yahuah makes it so EASY!

Romans 10:9 (NKJV)

 9 that if you confess with your mouth Yahusha HaMashiach and believe in your heart that Yahuah has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

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The Body of HaMashiach is the most important and prestigious ‘organization’ of this earth and beyond.

The benefits of membership are eternal…

Yet, Yahuah makes it so easy to become part of His family.

But,

So many earthly organizations feel it’s such an honor to be inducted into their ranks that some have even died trying to get in. When you think about it…it’s quite absurd that people have shed blood to join some groups but…

Yahusha paid the price of our admission to His church with His blood…

 Isaiah 53:5

But He was wounded for our transgressions,He was bruised for our iniquities;The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

One of Yahusha’s greatest battles was against foolish, senseless tradition (Matthew 15:1-20).

Matthew 15:1-20 

Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Yahusha, saying, ² “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

³ He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of Yahuah because of your tradition? ⁴ For Yah commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; ^[a] and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’^[b] 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to Yahuah”— ⁶ then he need not honor his father or mother.’^[c] Thus you have made the commandment^[d] of Yah of no effect by your tradition. ⁷ Hypocrites! Well did Yeshayahu prophesy about you, saying:

¹⁰ When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: ¹¹ Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

¹² Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

¹³ But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. ¹⁴ Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

¹⁵ Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

¹⁶ So Yahusha said, “Are you also still without understanding? ¹⁷ Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? ¹⁸ But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. ¹⁹ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. ²⁰ These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

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No organization on earth supersedes Yahuah’s and should never be no more difficult to become a part of than His assembly.

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Even though some have even perverted and complicated ‘membership’ in His assembly, that was never His intention.

When any organization makes potential members submit themselves to violence, vulgar and profane language, embarrassment and possible harm as conditions of joining…those activities are not of Yahuah.

Don’t get caught up trying to hold onto, defend and condone traditions from Hell.

AL not AI!

If you believe in Yahuah and angelic influence in our lives, then you have to believe in the Ha Satans and demonic (fallen angels) influence in our lives as well.

The bible not only gives examples of the devil influencing our behavior…

Luke 22:3-4

³ Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. ⁴ So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.

But, it also makes it clear that even some doctrines taught in the church have demonic origins…

1 Timothy 4:1

Now the Spirit ^[a]expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

It’s unfortunate that from race, to religion, to fraternal organizations, to business, to ‘heritage’, to family…too many cultures and traditions have either intentionally or unintentionally been established and endured due to demonic influence.

If it contradicts the word of Yahuah, then it’s not of Yah.

Yahuah has given us clear insight in how to tell if there’s been demonic influence in culture or tradition, but too many times we ignore, justify or excuse it because we’re too committed to our traditions etc.,

Mark 7:7-9

⁷ in vain do they worship me,
    teaching human precepts as doctrines.’

⁸ You abandon the commandment of Yahuah and hold to human tradition.”

⁹ Then he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of Yahuah in order to keep your tradition!

The knowledge is available, but too many times we choose willful ignorance…

Hosea 4:6

⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your Elohim, I also will forget your children.

Here’s some explicit, biblical examples of how to tell if a culture or tradition has been established or influenced by demons…

1. IT CONTRADICTS THE WORD OF YAHUAH…

This one was stated above, but let me give you a perfect example that someone is sure to deflect, justify or explain because the feel compelled to continue the tradition. Yahusha the Messiah, and the Book of James clearly tells us to never swear an oath and goes on to say that when we do IT IS FROM THE DEVIL…, but from court, to public office, to public servants to the military, the tradition has been established to make the first act of office or service A SIN by swearing an oath. It’s even written in the United States constitution to ‘swear or affirm’. But, the Yahusha said…

Matthew 5:34-37

³⁴ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is Yahuah’s throne; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let ^[a]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

James 5:12

¹² 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 ^[a]judgment.

One way the devil gets demonic traditions to survive for thousands of years is to convince people they are depriving their children of something. For example, Yahuah made it clear that we should not only avoid to worship pagan idols, but to refrain from allowing their names to come from out lips…

Joshua 23: 7

⁷ and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not MAKE MENTION OF THE NAME of their idols, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them,

The devil has convinced well-meaning ‘Christians’ to blaspheme every time they mention a day meant to celebrate the resurrection of Yahusha HaMashiach by calling it by the name of a pagan goddess. This tradition is so established that not only do many ‘Christians’ not know why it’s called Easter, but they feel compelled to defend it once the find out that it and it’s traditions are pagan. Celebrate without calling it Easter and ‘hunting eggs’.

2. IT’S BASED ON PRIDE

Yahuah hates pride and explicitly forbids it. However, from family, to nation, to race, to organizations, people proclaim that pride is a part of the culture and tradition.

Proverbs 16:18

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before ^[a]a fall.

James 4:6

⁶ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“Yahuah resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

Anytime we feel compelled to use the word pride, thankful is always more appropriate

3. WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO BECOME A PART OF IT OR PARTICIPATE

There are so many cultures and organizations that either force people to sin to become a part of them, or to sin to participate in them. One thing that I couldn’t ignore when I was living on campus when going to college is the sinful behavior in which pledges (of all races) had to participate to become a part of a fraternity or sorority. And, once a member some frats very reputation was of sinful promiscuity and overindulgence in alcohol (watch some people push back on this one)…

It’s amazing that despite how easy Yahuah makes it to become a part of His organization (The Body of HaMashiach) that we can make it so difficult to become a part of some of ours.

Many toxic corporate and organizational cultures flourish because people are forced to make unethical and ungodly decisions. Many of these cultures pervert what Yahuah calls strength…

4. IT EXPLICITLY HONORS THE DEVIL

Yahuah takes names very seriously. He changed Ja’acov’s name to Yasharel. He changed Abram’s name to Abraham. He changed Sarai’s name to Sarah. He continuously reiterated the fact that He takes His own names very seriously…

Exodus 20:7

⁷ “You shall not take the name of the Yahuah your Elohim in vain, for the Yahuah will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

So this being said, why would anyone want to name a sports team with a name that has anything to do with the devil or devils? You literally has to shout cheers for the devil to support the team! WHY AREN’T CHRISTIANS CONCERNED WITH TEAMS WITH A DEVIL AS THE MASCOT…

This short list is by no means exhaustive, but hopefully it provokes thought and conversation about what it truly important to Yahuah.

AL not AI