Affirmance and Oath TakingAffirmance and Oath Taking C RUDEN defines affirmance as the act of maintaining the truth of a thing and oath-taking as the act of making a solemn appeal to God to witness the truth of a declaration. The two aspects of the above sub- ject are namely; first, scriptural and secondly, legal. We are forbidden to take the oath as Jesus declares in Math. 5:34 and 35 when He says; "I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne, nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.” And further in James 5:12, where it is written, “But above all things, my brethren, swear not neither by heaven nor by the earth, neither by any other oath; but let your yea be yea; and your nay be nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” In Gen- esis 14:22; Deut. 32:40, and Rev. 10:5 we find that the raising of the hand is an integral part of the oath- taking and is thus inseparable in many cases from the oath proper. As to affirmance; wisdom and pre- caution must be exercised since the nature of the statement by which you give affirmance can make one partaker in an oath. Upon the reading of the oath by the administerer of such as is the method of procedure when af- firmance is used, one should meditate before giving affirmance. Such an oath as one used at one period in history and which the Quakers, re- fused to make affirmance to was as follows: “I promise to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God at His holy dome” (day of judgment). This would positively be displeasing to God even in af- firmance only, since it would signify that it was agreeable to the person affirming and such an oath would be asking God to break His own word and alter His divine plan. However, this oath is not commonly found in Governmental oath of this present day. ee let us consider the legal aspect— The federal Statute as to affirmance (Title 1. Sec. 1 of the Code of these United States of America) says; “A requirement of an oath shall be deemed as complied with by making affirmance in judicial form.” Since nothing is mentioned rela- tive to the necessity of raising of the hand it cannot be required. This statement is in full effect at the pres- ent time, according to the statement made by the Clerk of the Federal Court. To erase the fact in any believer's mind of the attitude which those ac- cepting affirmance may take to those who hold our views, the information is that—any who volunteer to raise the hand are considered inconsistent. If at any time, through ignorance of the law on the part of an admin- isterer of an oath, should he ask the affirmer to raise the hand it would only be necessary to quote the above Statute and the place wherein it can be found in the Code of the United States.Published by APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY 1327 W. Colvin Street Syracuse, New York 13207 Free copies available