Profanity or Promise
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.” But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No”; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”(Matthew 5:33-37 )
This was one of those Mennonite things that in my youth confused me. I was told that Mennonites do not swear. I took it as Mennonites do not use profanity. And that made sense with what I saw of my elders. Especially my mother; she was fearsome about my not using off-color language. It kind of . . . . But I followed her rules, and even now I very seldom use anything worse than darn. Of course I have created my own nonsense words that when uttered with great force and emotionality make good substitutes.
But as my education in Mennonite traditions and understandings grew, I came to realize that it was swearing of oaths, that is promising with more explanation than a simple yes or no. The context of swearing an oath in a court room was the most often mentioned example. You see, along with not using profanity I was told “not to take the Lord’s name in vain” which I construed as meaning that since God was all powerful my trying to do, be, say or promise anything in comparison to God was done “in vain” and it was hopeless to try.
So in my youthful mind, the two ideas sort of swam together leaving me a bit confused as to the meaning but very clear on what I should or should not do or say; and even more on the consequences. And it has resulted in a sort of interesting phenomenon. Along with my ‘clean’ language, I have tried to hold to the standard of keeping my promises. If I do not think I can do a thing or make something come about or however you would phrase endeavors, I will not make a promise about it. But if I truly believer I can do something etc, I will promise and then stick to that promise with all my might and will. And ‘darned’ if I don’t!
May you gentle reader be the giver and receiver of only true promises, and may your language please the ears of the Divine. Selah!
