Article 1, Section 3, Paragraph 6
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
On Oath or Affirmation
Oaths are permissible but should be rarely used.
Being a Senator is a sacred trust, but evaluating fellow officials is a very sacred job. Because of this, each Senator is to do this particular job on oath or affirmation.
An oath is a solemn declaration to do something, usually before God.
An affirmation is taken when a person cannot in good conscience before God swear to be honest and honorable. It is instead the promising to be honest and honorable.
So why not hold each member to swearing before God? There are some who do not believe in God. Others ignore all the Scriptural examples of those who needed to swear to the truth in order to affirm it.
Exodus 22:10-11, "If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it: Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good."
Biblically, an oath is so serious, that if broken, one puts himself under a curse.
Leviticus 5:1, "And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity."
Scripture instructs that we must be very careful about what we say.
Exodus 20:7, "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."
We are warned that God does not hold a person guiltless when His name is used in vain.
Leviticus 19:12, "And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD."
God’s name is not to be profaned.
Matthew 5:32-37, "But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But 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. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."
Our Lord’s warning is that our manner of life should not consist of making vows, but instead be simple “yes” and “no” responses. He explains that there is no such thing as invoking an oath without calling on God as witness.
James 5:12, "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation."
We can bring condemnation against ourselves by using more than simple “yes” and “no” responses.
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