Suppose for example the CEO of Google or UN secretary general or American President was careless and gave a promise to break the world economy in a certain way. I don’t know if the CEO of Google is a Christian, but suppose he is for the sake of the discussion.
Should he follow his promise to break the world economy, accordingly the teaching of Bible?
(Mat. 5) “33 Again, you have heard that it has been said by them of old time, You shall not forswear yourself, but shall perform to the Lord your oaths: 34 But I say to you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shall you swear by your head, because you can not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no: for whatever is more than these comes of evil.”
“Shall perform to the Lord your oaths” is Old Testament! What does the New Testament teaches?
(Rom. 12) “17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men.”
It seems that the Gospel teaches to be honest before men not before God! A literal interpretation of this seems to mean that you should be honest if you dishonesty would harm and be disagreed upon by at least one man (if it is “peaceful” to all).
If the UN secretary general would promise to break the world, it would mean harm to all and no man having the right to claim that it was a dishonest behavior toward him.
We were taught to be honest by the Bible. But it seems that Bible does not require absolute honesty even if that would harm all men. So I see no reason to be absolutely honest, but instead to “live peaceably with all men”.
Also:
(2Cor. 4:2) “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”
(2Cor. 8:21) “Providing (doing good to others) for honest (= good, virtuous, fair) things, not merely in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”
