Correcting the Record: Swearing on the Bible

Following the appearance of Church Spokesperson Lloyd Grimshaw at the Australian Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, there have been some questions about why Mr Grimshaw declined to swear on the Bible.

All churches have their own traditions and practices. For the Brethren, as a matter of course, members of the Church do not swear on Bibles. This is a long-held principle of our faith rooted in Scripture.

In James 5:12, the King James Version reads: “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.”

This was in no way an act of refusal or defiance to the Parliament on anyone’s part.

And we completely understand that many other Christian churches have different views and interpretations of the bible. This is ours.