5.22.20 Oaths

During the time that James was writing this letter, religious leaders and others with authority would use oaths of various kinds. Often they would intentionally use ‘weaker’ oaths so that they really didn’t have to follow through with their promise. So, James was condemning this practice just like Jesus did (Mat 5:34-37). 

In our current culture, what promises are acceptable to break?

How do people today manipulate their words in making promises so that they don’t have to fulfill them? What causes you to shade the truth or manipulate your words to avoid saying what you really mean?