The Grace of Membership

The Destructive Lie of ?

Self-sufficiency

Aloneness

Being a Body vs Being assimilated

The Grace of the Body

The Mutual Responsibility of the Body

How to put off deceptive lies (don’t take the bait)

How to live in the new creation - delighting in the body (in this case) members of the same household, part of the same nation

Misinformation

For instance, the UK's Labour Party campaign video to lower the voting age said: "You're 16. Now you can get married, join the Army, work full-time." The BBC's reality check team discovered that these facts do not tell the whole truth.

"You can only join the Army aged 16 or 17 with your parents' permission,” the Reality Check team wrote. “At that age you also need your parents' permission to get married unless you do so in Scotland. Since 2013, 16 and 17-year-olds cannot work full-time in England, but can in the other three home nations with some restrictions." - Melissa Hogenboom, BBC

Don’t take the bait of lying

Buying things

Getting caught

What about surprise parties?

What about war?

It is important to realize that shame is not attached to all of the actions that we would call wrong. While raping one’s sister is a very shameful act, things like lying can be either shameful or honorable, depending on the circumstances.

Al Ghazali, the medieval Muslim theologian stated: “Know that a lie is not wrong in itself, but only because of the evil conclusions to which it leads the hearer, making him believe something that is not really the case. Ignorance sometimes is an advantage, and if a lie causes this kind of ignorance it may be allowed. It is sometimes a duty to lie… if lying and truth both lead to a good result, you must tell the truth, for a lie is forbidden in this case. If a lie is the only way to reach a good result, it is allowable. A lie is lawful when it is the only path to duty… We must lie when truth leads to unpleasant results, but tell the truth when it leads to good results.”

The rule for telling the truth, or not, is bound by honor and shame. If shame can be avoided, or honor obtained; then lying is more honorable, and therefore the thing to do.

Psalm 4:2 ESV

2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah

While it's common in politics, so too is it in everyday life. Consider the estate agent who tells a potential buyer that an unpopular property has had "lots of enquiries" when asked how many actual bids there have been. Or the used car salesman who says a car started up extremely well on a frosty morning, without disclosing that it broke down the week before. Both statements are true but mask the reality of the unpopular property and the dodgy car.

Personal profit/desire Or to exclude someone from belonging

Rejoice in the joint membership

Purpose of education - being on a team/ self expression

Cell phone

People you are going to be with for eternity

God of truth

1 Corinthians 12:21–26 ESV

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Body communication

Not just speaking “facts” - providing health

The way you treat me makes it hard for me to respond in a certain way

Speak truth with your neighbor because of Christ and His grace

Provide care with your speech

Provide loyalty with your speech

Provide truth with your speech

English Standard Version Chapter 8

These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; 17 do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.”

Speaking Truth doesn’t mean sharing everything but it often means sharing more than “facts”

Know yourself and your desires… Treat your neighbor as yourself

Speaking the truth in love