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A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language: Lesson 19b

Topic: Liars' Convention II ' Is Lying Good? (Hard)

Series: The Simpsons, Digimon, Cartoon Network Skits

Episodes: Lisa Gets An 'A' (Simpsons), 20,000 Digi-Leagues Under The Sea (Digimon), Sick Day At Cartoon Network (Cartoon Network Skits)

Lesson PDF link: 19b.pdf

Introduction

We are discussing lying, but it is much harder this time. These become physically more and more kind of gray as we progress. We are using clips from the Simpsons episode "Lisa Gets An 'A'", clips from the Digimon episode "20,000 Digi-Leagues Under The Sea", and the Cartoon Network Skit "Sick Day At Cartoon Network". The Bible shows that regardless of the situation, in God's sight, lies are selfish, even though on the surface some of them may seem selfless. This would be considered a more 'hard core' lesson. Many people might disagree with the Bible here, but restassured, the Bible speaks the truth.

Scriptures Used Include: Luke 17: 1-3a; Romans 3: 1-8; Proverbs 12: 22

Welcome back to the liars' convention!! Our intermission is now over. What did we learn about last time (Lesson 19a)?

Liar D) Our next liar is Lisa Simpson. I will show a series of clips from the Simpsons episode "Lisa Gets An 'A'" and we'll have discussion(s). Here is the first clip.

Clip #1 from The Simpsons: "Lisa Gets An 'A'":

The Simpsons: "Lisa Get's An 'A'" Clip #10 Direct link for video/webm

What do you think of Lisa's lie? She is already experiencing consequences and she isn't done yet. She has a test to take that she didn't know about obviously and she didn't read her book. What do you think she will do? What would you do?

Clip #11 The Simpsons: "Lisa Get's An 'A'":

The Simpsons: "Lisa Get's An 'A'" Clip #11 Direct link for video/webm

What is happening here with Lisa, Bart and the other character Groundskeeper Willie? Lisa got her A. What's wrong here?

Clip #12 The Simpsons: "Lisa Get's An 'A'":

The Simpsons: "Lisa Get's An 'A'" Clip #12 Direct link for video/webm

Again, what's wrong here?

Lisa's lying not only gets her the 'A' she was seeking, but at a huge moral cost and it gets worse, but we see something good happening as well. Can you see what it is?

Lisa is experiencing what we in the Christian walk know as conviction. This means that God is bringing her conscience to the overwhelming boil.

If you had this problem in real life, what would you do? Is it right?

The answer is yes and no. Lisa's conscience is screaming at her which is good. This easily brings repentance. The school received a fraudulent grant which is bad and brings the school to the temptation of telling more lies, unfortunately she reluctantly agrees for the school to have its grant.

Clip #13 The Simpsons: "Lisa Get's An 'A'":

The Simpsons: "Lisa Get's An 'A'" Clip #13 Direct link for video/webm

Lisa's 'A' got the school a grant that was so important that to keep it they had to arrange some deception as well. The school decided to let Lisa speak and spill the beans about the test before the real comptroller appeared.

Is this right? Why or Why not?

Lisa didn't like the taste of lying so she marked out the 'A' and replaced it with an F and said she deserved it. The school probably didn't change the grade however because of the grant.

Bible Study: Read Luke 17: 13a. Linking to the cartoon clips, what does this mean to you?

The Bible States:

1 Jesus said to his disciples: 'Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.

2 It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.

3a So watch yourselves.

What do you think about Lisa's and the school leadership's characters in these clips?

The Bible condemns the school's leadership for their actions, not necessarily Lisa's lying because she tried to make things right and really wanted a failing grade. The school put pressure on Lisa to keep lying and therefore, the leadership would be harshly judged if this were real, repented for, and corrected.

Liar E) I am going to show clips about a really deep situation. Our next liar in this convention is Cody from Digimon. I will show a series of clips from the Digimon episode "20,000 Digi-leagues Under The Sea" and we will have discussion(s). Here's the first clip.

Clip #14 Digimon: "20,000 Digi-leagues Under The Sea":

Digimon: "20,000 Digi-leagues Under The Sea" Clip #14 Direct link for video/webm

This is a situation, not a lie. Everyone is trapped in a sunken offshore oil platform. They need a savior to deliver them out of the hands or fins of Megaseadramon. What will they do? Not shown in this clip is that there is an escape pod, however there can only be one passenger. Cody is chosen to go by rigging lots. Cody couldn't lose. Here is the second clip.

Clip #15 Digimon: "20,000 Digi-leagues Under The Sea":

Digimon: "20,000 Digi-leagues Under The Sea" Clip #15 Direct link for video/webm

What do you think of Cody's Mom? What do you think of Cody's grandfather? There are no lies yet, but Cody has to keep a secret from his mom and grandpa. What do you think of grandpa's statement: "There is nothing worse than lying. You see?" Here is the third clip.

Clip #16 Digimon: "20,000 Digi-leagues Under The Sea":

Digimon: "20,000 Digi-leagues Under The Sea" Clip #16 Direct link for video/webm

Cody cannot raise Joe because of a test he is taking. Cody has to contemplate. The question is to lie or not to lie. What would you do? Everyone is trapped in the sunken oil platform. In other words: would you lie to try to save your friends or pray for a miracle? Here's the fourth clip.

Clip #17 Digimon: "20,000 Digi-leagues Under The Sea":

Digimon: "20,000 Digi-leagues Under The Sea" Clip #17 Direct link for video/webm

Cody lies and says that Joe's dad is in the hospital to get Joe out of class. Is this correct or is this the wrong decision? Why or Why not? Here is the fifth clip.

Clip #18 Digimon: "20,000 Digi-leagues Under The Sea":

Digimon: "20,000 Digi-leagues Under The Sea" Clip #18 Direct link for video/webm

Looks like this cartoon says that it's OK to lie sometimes. What do you think? Is this correct or is this the wrong reasoning?

Bible Study V: Romans 3: 1-8. Linking with the cartoon clips, what does this mean to you?

The Bible States:

1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?

2 Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.

3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God's faithfulness?

4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge."

5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God's righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)

6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?

7 Someone might argue, 'If my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?'

8 Why not say'as some slanderously claim that we say''Let us do evil that good may result'? Their condemnation is just!

Looks like the Bible disagrees with this cartoon in a major fashion. Why?

A Strong Godly Opinion (My Spiritually Educated Viewpoint) And Full Discussion On The Matter Over The Rest Of The Lesson: God does not lie. We shouldn't either. How do you think that God can work if this cartoon was a real life situation and there wasn't a lie? Can God actually work in a situation if a lie happens and yields good consequences? What about the liar himself/herself? If a situation like this happens and someone lies to help it, would that person be more or less apt to repent so God can cleanse the heart of the liar?

Liar F) What If: Our final liars in the convention are all of the popular cartoon characters. I will now show "Sick Day At Cartoon Network" from Cartoon Network Skits.

Clip #19 Cartoon Network: "Sick Day At Cartoon Network":

Cartoon Network: "Sick Day At Cartoon Network" Clip #19 Direct link for video/webm

What do you see? What if everyone acted like these cartoon characters? No one would tell the truth unless they got good consequences. Everyone in this skit lied and said they were sick when there was in reality someone who was sick and needed the comfort of seeing his favorite cartoon stars in action. Instead of what he needed, he got stuck with something that, in his opinion, wasn't very good. All of those cartoon characters stopped God from working through them just because they wanted to be selfish. That's lies for you. Like it or not, lies in every case are selfish and mock God's plans and miracles. When we take charge instead of letting God do His work things never really work properly by definition of God's standards.

Bible Study VI: Read Proverbs 12: 22

The Bible States:

The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

Linking to the skit, what does this mean to you? What is your viewpoint on the morality of lying based on the cartoon clips, symbols, Bible examples, and what you know/feel God tells you?

Pray to be able to do what God tells you to do in all situations. The Liars' Convention is closed with a closing prayer. I hope you enjoyed this convention. Thanks!!