A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language 45e

Series: The Muppet Show, Super Mario World, The Legend Of Zelda, Digimon, The Simpsons

Episodes: Sex And Violence (The Muppet Show), Super Mario World (Fire Sale), The Legend Of Zelda (The White Knight), Digimon (Davis Cries Wolfmon, The Arrival Of Skullgreymon), The Simpsons (Fool Monty)

Topic: The Seven Deadly Sins 5--Vanity

Lesson PDF link: Vanity

What in your opinion is vanity?

Vanity is actually a multitude of bad flavors. We are going to discuss several of them.

Here is a picture of our character of study:

Let's look at the first clip. This is from The Muppet Show episode: "Sex And Violence."

What do you see?

This guy looks kind of like Shakespeare and talks about himself like he's the most beautiful creature that ever lived. He is stuck on himself as people say. All of vanity is like this–only thinking of yourself in many ways.

Let's couple this by watching a clip of Super Mario World episode: "Fire Sale."

Do you remember the other lessons we have done so far in this series of "The Seven Deadly Sins" still?

We have had lessons on Avarice, Rage, Gluttony and Lust so far.

What are the Seven Deadlies that Kootie Pie (Wendy O' Koopa in the Super Mario series of games) portray here?

She portrays our topic of study, which is Vanity; she also portrays Rage (temper), Avarice (impatient and greedy). Gluttony possibly (she literally feels entitled to and wants excessively everything) She is not a nice girl. It's funny that she isn't into cold, but she builds an ice palace and that she is uncomfortable with physical cold, all the while she is spiritually freezing and likes it that way. What a nasty girl!!

What are the consequences of being "stuck on yourself."

You likely wouldn't have very many friends, be counted on for anything big, you would be extremely selfish if it were really bad etc. There would be a definite tendency to be like the guy in this The Legend Of Zelda episode: "The White Knight."

What do you see?

This lousy excuse for a prince is so stuck on himself that he won't get dirty even to save the princess or anyone else's life for that matter, this makes him to be not a great catch for Zelda; she should stay with someone like Link who isn't afraid of getting dirty.

Bible Study # 1 (Proverbs 21: 2, 4, 17, 24, 29; 30: 12-13)

Pro 21:2 Every man's lifestyle is proper in his own view, but the LORD weighs the heart.

Pro 21:4 A proud heart and a haughty look is sin; they reveal wicked people.

Pro 21:17 Pleasure lovers become poor; loving wine and oil doesn't bring riches.

Pro 21:24 The names "Proud," "Arrogant," and "Mocker" fit whoever acts with presumptuous conceit.

Pro 21:29 The wicked man puts up a bold appearance, but the upright thinks about what he is doing.

Pro 30:12 Some people view themselves as pure, but haven't been cleansed from their own filth.

Pro 30:13 Some people--what an arrogant look they have!--raise their eyebrows haughtily.

These cartoon examples are terrible role models and fit these scriptures very tightly; they are not the kind of people you need if you want things done right or need help for anything.

The next kind of vanity we will look at is being a "know-it-all". What do you think this means?

Simply put a "know-it-all" is someone who thinks he/she knows everything and not willing to learn from anyone. I'm sure that this is from insecurity and related problems.

Let's watch a clip from the Digimon episode: "Davis Cries Wolfmon."

Our character named Yolei thinks that she knows enough about chemistry to "teach the boys", but in actuality, she hardly knows anything evidently. Her real intention is to impress the boys and it blows up in her face literally. Yolei's actions are strictly to get attention.

Bible Study # 2 (Proverbs 3: 1-8; 11: 2; 12: 15; 16: 5; 18: 2, 12-13)

Pro 3:1 My son, don't forget my instruction, and keep my commandments carefully in mind.

Pro 3:2 For they will add length to your days, years to your life, and abundant peace to you.

Pro 3:3 Do not let gracious love and truth leave you. Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart,

Pro 3:4 and find favor and a good reputation with God and men.

Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not depend on your own understanding.

Pro 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Pro 3:7 Do not be wise in your own opinion. Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Pro 3:8 This will bring healing to your body, and refreshment to your bones.

Pro 11:2 When pride appears, disgrace accompanies it, but humility is present with wisdom.

Pro 12:15 The lifestyle of the fool is right in his own opinion, but wise is the man who listens to advice.

Pro 16:5 The LORD detests those who are proud; truly they will not go unpunished.

Pro 18:2 A fool finds no satisfaction in trying to understand, for he would rather express his own opinion.

Pro 18:12 Before a man's downfall, his mind is arrogant, but humility precedes honor.

Pro 18:13 Whoever answers before listening is both foolish and shameful.

Let's look at another couple kinds of vanity.

Let's look at the Digimon episode "The Arrival Of Skullgreymon."

When you look at this cartoon, what do you see?

We are looking at Etemon and Tai. Normally, these two wouldn't be very similar, however, Etemon is egotistical and drunk on power and Tai has a savior complex. Either one of these is an "all about me" type of attitude. These are very easy traps to get into because we as humans think of our accomplishments and not other people who may help make things happen.

Bible Study # 3 (Romans 12: 3-16)

Rom 12:3 For by the grace given to me I ask every one of you not to think of yourself more highly than you should think, rather to think of yourself with sober judgment on the measure of faith that God has assigned each of you.

Rom 12:4 For we have many parts in one body, but these parts do not all have the same function.

Rom 12:5 In the same way, even though we are many people, we are one body in the Messiah and individual parts connected to each other.

Rom 12:6 We have different gifts based on the grace that was given to us. So if your gift is prophecy, use your gift in proportion to your faith.

Rom 12:7 If your gift is serving, devote yourself to serving others. If it is teaching, devote yourself to teaching others.

Rom 12:8 If it is encouraging, devote yourself to encouraging others. If it is sharing, share generously. If it is leading, lead enthusiastically. If it is helping, help cheerfully.

Rom 12:9 Your love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

Rom 12:10 Be devoted to each other with mutual affection. Excel at showing respect for each other.

Rom 12:11 Never be lazy in showing such devotion. Be on fire with the Spirit. Serve the Lord.

Rom 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in trouble, and persistent in prayer.

Rom 12:13 Supply the needs of the saints. Extend hospitality to strangers.

Rom 12:14 Bless those who persecute you. Keep on blessing them, and never curse them.

Rom 12:15 Rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Cry with those who are crying.

Rom 12:16 Live in harmony with each other. Do not be arrogant, but associate with humble people. Do not think that you are wiser than you really are.

Our final clip is from The Simpsons episode: "Fool Monty."

What do you see?

Mr. Burns is unrepentant for anything he does and doesn't change when he is given the chance to see possibly a better way of doing things. Mr. Burns is a villain usually and being nice literally makes him sick because he is so selfish. A lot of times the world seems much like this. Unfortunately, most of the town does what the Bible says not to do.

Bible Study # 4 (Romans 12: 17-21)

Rom 12:17 Do not pay anyone back evil for evil, but focus your thoughts on what is right in the sight of all people.

Rom 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live in peace with all people.

Rom 12:19 Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me. I will pay them back, declares the Lord."

Rom 12:20 But "if your enemy is hungry, feed him. For if he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you do this, you will pile burning coals on his head."

Rom 12:21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

What have we learned?

Arrogance is a huge net of useless and nasty things. We need to pray hard to not be these bad flavors of selfishness that easily infect us and turn us into all sorts of ugly. We need to catch ourselves in these kinds of traps and pray to God. Because we are only human, we also need to pray that people have bravery to tell us we are like this (if we are) and then be willing to pray about the matter and if God finds anything, be willing to repent and be humble. Sometimes people can have bad perceptions that are untrue because of bias, this means we must still be kind and a blessing to those that are mean with unjust accusations of arrogance, pride etc. God must convict and turn us from pride, we can't do it ourselves because this sin is plain too addictive and one of the biggest liars we humans know and must hate. May God make us all humble servants and not what our bad role models here portray. We have to be like Tai and learn our lesson before things get out of hand. We must work for God's kingdom good and not our foolish desires or selfish goals.