Jump to:
Part 1 | Part 2

 

You Shall Not Steal,
You Shall Not Lie:
Loving Others

In this Session, we will discuss the eighth and ninth commandments: You shall not steal and you shall not lie. 

We will discuss:

  1. Property, Poverty, and Wealth

  2. Truthfulness in Our Words

 

Jump to:
Part 1 | Part 2

Part 1
You Shall Not Steal

Key Points from Part 1

Humans have a right to their own property. 

  • What belongs to you is yours, if you gained it in an honorable, legitimate way. 

  • The Christian life is certainly one of generous giving,  but we can only generously give that which belongs to us. 

Poverty and Wealth

  • Having wealth is not a sin.

  • Christians are called to steward what we have well, and to give generously that which we are able to give cheerfully

  • ​​Part of honoring God with your wealth is by not loving it so much that you can’t part with any of it. 

  • We will always have the poor with us, so we must model the generosity of Jesus by freely giving to them.

 

Review Questions

  • Absolutely not. Communism and socialism are incompatible with Christian teaching about property rights and generosity.

  • Not necessarily. If they honor God with their wealth and give generously, then they are in line with God’s will.

 

Jump to:
Top | Part 1

Part 2
You Shall Not Lie

Key Points from Part 2

Lying = “Affirming in speech or writing something you believe to be false” Wayne Grudem.

  • Silence is not lying

  • Non-verbal actions are not truthful or deceitful.

  • Certain joking and hyperbole are not violations of the 9th commandment.

 

Review Questions

  • That we are not to lie.

  • Lying that would lead to a wrongful conviction or death for someone else in court.

 
 

Questions for Further Discussion 

  1. In 1-2 sentences, describe the meaning of the eighth commandment. Do the same for the ninth. 

  2. What is the difference between a communist state and the Christian Church regarding wealth and poverty? 

  3. What are ways that people commonly break the eighth commandment? What about the ninth? Where do you see this in your own life? 

  4. How can both wealthy and poor Christians obey Proverbs 3:9?

  5. Is lying ever permissible? Why or why not? Think about this in light of Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2, and Hebrews 6:18.

You completed Session 7!
Submit your name below to let us know.