Discussion Jumpstarter

Study leader reference - not a definitive answer

Question 6

When she addressed deceit, Christina asked whether we “slight things in our favor” in stories or online. What kinds of small exaggerations or selective omissions have you normalized, and how would taking “temple holiness” seriously change the way you speak about yourself?

Another way to ask: What small exaggerations or left-out details have you gotten used to, and how would taking “temple holiness” seriously change how you talk about yourself?

Discussion Jumpstarter

Direct Answer
The transcript suggests that small “harmless” spins—editing details, exaggerating, or portraying ourselves favorably online—still count as deceit and can defile the temple, so temple holiness would push us toward plain honesty and humility.

Support from Transcript:

Christina defines deceit as “concealing or misrepresenting the truth.”
She applies it directly: “Are we honest with how we portray ourselves in stories we tell or things posted online?”
She warns about subtle manipulation: “Do we try to slight things in our favor, even if it seems harmless? This would be considered deceit.”
She ties these inner/outward expressions to defilement: Jesus’ list includes “deceit,” and “these… will defile us, the temple of the living Spirit.”
She keeps the focus on heart purity: “To him, it is the heart that matters most.”
Her repeated call is to glorify God with embodied life: “glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6).

Discussion Follow-ups What do you most want people to think about you, and how does that shape your stories? What would change if you spoke with less self-protection and more God-consciousness?

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