The Wired Word for 05042025 - CourtneyR.dev's 2nd Brain

The Wired Word for 05/04/2025 ![rw-book-cover](https://readwise-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/static/images/article4.6bc1851654a0.png) ## Metadata - Author: [[The Wired Word]] - Full Title: The Wired Word for 05/04/2025 - Category: #articles - Document Note: --- tags: [#REALID, #ChristianIdentity, #FaithInAction] Author: The Wired Word Team Source: The Wired Word Reference: [The Wired Word](https://www.thewiredword.com/) date created: 2025-05-04 09:05 --- # 🛂 Title: REAL ID and Christian Identity: Navigating Earthly and Spiritual Credentials ## 📚 Table of Contents: - 📝 [Summary](#-summary) - 📖 [Main Content](#-main-content) - 🗒️ [Notes](#-notes) - 🗣️ [Paraphrase](#-paraphrase) - 📰 [Newsletter](#-newsletter) - ✅ [Action Items](#-action-items) - 🧪 [Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) - 📊 [Methodology](#-methodology) - ❓ [Questions](#-questions) - 🔮 [Future Research](#-future-research) - 💡 [Implications](#-implications) - 🧠 [Learning Styles Assessment](#-learning-styles-assessment) - 📊 [Accessibility Assessment](#-accessibility-assessment) - 🌍 [DEIB Assessment](#-deib-assessment) - ✅ [Logical Validity](#-logical-validity) - 🔍 [DARVO Analysis](#-darvo-analysis) - 🔍 [SEO Evaluation](#-seo-evaluation) - 🎯 [Conclusion](#-conclusion) ## 📝 Summary: The Wired Word's lesson for the week of May 4, 2025, draws parallels between the impending enforcement of the REAL ID Act and the concept of Christian identity. As the U.S. government requires citizens to present specific identification to access certain services, the lesson prompts believers to reflect on the "marks" that identify them as followers of Christ. Through scriptural references and thought-provoking questions, the lesson encourages introspection on how one's faith is demonstrated in daily life. ## 📖 Main Content: The lesson begins by outlining the history and requirements of the REAL ID Act, emphasizing the need for compliant identification for domestic travel and access to federal facilities starting May 7, 2025. It then transitions to a spiritual application, asking what constitutes proof of Christian identity. The lesson references several Bible passages to explore this theme: - **Genesis 1:27**: Highlights that humans are made in God's image, emphasizing inherent value and purpose. - **John 15:15**: Jesus refers to his disciples as friends, indicating a close relationship based on love and obedience. - **Romans 12:9-13**: Paul describes the behaviors that should characterize Christians, such as genuine love, hospitality, and perseverance. - **1 Corinthians 12:27**: Believers are described as members of the body of Christ, each with unique roles and gifts. The lesson poses questions to encourage discussion on how Christians can be identified by their actions and how churches can foster spiritual growth. ### 🗒️ Notes: - **REAL ID Act**: - Enacted in 2005 to enhance security measures. - Requires specific documentation to obtain compliant identification. - Enforcement begins May 7, 2025. - **Christian Identity**: - Not based on physical markers but on spiritual transformation and behavior. - Demonstrated through love, service, and community involvement. - **Scriptural References**: - Emphasize the importance of love, unity, and active participation in the faith community. - **Discussion Questions**: - Encourage reflection on personal faith expression and community engagement. ## 🗣️ Paraphrase: 1. **Original**: "REAL ID requires your full legal name, Social Security number and proof of residency and lawful status. What do you consider to be the proof of Christian identity?" **Paraphrased**: While the REAL ID demands specific legal documents, what evidence do you believe signifies someone's identity as a Christian? 2. **Original**: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good..." **Paraphrased**: Ensure your love is sincere, reject evil, and remain committed to what is good... ## 📰 Newsletter: **Subject**: Navigating Identity: From REAL ID to Real Faith As the May 7 deadline for REAL ID enforcement approaches, many are scrambling to ensure they have the proper documentation for travel and access to federal facilities. But beyond governmental requirements, this moment offers a unique opportunity for introspection: How do we verify our identity as Christians? This week's Wired Word lesson delves into this question, drawing parallels between the tangible requirements of the REAL ID and the intangible marks of Christian identity. Through scriptures like Romans 12 and John 15, we're reminded that love, service, and community are the true indicators of our faith. Join us in exploring how our daily actions and commitments reflect our spiritual identity. Let's ensure we're not only compliant with earthly regulations but also aligned with our heavenly calling. ## ✅ Action Items: - **For Educators**: - Incorporate discussions on identity and faith into lesson plans. - Use current events, like the REAL ID enforcement, to make spiritual lessons relatable. - **For Churches**: - Host workshops or seminars on Christian identity and its manifestations. - Encourage members to reflect on how their actions represent their faith. - **For Individuals**: - Reflect on personal behaviors that signify Christian identity. - Engage in community service as a demonstration of faith. ## 🧪 Hypotheses: - The enforcement of the REAL ID Act will lead to increased discussions on personal and spiritual identity within faith communities. - Drawing parallels between governmental requirements and spiritual practices can enhance engagement in religious education. ### 📊 Methodology: - **Surveys**: Conduct surveys within church communities to assess awareness and perceptions of the REAL ID Act and its spiritual parallels. - **Focus Groups**: Organize discussions to delve deeper into personal reflections on identity. - **Content Analysis**: Review sermons and religious materials for themes related to identity and compliance. ### ❓ Questions: - How does the concept of identity in governmental terms compare to spiritual identity? - In what ways can current events be used to deepen understanding of faith principles? ### 🔮 Future Research: - Investigate the impact of integrating current events into religious education on engagement and retention. - Explore the psychological effects of identity verification processes on personal and spiritual self-concept. ### 💡 Implications: - Enhancing religious education by connecting spiritual lessons to real-world events can foster deeper understanding and relevance. - Encouraging discussions on identity can strengthen community bonds and personal faith journeys. ## 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment: - **Visual Learners**: Incorporate infographics comparing REAL ID requirements with spiritual identifiers. - **Auditory Learners**: Use podcasts or discussions to explore themes of identity. - **Reading/Writing Learners**: Provide articles and reflective writing prompts. - **Kinesthetic Learners**: Engage in role-playing scenarios to explore identity challenges. ## 📊 Accessibility Assessment: - Ensure all materials are available in multiple formats (print, audio, digital). - Use clear, concise language and provide definitions for complex terms. - Include captions for videos and transcripts for audio materials. ## 🌍 DEIB Assessment: - Represent diverse perspectives and experiences in discussions on identity. - Use inclusive language that respects all backgrounds and beliefs. - Provide platforms for marginalized voices to share their experiences and insights. ## ✅ Logical Validity: - **Strengths**: - Drawing parallels between REAL ID and Christian identity provides a tangible framework for abstract concepts. - Use of scripture supports the discussion with authoritative references. - **Areas for Improvement**: - Ensure that analogies do not oversimplify complex spiritual concepts. - Provide historical context for scriptural references to enhance understanding. ## 🔍 DARVO Analysis: - **Deny**: No evidence of denial of issues presented. - **Attack**: No attacks on individuals or groups are present. - **Reverse Victim and Offender**: The content does not portray the church or Christians as victims but encourages proactive reflection. ## 🔍 SEO Evaluation: - **Keywords**: REAL ID, Christian identity, faith, scripture, spiritual reflection. - **Meta Descriptio - Document Tags: [[wired word]] - Summary: The enforcement of REAL ID requirements for air travelers is coming up this week on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Dear Class Members, The enforcement of REAL ID requirements for air travelers is coming up this week on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. In response, this installment of *The Wired Word* will focus on Christian identity, the marks of a true Christian, and how we can be identified as followers of Christ. ![](https://www.thewiredword.com/_img/tww_logo_email.jpg) **REAL ID Deadline for U.S. Air Travel Approaches*****The Wired Word*** **for the Week of May 4, 2025** **In the News** Three years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress passed a law that set standards for the issuance of sources of identification such as driver's licenses, known as "REAL ID." Our elected leaders determined that our nation needed to improve security for state-issued driver's licenses and personal identification cards. The threat of terrorists again boarding commercial aircraft and performing acts of violence needed to be countered by a strengthened identification system. A security measure called the "REAL ID Act" was signed into law by former President George W. Bush in 2005. The law established new national standards for driver's licenses and prohibited the acceptance of noncompliant IDs for boarding airplanes, entering nuclear facilities and conducting other official federal business. "Under the law," reports *USA Today,* "people who want a state-issued driver's license or identification card must verify their full legal name, Social Security number, and proof of residency and lawful status to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)." The state then connects its license databases to a national electronic network. But the implementation of the law was slowed by the fact that federal law did not provide the states with funds to make the changes. In 2007, at least 13 states opposed the REAL ID card -- they said that it would cost billions of dollars and would increase risks to privacy. By 2012, states began to comply, but eight years later Covid-19 emerged and halted all efforts until December 2022. A new deadline of May 2025 was established to allow state DMVs to clear the backlog of applications created by the pandemic. Now, after nearly 20 years, the Department of Homeland Security is going to begin enforcing REAL ID requirements on May 7, 2025. If you are over the age of 18 and want to board a domestic flight or enter a federal building, you will not be able to rely on your state-issued driver's license or nondriver identification card. You will need a security-enhanced REAL ID issued by your state, or another federally recognized document. For those who don't have a REAL ID card marked with a star, there are options for those who want to travel by air. According to *CNBC*, travelers can use "a valid U.S. passport, passport card, permanent resident card, or certain Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler cards." About 19% of travelers have not yet obtained a REAL ID type of identification. "There are workarounds people can use," says John Breyault, a travel expert at the National Consumers League. "Most people already have the ability to travel, whether they have a REAL ID or not." According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), passengers who arrive at the airport without an acceptable form of ID "can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint." Even those who have a REAL ID card or other acceptable ID should attempt to be at the airport at least 1.5 hours ahead of their flight, due to expected delays in airport security lines as REAL ID enforcement gets underway. Sally French, a travel expert at NerdWallet, warns that it may be somewhat riskier to travel with an alternative document such as a passport for domestic flights. "A passport is much more complicated to replace than a driver's license, and it's more expensive," French says. Her advice: "Get that REAL ID." More on this story can be found at these links: [The REAL ID Act: A 20-Year Journey to Enforcement.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPA7ousAV-2BR-2F5mS0DDmLU4DDP2sbHO5fXWc1zbNjNDoJw9nm-2BdhqsQH1tU4yZCE3JPVZ4YUUJmwZNKWsGSyQ3s8VPgcMBr20T-2FGNMP4CxXKoawE4P_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeLYkgt7BBRB22kRV6z4TdgxNIVaW0jk-2BCrW3UGajZDUUlxqxfIra-2BuRJxj0NneHZ9S8TLzW1GqykYkceQVhtE4g8aY9D7LDCJ-2BcnKvrkjyRPJETPJtANdq-2BBOye2geXcifx6qjYanYPCSHWxPQcFiT6kNPVnPvwlkQGWKbwbF-2BJxC7g7zpfRPAQ-2FVkNCWKcaNgjD7KNYKfHQgdw6LpuXenI-3D) [*USA Today*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPA7ousAV-2BR-2F5mS0DDmLU4DDP2sbHO5fXWc1zbNjNDoJw9nm-2BdhqsQH1tU4yZCE3JPVZ4YUUJmwZNKWsGSyQ3s8VPgcMBr20T-2FGNMP4CxXKoam4w7_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeK3wdlyKCOtFtL3RhXeON3lrRk-2FgRMGR8DEHm7pUMADne1f9a94L2K12ZcYTEbTNsCPS50I5Po5dt6syu6UJScfuMJWLseiiL3SdCK1P7hx-2BRiMDEzN-2BzEk3-2Bmbl5zDsoLl-2F-2B-2BqLba-2FoC2ZUc7wG0uwgTQaCZIGyaTbQaKcMFHrVq7cHdcDUnXKL-2F13enGIaYLfvNNS5z8CAVcNTo7JZgVw-3D) [As Real ID Deadline for U.S. Air Travel Approaches, There Are 'Workarounds,' Experts Say.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPGHj-2B2dLMI8GjHt8EZUXiMttokF1gPQbfnp65uFcj1kEwnZ0qh0SzUlW3u5odVFBHEArpY6uVflasddFTosChOWBOHKkk5r-2FCKXsyU1ZIWXZ-2BYHY7Z8lL3-2BHZPyRt5akVw-3D-3DYGVE_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeDB6Ke-2FUifaUip-2BwC-2Bot-2BZgdC-2BDUA4Ihi7Oq6wjRiwgMpq79hC6-2FQFwmayWe9xUkIZx1p-2Fi4Y4Eh4aE1cdj1dQrO7HMi7zMZni2pqd30f0wBGANHkUe0h3Y-2BEodjdWXLqCpaCnT4Bg35GivP9LylAIOUrytcRR-2B5gq-2BEohbdumeOZ1nprb4tffXEPMHN1HkEbEMkZhOOV-2F9kGcmEsNkn4mw-3D) [*CNBC*](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPGHj-2B2dLMI8GjHt8EZUXiMttokF1gPQbfnp65uFcj1kEwnZ0qh0SzUlW3u5odVFBHEArpY6uVflasddFTosChOWBOHKkk5r-2FCKXsyU1ZIWXZ-2BYHY7Z8lL3-2BHZPyRt5akVw-3D-3Dibf3_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeOA4Xg33pdGI-2FYOVeR0c3Vsjj9ZRrDhSbhSUvAvrtq5kYpJDBo7thytVC8Sz31y7VdPN0jKp0xY5IsdskpBWJjYznJff3ko4mWwjUquhOTgz-2BLdyJ3xTDHyBpm8eg30-2FPpnauhwa5Jta1ayuTO8A8xcSQvw1irrs-2FkrgSC7C-2F8MbSxC1YkGqmu-2F3fBw1iES2vFM-2FuhWSJRijbpbcunUJY6Y-3D) **Applying the News Story** Discuss what is needed to establish proof of Christian identity (and to whom it might need to be established), what constitutes the marks of a true Christian, and how we can be identified by others as followers of Christ. **The Big Questions** 1. What is your opinion of the REAL ID? If you have acquired one, what was your experience with the process? If you do not have one, what will motivate you to get one, or what will lead you to choose not to get one? 2. After the REAL ID Act was passed, some states had concerns about privacy. What concerns do you have, if any, about a national digital identification system, with personal information in a national electronic network? What value do you see in such a system? 3. REAL ID requires your full legal name, Social Security number and proof of residency and lawful status. What do you consider to be the proof of Christian identity? Baptism, faith, church membership or some other evidence? How does your church assess Christian identity? To whom might you need to establish your Christian identity? 4. The mark of a REAL ID is a star on a license. What are the marks of a true Christian? How is this identity revealed in words and actions? 5. How do you identify others as followers of Christ? What makes Christian identity clear, and what kind of behavior obscures it? How can the church do a better job of Christian formation in children, youths and adults? **Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope**Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion: **Genesis 1:27***So God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.* (For context, read [Genesis 1:26-31](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxdxvwvUIbrGNsYJ-2B9LkHJNSiARhi5SqIrdKHVWIxEK8qcWgtUf8RbQ-2FgMdIBBIEiJcKQZ_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeHt3sR7tgd7dc3n-2B5hRaHGGgY-2F4kTQeoTEpSRc-2Bb5vv7yeYgVZvZQAje8ZtHmjjeECrW6S-2FEbv9NoYv9Ov6rF6QR-2Bc2DNWODcLkZmXUtqPSH6gvK2WueQICTYxohDYMOrumoHUDZI7jO0cTu2hm9DRm4txSufTO2mYEmQPbGVxuX3vdveEQjemCA-2Fx3wGj38FFv7UTieo9c1VF34tN-2FFNbI-3D).) In the creation story in Genesis, God's work is completed by the creation of humankind. Chapter 1 tells us that "God created humans in his image," giving human beings a distinct resemblance to God in their moral, spiritual and intellectual natures. This image is present equally in both men and women, since "male and female he created them." God said to the humans, "Be fruitful and multiply" (v. 28), wanting them to perpetuate themselves and increase in number. Unlike other creatures, they are given authority, with dominion over "every living thing" (v. 28). God also gives humans plants for food, in line with the diet of "every green plant" provided for all of the creatures of the earth (v. 30). Genesis tells us that God created "humans," which in Hebrew is *adam*, the name given to the first man. In chapter 2, "the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground" -- God formed *adam* from the dust of the *adamah* (v. 7). In English, we would say that God formed the earthling from the Earth. > **Questions:** What helps you to see the image of God in another human being? How is this image sometimes obscured? Why is it important to work to find this image in each other, both male and female? **John 15:15***[Jesus said] "I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing, but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father."* (For context, read [John 15:12-17](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxT4PTUfd6hE6df7lW-2Bu8M6X5ZDqmmd6bjMoDH8aooD947FQf3sUmmaIpmhzt36yHwvZuD_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeLFHTkmeZwNX8B4rubj9-2FyYHVOWr4le03e-2BqluUVPCv0LRSwI4ejLNwIOhOxrciCkj7uFJKRHYbSzC43PG-2B2pzJPIb2Zl6R7vlhnK8aNi-2FNuclsKGyDdSHjMd-2BlhZ640l-2BxxHFoAZ1CorUphWk3agP2LVN-2BV-2F-2BkRIXH1HW0wW6J0-2F7o2bxGt-2B-2BybRxh5HF3uUDaxWQ10utR6zdfymr9nfa8-3D).) At the Last Supper, Jesus gave his disciples the commandment, "love one another as I have loved you" (v. 12). Then he used his upcoming crucifixion as an illustration of love by saying, "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends" (v. 13). Jesus desired for his disciples to be his friends, and he said that they would be friends if "you do what I command you" (v. 14). Then Jesus called his disciples not "servants" but rather "friends," to signal a change in relationship. He suggested that servants do not know what their master is doing, but Jesus had called the disciples friends "because I have made known to you everything that I have heard" from God the Father. Jesus then told them, "You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit" (v. 16). > **Questions:** What is the importance of love in Christian identity? How is being a friend of Jesus different from being a servant? What does it mean to you to be chosen by Jesus, as opposed to choosing him? And how do we "bear fruit" as Christians, extending the mission of Jesus? **Romans 12:9-13***Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality to strangers.* (For context, read [Romans 12:9-21.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxB1sByFkCq00De7qxK5ZsvlktIfWiLH6ILLGVwozFyAEH4EQlEHJyJGqVm-2FDnfHrdLmWM_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeLTRHz9Y97iH5DxncPZ6KQi8NqxWGey-2B9NfxmvuYJC5zkvfsfiworPG7Lty-2FTv7bmqH0qGpQ7GkNCaFS7EdCQj6Ypx2KXUkVfsoqksL-2BFuoP9F6Cuucqrs1XBeJRQKj0QHaQpN2yc8KeQIQChQ-2BfndC4-2FcguVxnmYjOb-2FI5eYi4BGu-2F74IQWDydMxuD53X2CXTwuqMDlKiuzRizcmgJh9iU-3D)) In his letter to the followers of Jesus in Rome, Paul does a remarkable job of summarizing the marks of a true Christian. Echoing the love commandment of Jesus, he recommends that love be "genuine," also understood as "unhypocritical." To follow Christ means to "love one another with mutual affection" and even to compete with one another by outdoing "one another in showing honor." They are to be generous both inside and outside the Christian community, making an effort to contribute "to the needs of the saints" and also to "pursue hospitality to strangers." For Paul, hospitable living means to live in harmony, especially with hostile people. When he says, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them" (v. 14), he is sounding like Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. He warns the followers of Christ, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (v. 21). > **Questions:** Where do you see these marks of a true Christian most clearly today? Which are most important to you, and why: genuine love, mutual affection, generous contributions to needy Christians, hospitality to strangers, blessing hostile people, or overcoming evil with good? How is Christian identity connected to the identity of Christ? How does this relate to the question of whether a Christian can be a soldier or a police officer? **1 Corinthians 12:27***Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.* (For context, read [1 Corinthians 12:12-31](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxOdlwvpIcp6dpBWksJaxTxB-2FqvIxzkzH59Qn3kwUWVH54I5FtVzTMzRYiHlnqao8wj2wD7IFFVGH4Vb08GnfFEw-3D-3De4nz_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeMOaPf-2BtATwXJnqGVdYvMH-2F4ABgRf-2BhGZQDI2ZTyVG-2FFIK4qnpI60XIOB-2BkhQ-2F3f64bz9oJt5crD3t4E2FIaok90Jj5-2FDoaJgDm0wCfcpEa5eZTVp2vddvy08pt7NH84OsqlZorGFQuJUHO3s8FR-2ByY7aD13dfxUfTE5BiPW6xkRZ99Y6boGy9zMvEHiVdGGncy331crVxhKy5JprngppmU-3D).) In his first letter to the divided community at Corinth in Greece, Paul makes the case that the followers of Christ are nothing less than "the body of Christ," the physical presence of Jesus in the world. The body of Christ is one body with many members: feet, hands, ears, eyes and other body parts. All are important to the functioning of the body, whether strong or weak, and Paul says that "God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another" (vv. 24-25). The Corinthians became one body of Christ through baptism, as Paul reminds them when he says, "For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free -- and we were all made to drink of one Spirit" (v. 13). Within the body, God has appointed apostles, prophets, teachers, healers, helpers and different kinds of leaders. He wants everyone to exercise their gifts for the good of the body of Christ. > **Questions:** How is Christian identity connected to the Christian community, the body of Christ? What role do you play as a member of the body? Where do you find value in both the unity and the diversity of the Christian community? **For Further Discussion** 1. [Dr. Gregory Beale of Reformed Theological Seminary writes,](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPHaNIUCAeLbt25oKSVayWXO7QEO7-2F3wo1p7jXeRFAuo-2BsIakOjWt9ru34-2BVJTm56XErEjqNRrQuQwk0ZcVtHanU-3DL1AZ_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeEY9zbK-2Fd81j2vwNy6suCWY-2FtakQA7qOKz75oteDFlcPwRZ60jLzSj4t-2FU64FFwWwZelucsA3J3xkN5al9pn6oda-2Bbet3fGiu-2FCJ-2BQgP0CkWl21Fq-2BPHbuUt-2Bo0T901rDwL2ECyRa-2BGTkbXdxowZd0lD1S-2FLsQMnYmrnJvPxI4FC0gMI2wcGboE42zU06GYc6a4imJ5pkP9a-2BY1TPN-2FxOCU-3D) "At this time in America of swirling controversy -- politically, culturally, and economically -- Christians sometimes can get so caught up in the debate that they temporarily forget their identity as Christians and even find themselves identifying more with their favorite political cause than their Christian faith. At times like this, it is important for Christians to remind themselves about who they are." What do you do to remind yourself of your Christian identity, apart from your political identity? Why is it important to do this? 2. To open a bank account, you need to provide an acceptable form of ID and proof of address. What credentials do you need to provide to join a church? What, in particular, is required for volunteering in the church's children's program or youth program? Has your church encountered any problems with or opposition to security checks on volunteers who work with young people? If so, how were those problems resolved? 3. "Virtuous living is a team sport, not an individual activity," [writes TWW Team Member Henry Brinton.](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPJKx8u-2BqCI2NDAwaLrqiXbTyAJfP2WmQYJfSAe6JNmrczvSE_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeBTj1vnjnFwbegzT808IC6KJMl7f2HFZ6Ftm5OxrUCBFUKgjZ3EOUsLbcCKVllte-2F0gVAW-2B-2BF1Td5DokphZHSyKqC85bzYHVH0uqcKoHlnvK3OiCWRut2yN3bWWqZjmWC2u7HxCYnZH6F7oQxUEUbEyaIFA3rf43Lm20RgfziVYMXmnALghI-2F8gh1rAHt8tigGTPYi1vKVBsA6qdwhoCvmw-3D) "By that I mean it requires a community of accountability and support. That's why I think the Eagle's Wings Tutoring Program at Calvary Presbyterian Church has succeeded in making a small difference in some local children's lives. The program matches volunteer tutors with neighborhood schoolchildren, many of whom come from chaotic homes. Meeting for an hour each week in the church basement, the children absorb virtues of kindness, perseverance and diligence from their tutors. Character is not so much taught as it is 'caught,' in a setting like that." How is Christian character "caught" in your community of faith? How can the church do a better job of encouraging virtuous living? 4. Some churches baptize infants and then confirm them when they later make a profession of faith in Christ, while other churches baptize people only when they profess their faith. What is the practice of your church, and how is it connected to Christian identity? What meaning does baptism have for you? In your understanding, can a person be a Christian without baptism? Why or why not? **Responding to the News** Reflect on your own Christian identity, and ask yourself whether it is clear to the people around you. Commit to improving at least one of the biblical marks of a true Christian in the week ahead. Share your commitment with another person, as you seek their support and pledge to be accountable to them. **Prayer** God our Creator, we thank you for making us in your image, and giving us moral, spiritual and intellectual gifts. Help us to use our distinctive gifts as members of the church community, the body of Christ, and to make our Christian identity known through our words and our actions. We pray that you would help us to grow as disciples, so that people will see Christ when they look at us. In Jesus' name. Amen. ****Copyright 2025 Communication Resources**** [Unsubscribe From This List](https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/asm/unsubscribe/?user_id=14323725&data=EwuNSFrQLeqdvzfGU8585-dBAI9NsfjI79cvWVA03rVoMDAwdTAwMBRxTBlkeHjdTjSq_7ZQYB7nbXu2GL8FNOVUDqZpjKfpL_oG83-TxkyxWKCzk8g4CbBBZtQRYdUotNJxzAO6uGYAIrfS29ZoxjE8itNejEgf1ZwmnM1LCDrIUBT1XFGSLiBRkoeYeV1gzRGYxp9TYY2GMvNbbfn1har0k7KXEuIeiggNSiuX3iGpxuWF4gB_l2VeXNmpvJFzGxkyBUKX7jBHjKZ4ku4PoBi4K7Sr8z3Z_6q5AJ9yoEEYa21OF079A_f2N17MaVeXef9CpmLXzkzhh4RwBknjm6OX4cTfDxlm9kE6TP3UTgwoUisJ1ihlVUQ_1bOHov3-eWWkLZPROyK5ECKe1GpJ2mimiVu7yjUxDCUQltNjoEJCetQn4F7UQzLX3NrXb3jyf9nKPgcWDKdIdmqgNoru992KduvwwMAoiZD6Ue9KxiQ7O5lUjF_J1Mc1fNtxzDg2dN6ozRbF33uVbBQgVS_bnuv7RKnFQlFn-O7i08tkzjnsvi_ChddqkTMdLV73dR6cwWgnUkRj-ADMRU9p72m2_Dany08HLFBO1Cz3_rBMZ7LXpMLQvnED3SJxghVRc0C0cp1c7zMxd3Y=) <div>Dear Class Members, The enforcement of REAL ID requirements for air travelers is coming up this week on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. In response, this installment of The Wired Word will focus on Christian identity, the marks of a true Christian, and how we can be identified as followers of Christ. <center><img src="https://www.thewiredword.com/\_img/tww\_logo\_email.jpg"/></center> REAL ID Deadline for U.S. Air Travel Approaches The Wired Word for the Week of May 4, 2025 In the News Three years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress passed a law that set standards for the issuance of sources of identification such as driver's licenses, known as "REAL ID." Our elected leaders determined that our nation needed to improve security for state-issued driver's licenses and personal identification cards. The threat of terrorists again boarding commercial aircraft and performing acts of violence needed to be countered by a strengthened identification system. A security measure called the "REAL ID Act" was signed into law by former President George W. Bush in 2005. The law established new national standards for driver's licenses and prohibited the acceptance of noncompliant IDs for boarding airplanes, entering nuclear facilities and conducting other official federal business. "Under the law," reports USA Today, "people who want a state-issued driver's license or identification card must verify their full legal name, Social Security number, and proof of residency and lawful status to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)." The state then connects its license databases to a national electronic network. But the implementation of the law was slowed by the fact that federal law did not provide the states with funds to make the changes. In 2007, at least 13 states opposed the REAL ID card -- they said that it would cost billions of dollars and would increase risks to privacy. By 2012, states began to comply, but eight years later Covid-19 emerged and halted all efforts until December 2022. A new deadline of May 2025 was established to allow state DMVs to clear the backlog of applications created by the pandemic. Now, after nearly 20 years, the Department of Homeland Security is going to begin enforcing REAL ID requirements on May 7, 2025. If you are over the age of 18 and want to board a domestic flight or enter a federal building, you will not be able to rely on your state-issued driver's license or nondriver identification card. You will need a security-enhanced REAL ID issued by your state, or another federally recognized document. For those who don't have a REAL ID card marked with a star, there are options for those who want to travel by air. According to CNBC, travelers can use "a valid U.S. passport, passport card, permanent resident card, or certain Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler cards." About 19% of travelers have not yet obtained a REAL ID type of identification. "There are workarounds people can use," says John Breyault, a travel expert at the National Consumers League. "Most people already have the ability to travel, whether they have a REAL ID or not." According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), passengers who arrive at the airport without an acceptable form of ID "can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint." Even those who have a REAL ID card or other acceptable ID should attempt to be at the airport at least 1.5 hours ahead of their flight, due to expected delays in airport security lines as REAL ID enforcement gets underway. Sally French, a travel expert at NerdWallet, warns that it may be somewhat riskier to travel with an alternative document such as a passport for domestic flights. "A passport is much more complicated to replace than a driver's license, and it's more expensive," French says. Her advice: "Get that REAL ID." More on this story can be found at these links: <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPA7ousAV-2BR-2F5mS0DDmLU4DDP2sbHO5fXWc1zbNjNDoJw9nm-2BdhqsQH1tU4yZCE3JPVZ4YUUJmwZNKWsGSyQ3s8VPgcMBr20T-2FGNMP4CxXKoawE4P\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeLYkgt7BBRB22kRV6z4TdgxNIVaW0jk-2BCrW3UGajZDUUlxqxfIra-2BuRJxj0NneHZ9S8TLzW1GqykYkceQVhtE4g8aY9D7LDCJ-2BcnKvrkjyRPJETPJtANdq-2BBOye2geXcifx6qjYanYPCSHWxPQcFiT6kNPVnPvwlkQGWKbwbF-2BJxC7g7zpfRPAQ-2FVkNCWKcaNgjD7KNYKfHQgdw6LpuXenI-3D">The REAL ID Act: A 20-Year Journey to Enforcement. </a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPA7ousAV-2BR-2F5mS0DDmLU4DDP2sbHO5fXWc1zbNjNDoJw9nm-2BdhqsQH1tU4yZCE3JPVZ4YUUJmwZNKWsGSyQ3s8VPgcMBr20T-2FGNMP4CxXKoam4w7\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeK3wdlyKCOtFtL3RhXeON3lrRk-2FgRMGR8DEHm7pUMADne1f9a94L2K12ZcYTEbTNsCPS50I5Po5dt6syu6UJScfuMJWLseiiL3SdCK1P7hx-2BRiMDEzN-2BzEk3-2Bmbl5zDsoLl-2F-2B-2BqLba-2FoC2ZUc7wG0uwgTQaCZIGyaTbQaKcMFHrVq7cHdcDUnXKL-2F13enGIaYLfvNNS5z8CAVcNTo7JZgVw-3D">USA Today</a> <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPGHj-2B2dLMI8GjHt8EZUXiMttokF1gPQbfnp65uFcj1kEwnZ0qh0SzUlW3u5odVFBHEArpY6uVflasddFTosChOWBOHKkk5r-2FCKXsyU1ZIWXZ-2BYHY7Z8lL3-2BHZPyRt5akVw-3D-3DYGVE\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeDB6Ke-2FUifaUip-2BwC-2Bot-2BZgdC-2BDUA4Ihi7Oq6wjRiwgMpq79hC6-2FQFwmayWe9xUkIZx1p-2Fi4Y4Eh4aE1cdj1dQrO7HMi7zMZni2pqd30f0wBGANHkUe0h3Y-2BEodjdWXLqCpaCnT4Bg35GivP9LylAIOUrytcRR-2B5gq-2BEohbdumeOZ1nprb4tffXEPMHN1HkEbEMkZhOOV-2F9kGcmEsNkn4mw-3D">As Real ID Deadline for U.S. Air Travel Approaches, There Are 'Workarounds,' Experts Say. </a><a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPGHj-2B2dLMI8GjHt8EZUXiMttokF1gPQbfnp65uFcj1kEwnZ0qh0SzUlW3u5odVFBHEArpY6uVflasddFTosChOWBOHKkk5r-2FCKXsyU1ZIWXZ-2BYHY7Z8lL3-2BHZPyRt5akVw-3D-3Dibf3\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeOA4Xg33pdGI-2FYOVeR0c3Vsjj9ZRrDhSbhSUvAvrtq5kYpJDBo7thytVC8Sz31y7VdPN0jKp0xY5IsdskpBWJjYznJff3ko4mWwjUquhOTgz-2BLdyJ3xTDHyBpm8eg30-2FPpnauhwa5Jta1ayuTO8A8xcSQvw1irrs-2FkrgSC7C-2F8MbSxC1YkGqmu-2F3fBw1iES2vFM-2FuhWSJRijbpbcunUJY6Y-3D">CNBC</a> Applying the News Story Discuss what is needed to establish proof of Christian identity (and to whom it might need to be established), what constitutes the marks of a true Christian, and how we can be identified by others as followers of Christ. The Big Questions 1. What is your opinion of the REAL ID? If you have acquired one, what was your experience with the process? If you do not have one, what will motivate you to get one, or what will lead you to choose not to get one? 2. After the REAL ID Act was passed, some states had concerns about privacy. What concerns do you have, if any, about a national digital identification system, with personal information in a national electronic network? What value do you see in such a system? 3. REAL ID requires your full legal name, Social Security number and proof of residency and lawful status. What do you consider to be the proof of Christian identity? Baptism, faith, church membership or some other evidence? How does your church assess Christian identity? To whom might you need to establish your Christian identity? 4. The mark of a REAL ID is a star on a license. What are the marks of a true Christian? How is this identity revealed in words and actions? 5. How do you identify others as followers of Christ? What makes Christian identity clear, and what kind of behavior obscures it? How can the church do a better job of Christian formation in children, youths and adults? Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion: Genesis 1:27 So God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxdxvwvUIbrGNsYJ-2B9LkHJNSiARhi5SqIrdKHVWIxEK8qcWgtUf8RbQ-2FgMdIBBIEiJcKQZ\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeHt3sR7tgd7dc3n-2B5hRaHGGgY-2F4kTQeoTEpSRc-2Bb5vv7yeYgVZvZQAje8ZtHmjjeECrW6S-2FEbv9NoYv9Ov6rF6QR-2Bc2DNWODcLkZmXUtqPSH6gvK2WueQICTYxohDYMOrumoHUDZI7jO0cTu2hm9DRm4txSufTO2mYEmQPbGVxuX3vdveEQjemCA-2Fx3wGj38FFv7UTieo9c1VF34tN-2FFNbI-3D">Genesis 1:26-31</a>.) In the creation story in Genesis, God's work is completed by the creation of humankind. Chapter 1 tells us that "God created humans in his image," giving human beings a distinct resemblance to God in their moral, spiritual and intellectual natures. This image is present equally in both men and women, since "male and female he created them." God said to the humans, "Be fruitful and multiply" (v. 28), wanting them to perpetuate themselves and increase in number. Unlike other creatures, they are given authority, with dominion over "every living thing" (v. 28). God also gives humans plants for food, in line with the diet of "every green plant" provided for all of the creatures of the earth (v. 30). Genesis tells us that God created "humans," which in Hebrew is adam, the name given to the first man. In chapter 2, "the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground" -- God formed adam from the dust of the adamah (v. 7). In English, we would say that God formed the earthling from the Earth. <blockquote> Questions: What helps you to see the image of God in another human being? How is this image sometimes obscured? Why is it important to work to find this image in each other, both male and female? </blockquote> John 15:15 [Jesus said] "I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing, but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father." (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxT4PTUfd6hE6df7lW-2Bu8M6X5ZDqmmd6bjMoDH8aooD947FQf3sUmmaIpmhzt36yHwvZuD\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeLFHTkmeZwNX8B4rubj9-2FyYHVOWr4le03e-2BqluUVPCv0LRSwI4ejLNwIOhOxrciCkj7uFJKRHYbSzC43PG-2B2pzJPIb2Zl6R7vlhnK8aNi-2FNuclsKGyDdSHjMd-2BlhZ640l-2BxxHFoAZ1CorUphWk3agP2LVN-2BV-2F-2BkRIXH1HW0wW6J0-2F7o2bxGt-2B-2BybRxh5HF3uUDaxWQ10utR6zdfymr9nfa8-3D">John 15:12-17</a>.) At the Last Supper, Jesus gave his disciples the commandment, "love one another as I have loved you" (v. 12). Then he used his upcoming crucifixion as an illustration of love by saying, "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends" (v. 13). Jesus desired for his disciples to be his friends, and he said that they would be friends if "you do what I command you" (v. 14). Then Jesus called his disciples not "servants" but rather "friends," to signal a change in relationship. He suggested that servants do not know what their master is doing, but Jesus had called the disciples friends "because I have made known to you everything that I have heard" from God the Father. Jesus then told them, "You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit" (v. 16). <blockquote> Questions: What is the importance of love in Christian identity? How is being a friend of Jesus different from being a servant? What does it mean to you to be chosen by Jesus, as opposed to choosing him? And how do we "bear fruit" as Christians, extending the mission of Jesus? </blockquote> Romans 12:9-13 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality to strangers. (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxB1sByFkCq00De7qxK5ZsvlktIfWiLH6ILLGVwozFyAEH4EQlEHJyJGqVm-2FDnfHrdLmWM\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeLTRHz9Y97iH5DxncPZ6KQi8NqxWGey-2B9NfxmvuYJC5zkvfsfiworPG7Lty-2FTv7bmqH0qGpQ7GkNCaFS7EdCQj6Ypx2KXUkVfsoqksL-2BFuoP9F6Cuucqrs1XBeJRQKj0QHaQpN2yc8KeQIQChQ-2BfndC4-2FcguVxnmYjOb-2FI5eYi4BGu-2F74IQWDydMxuD53X2CXTwuqMDlKiuzRizcmgJh9iU-3D">Romans 12:9-21.</a>) In his letter to the followers of Jesus in Rome, Paul does a remarkable job of summarizing the marks of a true Christian. Echoing the love commandment of Jesus, he recommends that love be "genuine," also understood as "unhypocritical." To follow Christ means to "love one another with mutual affection" and even to compete with one another by outdoing "one another in showing honor." They are to be generous both inside and outside the Christian community, making an effort to contribute "to the needs of the saints" and also to "pursue hospitality to strangers." For Paul, hospitable living means to live in harmony, especially with hostile people. When he says, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them" (v. 14), he is sounding like Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. He warns the followers of Christ, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (v. 21). <blockquote> Questions: Where do you see these marks of a true Christian most clearly today? Which are most important to you, and why: genuine love, mutual affection, generous contributions to needy Christians, hospitality to strangers, blessing hostile people, or overcoming evil with good? How is Christian identity connected to the identity of Christ? How does this relate to the question of whether a Christian can be a soldier or a police officer? </blockquote> 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (For context, read <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPIPMr3QdAndcnhgARhLxPRBMJBYCTolkbvW-2F0TosyGzxOdlwvpIcp6dpBWksJaxTxB-2FqvIxzkzH59Qn3kwUWVH54I5FtVzTMzRYiHlnqao8wj2wD7IFFVGH4Vb08GnfFEw-3D-3De4nz\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeMOaPf-2BtATwXJnqGVdYvMH-2F4ABgRf-2BhGZQDI2ZTyVG-2FFIK4qnpI60XIOB-2BkhQ-2F3f64bz9oJt5crD3t4E2FIaok90Jj5-2FDoaJgDm0wCfcpEa5eZTVp2vddvy08pt7NH84OsqlZorGFQuJUHO3s8FR-2ByY7aD13dfxUfTE5BiPW6xkRZ99Y6boGy9zMvEHiVdGGncy331crVxhKy5JprngppmU-3D">1 Corinthians 12:12-31</a>.) In his first letter to the divided community at Corinth in Greece, Paul makes the case that the followers of Christ are nothing less than "the body of Christ," the physical presence of Jesus in the world. The body of Christ is one body with many members: feet, hands, ears, eyes and other body parts. All are important to the functioning of the body, whether strong or weak, and Paul says that "God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another" (vv. 24-25). The Corinthians became one body of Christ through baptism, as Paul reminds them when he says, "For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free -- and we were all made to drink of one Spirit" (v. 13). Within the body, God has appointed apostles, prophets, teachers, healers, helpers and different kinds of leaders. He wants everyone to exercise their gifts for the good of the body of Christ. <blockquote> Questions: How is Christian identity connected to the Christian community, the body of Christ? What role do you play as a member of the body? Where do you find value in both the unity and the diversity of the Christian community? </blockquote> For Further Discussion 1. <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPHaNIUCAeLbt25oKSVayWXO7QEO7-2F3wo1p7jXeRFAuo-2BsIakOjWt9ru34-2BVJTm56XErEjqNRrQuQwk0ZcVtHanU-3DL1AZ\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeEY9zbK-2Fd81j2vwNy6suCWY-2FtakQA7qOKz75oteDFlcPwRZ60jLzSj4t-2FU64FFwWwZelucsA3J3xkN5al9pn6oda-2Bbet3fGiu-2FCJ-2BQgP0CkWl21Fq-2BPHbuUt-2Bo0T901rDwL2ECyRa-2BGTkbXdxowZd0lD1S-2FLsQMnYmrnJvPxI4FC0gMI2wcGboE42zU06GYc6a4imJ5pkP9a-2BY1TPN-2FxOCU-3D">Dr. Gregory Beale of Reformed Theological Seminary writes,</a> "At this time in America of swirling controversy -- politically, culturally, and economically -- Christians sometimes can get so caught up in the debate that they temporarily forget their identity as Christians and even find themselves identifying more with their favorite political cause than their Christian faith. At times like this, it is important for Christians to remind themselves about who they are." What do you do to remind yourself of your Christian identity, apart from your political identity? Why is it important to do this? 2. To open a bank account, you need to provide an acceptable form of ID and proof of address. What credentials do you need to provide to join a church? What, in particular, is required for volunteering in the church's children's program or youth program? Has your church encountered any problems with or opposition to security checks on volunteers who work with young people? If so, how were those problems resolved? 3. "Virtuous living is a team sport, not an individual activity," <a href="https://u14323725.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.kR2s0BHA4IMM0a9cQYZVPJKx8u-2BqCI2NDAwaLrqiXbTyAJfP2WmQYJfSAe6JNmrczvSE\_-2FDMt8DmC0b3MPPPEfxHbnxzgfJsbXDNMpwCP9nNwhUmwW6wkyKFLFNgtWOsfoWlqzJWknYznvBlIhQrMvSLcaZdhhbJIKGm-2F5qmCcYPIpJSn2obb9skqJf4MgaypxrLi7oLPa8a7eS7JtzjOXCCX8BHD-2F4cv9wFI-2FUH-2BL75pc25Hbh6RKf8EPZebHASiEu2b1aGXbOqJQ3Dnm6HAk92Ymcj181s0VJrbU9h-2Fvy6n1ppjStaL9nPHN1CWa7K9p0kZ-2FP7BrvMtdsGC4dkn94wWeBTj1vnjnFwbegzT808IC6KJMl7f2HFZ6Ftm5OxrUCBFUKgjZ3EOUsLbcCKVllte-2F0gVAW-2B-2BF1Td5DokphZHSyKqC85bzYHVH0uqcKoHlnvK3OiCWRut2yN3bWWqZjmWC2u7HxCYnZH6F7oQxUEUbEyaIFA3rf43Lm20RgfziVYMXmnALghI-2F8gh1rAHt8tigGTPYi1vKVBsA6qdwhoCvmw-3D">writes TWW Team Member Henry Brinton.</a> "By that I mean it requires a community of accountability and support. That's why I think the Eagle's Wings Tutoring Program at Calvary Presbyterian Church has succeeded in making a small difference in some local children's lives. The program matches volunteer tutors with neighborhood schoolchildren, many of whom come from chaotic homes. Meeting for an hour each week in the church basement, the children absorb virtues of kindness, perseverance and diligence from their tutors. Character is not so much taught as it is 'caught,' in a setting like that." How is Christian character "caught" in your community of faith? How can the church do a better job of encouraging virtuous living? 4. Some churches baptize infants and then confirm them when they later make a profession of faith in Christ, while other churches baptize people only when they profess their faith. What is the practice of your church, and how is it connected to Christian identity? What meaning does baptism have for you? In your understanding, can a person be a Christian without baptism? Why or why not? Responding to the News Reflect on your own Christian identity, and ask yourself whether it is clear to the people around you. Commit to improving at least one of the biblical marks of a true Christian in the week ahead. Share your commitment with another person, as you seek their support and pledge to be accountable to them. Prayer God our Creator, we thank you for making us in your image, and giving us moral, spiritual and intellectual gifts. Help us to use our distinctive gifts as members of the church community, the body of Christ, and to make our Christian identity known through our words and our actions. We pray that you would help us to grow as disciples, so that people will see Christ when they look at us. In Jesus' name. Amen. 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