The Breastplate of Righteousness

Jim and Bob learn about...

...The Breastplate of Righteousness!

(Puppets up)

Jim: (Is wearing a belt) Hey Bob!

Bob: Hey Jim! Nice belt! I take it you liked our last lesson?

Jim: You bet I did! This is my BELT OF TRUTH!

Bob: It’s awesome that you listened yesterday. Are you ready for today’s lesson?

Jim: (Excited) No! (Bob stares at him) Oh. Was that the wrong answer.

Bob: You’re supposed to say “Yes.”

Jim: OOOOOOHHH. I always get those two mixed up.

Bob: (Chooses to ignore this) Okaaaay. Are you ready for today’s lesson?

Jim: (Thinks for a second) Yessssss?

Bob: Very good. Now, let’s get started. We’re picking up (starting) today in Ephesians 6:14.

Jim: Isn’t that where we started yesterday?

Bob: Yes, but if you remember, we didn’t read the whole verse. Just the first half.

Jim: Oh. Ok! So what does the second half say?

Bob: I’ll just read the whole thing. The verse reads: “Stand, therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.” The passage goes on after that, talking about more pieces of armor, but that’s verse 14, and that’s what we want to talk about today.

Jim: So what was this verse saying?

Bob: Well, the second piece of armor mentioned was the breastplate of righteousness.

Jim: The who of what now?

Bob: The BREASTPLATE, or armor that protects your chest and stomach, of RIGHTEOUSNESS, or doing what’s right.

Jim: Ohhhh! (Waits a second) Nope. Still don’t get it.

Bob: (Bashes head against the stage repeatedly) (Stops) Ok. Do you remember what you were reading yesterday?

Jim: King Arthur.

Bob: Exactly. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. What did these knights wear?

Jim: Armor.

Bob: EXACTLY. Now, are there more pieces of armor than just a belt?

Jim: …No?

Bob: YES, JIM! YES! There is a lot more pieces of armor than just a belt! In the second part of this verse, Paul was using a breastplate, or a piece of armor that protects your torso, to say that the next thing that can protect you is RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Jim: OOOOOOOHHHH. (Hesitates) Which is…?

Bob: Hmm. That’s…actually a good question, Jim. I’m not sure I’d be able to describe it. Let me check the dictionary in the back of my Bible. (Holds Bible up) It says that righteousness is: Always behaving according to a religious or moral code.

Jim: …Huh?

Bob: Here, let me explain: Righteousness is basically doing what your religious “Code” tells you to. For us, it’s the Bible.

Jim: So, righteousness is doing what the Bible says?

Bob: Exactly! Paul is saying that if we obey God and do what He says, He’s going to protect us.

Jim: Protect us? What’s he protecting us from?

Bob: Well, the Bible tells us that, too! Just a few verses back in Ephesians 6. Verses 11-12 read: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Jim: Hold up! Too many words, not enough explanations. What are these verses SAYING?!

Bob: These verses are telling you what the Armor of God protects us FROM. It’s saying that we’re not fighting against people, with swords and guns, but against SPIRITUAL forces, in places we can’t see.

Jim: So, the devil?

Bob: He has been called that, yes. The devil, Satan, the Father of Lies, he’s given multiple names, and none of them are very nice.

Jim: Because the devil isn’t a very nice guy.

Bob: He’s the least nicest guy there ever was!

Jim: Less nice than Jack the Ripper?

Bob: Oh yeah.

Jim: Less nice than Darth Vader?

Bob: Wha-? Darth Vader is a FAKE character in a movie! And yes, the devil is less nice than Darth Vader.

Jim: Ok, there’s no WAY that he’s less nice than the Dark Lord Chimichanga III.

Bob: Who?

Jim: Chimichanga III. (Takes on a dramatic tone) It was two weeks ago. The Narwhali Army had been driven away from Honeyland by the Dark Lord Chimichanga III. The only way that we could stop him was by concocting an elaborate plan, involving a Unicorn, a tree branch, and 80's music.

Bob: (As he listens, he beats his head into the stage or facepalms) NO, Jim! The Devil is the guy who CREATED lies! He tricked the first people EVER into eating a fruit that God told them not to eat. Do you remember their names?

Jim: Yes, you’ve told me before.

Bob: Then let’s ask the kids! (Both turn to face crowd) Do YOU know who the first people were? (Wait for answer) That’s RIGHT! Adam and Eve! We read about them in Genesis 1 and 2.

Jim: Yikes. The devil is awful!

Bob: Exactly, Jim. That’s why we need the Armor of God! To protect us.

Jim: So, if we don’t have the armor, will the devil shoot us or something?

Bob: Not in the way you’re thinking. Ephesians 6 tells us that the Devil uses darts and schemes to poke and trap us.

Jim: So he uses DARTS?!

Bob: No, Jim! Remember? Ephesians 6 uses METAPHORS! So then these aren’t REAL darts. These are things like temptations and trials. Things that hurt you SPIRITUALLY.

Jim: Ohhhh. Ok. So what’s the next piece of armor?

Bob: I’d LOVE to tell you, Jim, but it turns out that we’re out of time.

Jim: Aw, man!

Bob: Yes, I’m sorry. But I’ll definitely tell you tomorrow!

Jim: Oh, ok!

Bob: See you then!

Both: Bye!

END SKIT