About This Video
Shawn McCraney encourages Christians to embrace their flaws and use the acronym FLAWED—FAITH, LOVE, ART, WORK, EDUCATION, DIMENSION—as a guide, urging believers to walk by the Spirit rather than by flesh, and to value and express creative artistry, which has often been sidelined by more legalistic interpretations of faith. He shares a personal story of facing criticism from a fellow believer about his creative work, which led him to question the place of art in Christianity, highlighting the need for greater acceptance and encouragement of artistic expression among Christians.
To confront Evangelical cultural and legalistic influences, Shawn encourages artists to embrace their God-given creativity and express it through their work, emphasizing that creativity glorifies Jesus Christ. He highlights the importance of maintaining purity and holiness for Christ's return, as taught in biblical scriptures, drawing a parallel between the early church's challenges and today's Christian community.
Shawn discusses the applicability of biblical teachings on holiness and purity, originally aimed at the early churches in Asia Minor, to modern believers. He argues that the strict standards set by Jesus and the apostles for a spotless and blameless church were possible due to the superabundance of the Holy Spirit in their time, whereas today, faith is more subjective and lacks a collective church or bride meeting those demands.
Shawn advises that Christians are free to express their faith through politics, art, or any medium, as long as the motivation comes from agape love, but he highlights the risk of faith being distorted in the political realm due to its divisive nature. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a clear distinction between personal faith and political agendas, citing Jesus' approach as a model and suggesting a separation between church and state to prevent faith from becoming an idol.
Shawn discusses how individuals create narratives to align with their perceptions, often leading them to craft stories that seem accurate but aren't always true, suggesting that people become their own biggest deceivers through these stories. He encourages mastering these narratives by recognizing them for what they are: just stories, which can lead to greater self-awareness and truth.
Journey of Artistic Expression
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah
This is Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology. –
And I’m your host, Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion.
Let’s keep learning together about walking as Christians in the age of fulfillment. Let’s pray together, my brothers and sisters, Sons and Daughters of the Living God by faith in His son who walk by the Spirit and not the flesh!
PRAYER
Show 27B Follow-Up From Glory to Glory
TUESDAY LIVE SHOW
June 23rd 2020
Last week on the recorded show titled, FLAWED, I presented the idea that as Christians we embrace the term relative to our flesh and carnal natures humbly – that we are flawed, but that we also repurpose the term, make it an acronym and use it to remind us to walk by FAITH/LOVE/ART/WORK/EDUCATION and DIMENSION.
I said that in my estimation, over the course of modern Christian history Art, Artists and creative expression has in some ways been greatly dismissed by our more legalistically minded brothers and sisters and how in my opinion Christians ought to be some of the greatest artists and creators on earth.
I also mentioned a story from my own personal experience as a Christian that happened years ago – but I didn’t tell it. And I want to tell it to you now.
Personal Encounter with Criticism
Maybe ten years ago, when I was relatively new to Evangelicalism, I was introduced to a man who sort of considered himself to be a self-appointed policeman of the faith here in Utah. He and his wife came out from another state in the summers and would roam about to the churches in the valley, inserting themselves into situations that would pop-up among believers –
Pastors getting divorced.
Believers getting drunk.
Brothers not getting along.
Stuff like that. I got to know this fellow and his wife personally as they seemed interested in the ministry we were doing on television. One of the first things he said to me once we sort of got past the introductory courtesies was, “My wife and I were noticing how free you are in your faith.” I didn’t know what he really meant at the time, but the comment registered with me strongly. Almost as if it was borderline Mormon.
After he became more familiar with me he believed he could say other semi-critical things about me in the presence of others. For instance, I would enter a meeting with some other believers and the first thing out of his mouth would be something like: Hey, Shawn, did you “lose your razor,” or if I wore a shirt too elaborate for his tastes he would say, “Wow, Shawn, things must be going pretty good in the ministry to be wearing a shirt like that.”
I began to notice that he was constantly monitoring everyone, and coming from Mormonism where this same kind of monitoring was constant, I took every one of his criticisms silently – but to heart. I was really uncertain if he was accurate in his assessments or if he was just tight and picky.
The Impact of Criticism
In any case, after a year or so I took a story from the New Testament and wrote a children’s book about it. I went to an LDS artist named Collin and had him illustrate the book and was pretty excited about the work. This man was now somewhat involved in some ministerial things and I asked him if he would read it, and I assumed that he would really like it.
Well, he read it but the response I got back from him was frighteningly negative. He told me that the book was not biblical (he was partly right. It was a story about the colt Jesus rode on in his triumphal entry who I personified and gave a voice as a means to help get children interested in themes around Jesus). He also mocked the illustrations – saying that Joseph and Mary looked like hippies and that the Apostles looked like they were high.
I let his criticisms influence me – to be honest, they actually served to break something in me as I felt guilty for expressing myself so liberally in Christ, and for taking artistic liberties with the word in creating the book. So, I put the book in a file cabinet, pretty much forgetting about it and the work and heart that went in to create it.
A few years went by and I had some more access to this man. During those years I was exposed to more and more of his overall condemnatory attitude toward art and artists. Today I have to wonder if maybe he had a bad experience with art or…
The Influences of Evangelical Culturalism on Artistic Expression
Artists. Or maybe he came from a place where artists are super liberal and licentious. I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. But his demeanor and attitude was pervasive and for a time, was influential on me who has artistic leanings.
I worried that as an artist who believed in Jesus that I was making graven images or that I was being offensive to God in expressing myself this way. And his attitude contributed to these feelings.
And then I woke the hell up. And I remember reading the passages in the Old Testament where God says he gave the artists and artisans their skills and abilities to express themselves. And I woke up to Evangelical Culturalisms, and legalisms and criticisms, and fears founded in an unhealthy view of life and God and his gifts.
I realized that these attitudes come from the heart of individual men and women and their opinions about the faith – not from God and His is the spirit of love, light and creative expression.
So a few months ago I took the manuscript and art out of the filing cabinet, sent it to Stephanie my editor to be cleaned up, who gave it to Michael and his son to colorize and format it, and then we printed it.
Why? Because it is good. And it is right. And it glorifies Jesus Christ, and was written to help willful children (in a funny and compassionate way) see the value in submitting to Christ our King. We are going to offer this book out to our audience in the months to come. So watch for it. And it will come with a 100% money back guarantee.
And the guarantee is this: that if a parent or grandparent sits down and reads this book to a child or to children, it will bless their lives. I also wanted the book to print as a means to lean into the wind of religious idiocy, and to show you artists out there that creativity is good, and of God, and to encourage you to step out and let God create in and through you as His Spirit leads – despite the criticisms of Man.
Conditional Messages in Revelation
Many of you know that we are neck deep in creating a transversion of the New Testament or Apostolic Record and after finished the synoptic Gospels I have decided to do Revelation next. It has always bothered me that in Revelation Jesus messages to most of the actual seven Churches are conditional. What I mean is he says things like, I like what you have done in this area, but I don’t like what you have done in that, “and if you don’t repent I will do this (“including removing them from his care.”)
The message is pretty clear to “them/then” – I am coming back to take a Bride who must be pure and right in every way.
Apostle's Teachings on Purity and Readiness
Listen to what the other apostles had to say on the matter and notice the connection to his return in most of them:
Philippians 1:9-10 reads: And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
1st Thessalonians 3:12-13 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
And then at the end of that book Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica:
Ephesians' Vision of a Glorious Church
1st Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Describing the church/bride of that day in no uncertain terms Paul says in Ephesians 5:27:
Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
A glorious church folks – no spot, no wrinkle (or any such thing) HOLY and without blemish. Does this sound like the churches today? Seriously? Remember, these passages are speaking in the collective.
As a means to cull a bride out of such surroundings was barely possible in the days of the Apostles when
Superabundance of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit was in superabundance and working through signs and wonders by the hands of living actual apostles guarding her—are we to think that around this world that the churches can measure up to these qualifications, being holy, pure, without blemish, wrinkle, or spot? Some might say, “In Christ and His blood, the church is in this state,” but reading Jesus' words to the seven actual literal churches in Revelation, the holiness and purity were to come from them—their lives, and the things that they actually did!
Paul charges Timothy (the individual) in 1st Timothy 6:14:
That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Even Peter wrote in 2nd Peter 3:14 “. . . be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”
Holiness and Purity in Churches
In light of these passages, from scripture, we have some choices to make as believers today: First, we can believe what they say, or we can say that they do not mean what they say. I choose the former and believe that what Jesus said to the seven churches then and what Paul and Peter wrote was purposeful and clear and serious.
If this is the case, then we have to decide: Do these passages apply to us now? If we say no, we have to explain why, and if we say yes, that they do apply to us now, then we have to explain why the “church” collectively is far from being without spot or blemish or being holy.
I suggest that “no,” these passages from Jesus' mouth to the Seven actual churches in Asia Minor do not apply to the church today for the following reasons:
- They were to that small bride then which the gates of hell could not prevail against (though it tried and was almost successful).
- That on “that scale” keeping a bride holy and pure and without spot or blemish was possible—thereafter (and up until today) it was obviously not nor has been.
- That “the bride had to be holy until the coming of the Lord was possible and manageable by an overabundance of the Holy Spirit working in and through living apostles, and
- That once Jesus came and took her, we entered into the age of fulfillment where every individual believer is either His or not, and no collective church or bride exists—the faith is and has been ENTIRELY subjective.
The Collective Church Today
If you are someone who believes that Jesus is coming back in the future to take his bride, then you have to explain where and how this bride (collectively) meets the demands Jesus places on her in Revelation and the descriptions of how the apostles say she must be in their epistles.
I don’t see it—not in any single church, and especially not around the world in the collection of churches.
Think on this.
Email from Jim C.
Hi Shawn……I have been following you since around 2012 and have been catching up on your current videos. I just had to comment on the dark and light 46b video. I had to laugh when you triggered us conservatives when you said "white privilege," and after I read some of the comments, some folks dug in their heels. I want to say Shawn, my courageous brother, that blacks do walk a different path. In 1965, when I was in the Army at Fort Carson, I had a close black friend who I will call Cliff and we were both poor folk and about 18. I had another friend who was married and lived off post and he invited me over for dinner one night. He lived in Colorado Springs in one of those big houses that had small apartments on the third floor. I brought Cliff with me and when we got to the neighborhood where my married friend lived, Cliff said to me, and I will never forget, "Jim, I better not go in with you. I will stay in the car until you have dinner." I loved this guy and would have taken a bullet for him as he would have for me. I convinced him to come in finally and we had a great time with my married friend and his wife. After dinner and we went back to Fort Carson, I got a phone call from my married friend, and he told me that as soon as we left, his landlord came up from downstairs and told him that he ever brings a N…..
The Intersection of Faith and Politics
into his apartment again, that he would be evicted. Cliff knew all along and told me he has had these experiences all the time as he grew up. As you said Shawn that in some ways this does still go on today and it is easy to be indifferent especially in this political environment. Thanks so much for your courage Shawn, by sharing your walk and helping me make another adjustment in mine….. Love you brother Shawn…….Jim Cornella
EMAIL Sarah Leann Young Shawn, thanks for clarifying what you meant by last week's episode, but I still have a few questions and comments. As a part of being a FLAWED Christian, what if an individual Christian feels called to express their faith and love through politics? As I have ALWAYS said, the faith is subjective and what a person does with the call on their life is between them and God – that includes a Christian getting into politics. (she adds) After all, it is loving to work towards helping people in this world, and one of the ways to express love can be by loving and helpful political action. Sounds really good, Sister. But the problem with politics is what one political party calls loving, another political party calls mean or indulgent. And so the definition of LOVE in politics gets lost really really easily among people who oppose the approach. (she adds)
Love and Politics
Just because it's in the world (politics) and it's working to make the world better through love doesn't necessarily mean it's worldly in nature, does it? ( NO ) Its source is agape loveSelfless love marked by patience, mercy, and humility—central to living in spiritual liberty., so what does the medium matter? After all, you do say that Christians can express their faith and love through art and creativity. Why not politics. I do say that. But here’s the deal – I suggest that art and politics operate in different ways – generally speaking. If I paint a picture as a Christian, that’s one thing, if I stand behind a podium as a Christian and rail against this issue or that, its an all together different matter. Both are of the world, for sure, but the ramifications on outsiders looking in take the faith of the participants in politics has the potential to taint the faith. (She adds) As long as agape love is the source and the result, who cares if it's politics, art, law, entertainment, or something else? We all have our skills and abilities in this world, and for many Christians, it's politics. Does that make them less connected to God? I don't think so. Neither do I. Only if they make it an idol, but maybe that's what you meant and I just didn't get it because it sounded like you're saying we should avoid politics entirely. Please forgive me if I'm misunderstanding you. All I am saying relative to politics is I think believers should look at Jesus participation in them and follow in likewise. If they are called to the podium, I just don’t think their particular approach to the faith should be part of their presentation. I believe in a separation of church and state, as political as that statement is. Reading Jesus, he seemed to as well. Lastly, I love you guys. Another great show. I for one got all hot and bothered when you said a few phrases and terms that have been largely politicized and used to advance certain political ideologies, but I'm coming down from that now. The current political climate is saturating everyone's mind, especially if they spend any time on social media. We need to just calm down. Thanks for the reminder.
Sarah Leann Young adds: Also, I didn't mean to offend you by saying you sounded like a leftist. I was just trying to tell you how the message came off as political. I'm sorry if it sounded like or came off as an insult. That's not how I meant it at all. You know I love you!
Mastering Our Stories
EMAIL FROM CURTIS (referring to last weeks shows and the way I have suggested to overcome general anxiety, frustration and bias toward people we don’t know). He says: Shawn: So you're saying, "Master your stories." Let me explain. I teach this concept in a communication class: (1) You see or hear something, (2) You tell yourself some sort of lightening fast STORY about what you just saw or heard, (3) You experience an emotion, (4) You behave in some way. Emotions are motivators for behavior. Shawn, in order to feel safer, people narrate the
Understanding Personal Truths
World with stories which fit their mental models. Since we're not omniscient we always fill in the blanks to complete a story. We guess, we assume, and we tell these stories which feel really and truly accurate. If you think about it sincerely, we are the biggest liars in our life because of these stories. Master your stories and remind yourself it's just a story.
Curtis
Stephanie Smith
Truth and transparency, that's why I follow this ministry. I can relate to what Shawn is saying so well. And, no Shawn, you're not the only one, we all have wretched hearts at one time or another, and we have to take a look at ourselves, at our hearts. Just like the woman at the drive through, I have done the same, and so have plenty of others, but some Christians don't or won't admit it. God plays no favorites.
Engaging with Faith and Reflection
M H
You didn't insult me.. I suggested a point after one episode, and you said you'd already made that point. I must have just missed it. That's why I said 'ah..need to listen better before commenting'
Jeanette Silhouette
Wish I could come to Utah and visit your church 🙂
3 Itty Bitty Piggies Story Time
Ha ha, "Monson's in hell!" The pope's in hell, televangelists are in hell, Calvin is in hell… What the hell? Hell didn't even exist in the beginning of the bible.
James Hollan
Great show again Shawn
Madison Coon
The best message, Shawn, you are a gift.
No problem. A Christian can certainly be called to engage in political affairs and offices. Undoubtedly they are.
No doubt. But when it comes to politics, which are highly polarizing, things done can be seen as harming people as well as helping them, right?
Perspectives on Glory to Glory
From last night's show on “Glory to Glory”
Madison Coon
YAY!
AND
@10:30 I needed to hear this, among my own people I get a lot of flack for calling the Great Spirit, our Creator MY FATHER. Perspective can change everything! How would you approach a Father versus a Master? Masters create resentment for effort, Fathers foster love in effort.
AND
@14:46 suffering… how does it feel to be separated from your Father, true suffering. How does it feel to be separated from a Master, liberation. Your wisdom is a breathe of love.
AND
The forbidden fruit, could it be possible this was "taking" from another's life force… using color which is light to unweave the man of sound… @2:18 how our little ladders fall
Stephanie Smith
This is an uplifting and encouraging message for me.
M H
So clear. Great job.
Additional Thoughts and Inquiries
TheMegaafroman
Hey Shawn, this is off topic but do you have any sort of information on the book of Enoch or the book of giants that might be interesting for us to know. Just a thought, Thankyou!
Erik Jonas
Hello again
James Lloyd
I am not sure my message showed up in chat, so I am posting it here as well. Satan was cursed to eat the dust of the earth and mankind was made of the dust….so when we yield to the flesh, are we feeding Satan, or being eaten by him? In contrast, Christ invites us to "eat" His flesh [which I think is His word] and drink His blood [I think represents His grace] to grow into His likeness. I appreciate your thoughts Shawn for I, also a born again ex-Mormon, am earnestly seeking truth and what living in Christ's kingdom entails.
TheMegaafroman
Very interesting, I've never thought that way before.
James Lloyd
I guess the name of the game of life is eat or be eaten. This also compares with Revelation 19 and the invitations to the 2 very different types of dinner — The marriage supper of the Lamb [eat] or the supper of our great God [be eaten].
WRAP UP!
Hey, next Monday night I am presenting one of the most important insights I think scripture presents that is often overlooked by Christians today. Give it a shot because I think it will lay out what hangs in the balance for every human being to ever live on the face of the earth. Right here on heart of the Matter.
Gute nacht.
