Shawn McCraney emphasizes the importance of questioning and shifting from an objectively led religion to a subjectively lived relationship with God, which encourages a deeper understanding of Christianity beyond traditional doctrines. He highlights that God loves everyone and calls all to become His children through faith in Jesus, enabling them to cry out to God and align their will with His, especially in challenging times.
Maintain faith and commitment in Christ, accepting the burdens and challenges as part of your spiritual journey, while fostering love, forgiveness, and patience towards others, trusting in God's guidance. Seek strength in your faith community, embrace selflessness, and rely on the Holy Spirit for renewal and transformation, striving to embody the values of patience, love, and grace.
Living as Christians in the Age of Fulfillment
Heart of the Matter: A Welcomed Break
Live from the Mecca of Mormonism, Salt Lake City, Utah, this is Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology.. We are talking all about living as Christians in the age of fulfillment. And I’m your host Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion..
Show 23A A Welcomed Break
Taped May 19th, 2020
Aired May 25th, 2020
So, Heart of the Matter, and therefore me, its host, has been known for the past 14 years for sort of stirring things up. I think stirring things up is important because it gets people thinking, and then perhaps questioning, and then perhaps seeking, and then possibly changing.
We have been somewhat influential in helping people to change their views about Mormonism, about religion in general, about Christianity, and about doctrines and practices like Church governance, authority (or lack thereof) about tithes and giving, water baptism, the importance of the Word; in shifting from objectively demanded and lead religion to subjectively lived relationship, and all sorts of other matters some of us never consider from the confines of religious indoctrination and certitude. These things have been hard fought and have come with no small cost – nevertheless the reward and liberation both in our lives and in the lives of our audience have been otherworldly.
God's Love and Care
I want to step back with you tonight and take a breath and break from our standard offensive – and do something we need to do more of – and that is reaffirm the fact, rejoice in the fact, reassure you all of the fact, that there is a living God, and he does love us and care for us immeasurably. He knows each of us, our sins, our good intentions, our desires, our needs.
This God has revealed himself throughout the ages to us by the construction of the kosmos, in nature, in provision, in the conception and birth of our children, in the story of His work among the Nation of Israel, and his bringing forth the Messiah. He has made Himself known, which reminds us that there is more than this life now, there's eternal life hereafter. He loves all – every single human being to have ever been born, and calls to all to receive Him through faith. And we – you and I and others who tune in and believe – are the recipients of eternal life, or a place in His Kingdom of Light.
Yes, God has creations who do not care for Him or the gifts he bestows upon them. But His children love all of them anyway. And God has creations who claim His Son but don’t actually represent him – but His children love them anyway. But in all that He has done, in loving the world so much that he gave us His only begotten Son, God has done something more – something so very important to Him and His provisions… God has invited all to receive Him through faith in His Son as a means to become His Son’s and Daughters, His joint heirs, his own children through adoption.
Becoming Joint Heirs
Are you a joint heir with Christ Jesus, the only Begotten of the Father full of grace and truth? You are if you have received the Spirit of His Son into your hearts! Paul put it this way in Galatians 4:6:
And because ye are sons (and daughters) God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
How did Jesus cry out to God as Father, Abba? In Mark 14:36 we read Jesus says when in the Garden of Gethsemane: "Abba (abba)! Father (pat?r)! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” As sons and daughters of God, who have received the Spirit of His Son, we too cry out when met with circumstances beyond our ability to handle them. And like Jesus, we seek to do His will – instead of our own. When we can’t pay our bills. When we are struggling with faith, sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace., sickness, loneliness, we cry, as the Lord cried: Father remove this cup from my, but NOT as I will, but as you will.
And when Jesus (a second time) prayed and realized that whatever was being offered him was his to do, he said: "My Father (pat?r), if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done." And then in the midst of his suffering and pain, which his father allowed to be heaped upon his only begotten, Jesus cried: "My God, My God why have you forsaken me." And then Sons, and daughters, even wondering if they have been abandoned in this…
Enduring Suffering for Faith
World, left alone to bleed out on our own respective crosses, always, in a faith that defies comprehension, ultimately turn and say in submission:
“Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit.”
I want you to know that if you are suffering in the cause of Christ, I salute you as my brother. If you walk in faith, small or great, clinging to Him as the author and finisher of your faith, willingly accepting the burdens God places on you and your life – you are my sister. We are His children, His family – eternal in structure and nature, united in faith on Him, forgiven, and beloved. I am so blessed to know those of you who seek Him with loving, forgiving, selfless hearts; who do not walk by the Spirit of this world but by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ.
Walking in Faith and Love
I encourage you to stand in Him and His love, to never let go of faith and always seek, in every single situation in your life, to love as He loves. To forgive all people all of the time. To seek the good in others, to be slow to anger, quick to help, refusing to condemn, but letting our Father make such judgments. I encourage you to err on the side of mercy and longsuffering with all people. To take up your cross, dying daily with Christ (to your flesh) and rising daily with Christ to new life in him.
We pray for your well-being here on earth; for your wealth and strength to be in faith and love, and for your heart to be set upon the Kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future. and not the Kingdom of this world. If you are struggling with sin, I encourage you to feed your spirit, to walk in grace, and remember that sin is merely a product of all flesh. If you are wondering about Jesus – His person, his message, His makeup or resurrection – go to him. Open up. Bare your soul – and surrender to the Spirit of Truth.
Trusting God in Troubled Times
Let patience reign. Longsuffering abound. And love never to never fail. I used to seek the fellowship with the world, its promoters and those steeped in her ways. But I am so blessed to know you all – even remotely – the salt of the earth, who refuse to sell their rebirthrights for a mess of pottage.
In these troubled times, lean and look to God – trust Him, rely on Him – as all sons and daughters do with a parent. He will see you through to a victorious end – this I promise. And thank you all for being so strong in our Lord and King.
Out.
