Shawn McCraney discusses the journey of ex-Mormons seeking to leave the metaphorical "Island of Mormonism" for the "mainland" of true Christian freedom through a direct relationship with God via Christ. He highlights the challenges they face, including both obvious distractions like indulgences and misleading religious "lifesavers," emphasizing the importance of guidance from those who have personally experienced leaving Mormonism to avoid falling into new forms of religious bondage.
Shawn critiques traditional Trinitarianism, asserting that seeing God as three separate entities — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — leads to a flawed understanding akin to starting with a wrong mathematical premise, such as 2 plus 2 equaling 7. He emphasizes that Yeshua is Lord God Almighty, unified and identical with the Heavenly Father, challenging the conventional view of distinct personhood within the Godhead.
Yeshua is acknowledged as the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, embodying both God and King, with no distinction between Himself and the Heavenly Father at this point in time, as He fulfills the divine plan by uniting Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Through His resurrection and ultimate return to the New Jerusalem, Yeshua assumes control over all things, representing the divine unity on the throne in heaven, where God is all in all.
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.
Where we are learning together how to live 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.
Let’s begin with a prayer.
PRAYER
Show 39B Ketchup
Live Show Tuesday September 15th 2020
The Journey from Mormonism to Christian Liberty
(Start at the board with illustration)
You know it's sort of fascinating what orbits around on the floor below the table called Mormonism. Think of Mormonism like an island full of indoctrinated souls. Think of those who see the truth of it as souls that desperately need to escape. But the island is surrounded by water. Of course, the only way off the Island is for the natives to swim to the mainland which is a mile away – and this mainland represents true emancipation by and through a direct unencumbered relationship with God through Christ. Got that in your head? So, these courageous souls step away from the Island of Mormonism and into the treacherous waters between it and the mainland of Christian libertyFreedom to live by Spirit-led faith—not under religious pressure or man-made rules..
As a former Latter-day Saint, I see all sorts of threats existing in the waters between the two places – and we can categorize them as obvious threats and threats that appear initially helpful. My hope, my heartfelt aim from day one, all the way back to when we wrote Born Again Mormon, has been that every Latter-Day Saint would arrive at the mainland of total Christian liberty through a direct unencumbered relationship with God through Christ. But that is not what we usually discover, is it?
Challenges Faced by Exiting LDS Members
So first, to the obvious enemies – sex, drugs, hedonism, humanism, whatever – all of it seeking to take our swimmer below the surface and to drown them in the price of indulgences. Mormons are especially vulnerable because their whole life they have refrained from such. When they find out the church is a lie, many are taken by such – and it's wholly unfortunate. However, God often works in the resultant despair that comes from these drownings, and when people hit rock bottom they may come to see their need for Christ.
But to the other more appealing enemies. The religious “lifesavers” cruising around on the surface who are there to help save the poor lost souls. I’ve illustrated three of them – there are hundreds. But they all approach the LDS swimmers promising safe passage to mainland Jesus, but all of them – every effing one of them – are focused on first getting the swimmers onboard and secondly to keep them out at sea.
(IM GOING TO SIT DOWN FOR A MINUTE)
In the face of all of this, I got an email or text from my sister Sarah (from Check my Church fame) with an insight. And I think it’s a good one. Because here in Utah, and frankly out there in the world, there are all sorts of Christian ministries aimed at reaching swimming ex-Mormons. But we have found some really disconcerting facts about most of them:
First, many are not led or run by people who were actually ever former Mormons. I don’t care how well-read a person is, if they were never LDS they do not understand what it's like to have been and to leave it. This is why we have always promoted Sandra Tanner's Ministry, Adam’s Road, Earl Erskine, and Danny and Talking to Mormons. We can do better and I think that being a former Mormon is essential to offering insights and help to those questioning their faith.
Issues in Current Outreaches
Secondly, most of these outreaches – as the board suggests – have an agenda or slant relative to their advice to exiting LDS people. I mean what do exiting LDS people hear when they attend a conference that is hosted by a typical Christian church? Here in Utah, most churches have some sort of outreach to the LDS in their offerings to people. But what are they really giving them? In the end, more bondage – almost guaranteed. This should not be – and I have yet to see an exception to this observation in any Utah church as all of them push for activity, tithes, giving, serving, and or some other legalismRule-based religion is over. Faith and love—not law—define life with God now..
Remember – the goal is freedom in Christ. Every single one of these non-denominations all have denominational demands, extracted from a non-contextual application of the Bible, that they place on all people – ex-Mormons included. It’s unfair and its damaging to them.
There is a ministry in town called Faith after Mormonism. It's run by Ross Anderson, and well-studied ex-Mormon. Good. Unfortunately, at their annual conference…
Topic of Discussion
they have apparently invited an ardent Five Point Calvinist to address the swimmers. What bondage will he hit that audience with? Its disturbing to me now and it has always been disturbing to me as I care for our LDS family who need Him, not more religion.
So, Sarah was talking about creating an outreach where there is NO agenda possible – whatsoever. We are working on this, inviting other presenters, even amidst covid, and will let you know about it as it “comes to pass.” By the way, our Sundays Best conference will happen once things – if things – ever calm down.
Exploring the Concept of God
So, before we go to your comments from last weeks Monday and Tuesday shows I want to explain something by using a comment on our “Your Heaven part B show from a comment from Old Religion Dystopia.
In the show Your Heaven B I presented the argument that the LORD God ALMIGHTY is now on the throne in the body of Jesus of Nazareth. Old Religion Dystopia wrote:
Audience Questions
Good job, Shawn. It was much needed. So Yeshua is Lord God Almighty and not just Lord and King. Right? If that is correct then what is the difference between Heavenly Father God Almighty and Yeshua Lord God Almighty? At this point and time?
The direct response, without any clarification, is that there is zero difference between them at all. But the more articulate answer comes with some explanation. And to make it most clear, let’s begin with a discussion about starting off on the right foot of a topic rather than an on an errant one.
For instance, if we begin our understanding of addition with the belief that 2 plus 2 equals 7, all of our attempts to understand addition from that point forward will be messed up, right?
Understanding the Nature of God
And so, it is with the initial concept of God. Let me go to the white board to explain: Most of us have been preconditioned to believe and see God as a Father AND as a Son and as a Holy Spirit who, due to creedal Trinitarianism, are co-equal, co eternal and always in this state. I suggest that this presentation is akin to 2 plus 2 equaling 7.
And this is what this looks like in our presuppositional religiously inculcated minds:
Pre-earth Heavenly Picture of God (three persons making the one God being) Because of this view we see and think of Yeshua as a separate person and the Father as a separate person and the Holy Spirit as a separate person – and so when we go to understanding one throne and one person on it we have to, in our minds, ask – where the others are. Right? I would suggest that the following is a more accurate pre-earth heavenly depiction of the One God
Spirit Fire Light Love Words Life
YHWH Yeshua the Man Holy Spirit The word made flesh Pentecost
God with Us in Body, God in Us by Spirit
Death, Resurrection, Ascension, Return of Yeshua
What John sees as a representation of the future in heaven and on the one throne. So to the question at hand: So Yeshua is Lord God Almighty and not just Lord and King. Right? If that is correct, then what is the difference between Heavenly Father God Almighty and Yashua Lord God Almighty? At this point and time?
The answer is none – there is no difference. The Word of the Father entered the flesh of His only Human Son and guided Him through flesh-life wherein he exited this world fully God in the flesh. After being at the right hand of his father and God placing all things under his feet and in his hands and control, Yeshua returned, ended the age, ended Satan and hell, took his bride, and returned to the New JerusalemThe spiritual reality of God's fulfilled presence with humanity—replacing Sheol after 70 A.D. to assume the throne as the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.
Unity of the Trinity
To see the One on the throne is to see Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is all in all, and all things have been placed in the deified person of the Son. Truly there is one God – truly there continues to be.
Thoughts and Reflections
Let’s go to some of your comments from last week and the week before.
