Heart of the Matter: A Perspective on Mormonism and Christianity

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 Mormonism Meets Biblical Christianity, face to face.

Show 41 Christopher – Part I
October 9th, 2012

And I’m Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host. We praise the True and Living God for allowing us to participate in this ministry. May He be with you (and us) tonight – especially as we embark on this unique program.

Announcements

Gotta be quick with the announcements as we have a very special guest with us tonight.

• First, join us for church on Sundays.
• Listen to AM 820.
• Buy our stuff online – it good!
• Les Feldick is speaking in Utah.
• I’m speaking in Idaho on the 27th.
• New T-Shirts are available.
• Get more info at www.hotm.tv.
• And finally, after the show tonight, tune in for another segment of Transitions.

GRAPHIC! GRAPHIC! GRAPHIC! GRAPHIC! GRAPHIC! GRAPHIC! GRAPHIC! GRAPHIC!

After last weeks program we saw a real sifting of some once faithful “Heart of the Matter fans” with a number of longtime viewers saying we crossed the line (with the Romney spoof) combined with my ideas on Christianity and the elections. I found it ironic that also on last weeks program I spoke about how Christians establish their ethic, that it is “duty-centered” (deontological) and not “results-centered (teleological). In the end, we are always sorry to see once faithful viewers leave but in the scheme of things . . . it’s okay. We are deontologically driven, not teleologically.

In other words, we are NOT motivated in the least by popular results – we are motivated by what is right and true according to THIS book. In the context (the context) of Mr. Romney being an active faithful proto-typical Latter-day Saint, the video-clip was right on . . . meaning what active Mormons say is typically not what they mean . . . and that was the point. Again, it was in no way an endorsement of Obama – and it was speaking to Romney’s Mormonism NOT his politics.

You know I would imagine that as time moves on, more and more people will “change the channel” or write and tell us they are done watching. But we are not gonna budge . . . on speaking His truth . . .according to His Word.

Examining Biblical Love

Speaking of His Word, how about a . . .

Moment in it?

We left off two weeks ago in John 15 talking about the vine and the branches. Tonight, I want to just read one verse that comes right after. It’s where Jesus says:

John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Many people are under the impression that when Jesus walked the earth He handed out fruit baskets and tossed flower petals at people’s feet. But He did commanded us to “love” so we have to ask:

HOW DID JESUS LOVE?

(beat)

HOW WAS LOVE EXPRESSED IN AND THROUGH HIM?

First and foremost, because Jesus is God and God is love I think we can reasonably say (without reservation) that EVERYTHING He said and did was based entirely on . . . love. With that as a ground rule, we know He told His disciples (those who followed Him) to love each other. This is a primary application of biblical love – the love for brothers and sisters – especially those who are in Him.

Second, He taught us to love our neighbor – whether they are believers or not. And He exemplified this in His teaching of the Good Samaritan. We love neighbors by giving our time, attention, and even our means to help them when they are in need.

Third, He showed us how to love our enemies by forgiving those who spit on Him personally, beat Him, mocked Him and…

Love and Truth in Christian Teachings

Drove nails through His innocent hands and feet. He turned the other cheek when struck personally. He suffered personal invectives and injustices humbly. And then finally, Our Lord showed, exemplified, and proved His love by teaching the truth – directly, without equivocation, and sometimes painfully to those who needed to hear it.

There were times He overturned tables in the temple – out of love . . . and with a whip drove the money changers out . . . in love. He called the Pharisees and scribes . . . “hypocrites,” “fools,” “blind,” “hypocrites,” “whited-sepulchres full of dead dried bones,” and children of the Devil bound for hell” . . . because He loved them. There was a Syrophonecian woman whom He first ignored then insulted her by referring to her as a dog . . . out of love.

Standing for Truth

So, in addition to loving other believers (without exception), loving neighbors, and loving enemies who personally abuse and persecute us, sometimes the MOST loving thing to do is to (harsh as this sounds) stand for truth – no matter how much pain it causes. I think this is a fitting teaching when we consider the Mormon/Christian debate.

So with that, let’s have a Word of Prayer.

Key Bible Verses

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Hebrew 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

1st John 2:22 “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”

4 “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 10 But these speak evil of those things which they know.

Themes of Corruption and Righteousness

not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.”

Interview and Personal Beliefs

Alright, some tough questions:

• You practiced polygamy for a time, but from what I understand you abandoned it because you knew it wasn’t right? Tell us about that? Was it three wives? Children?

• Some questions on the Sealed Portion.

• Did you ever see the gold plates?

• I’ve read you translated the sealed portion and then that Joseph Smith dictated it to you. Which was it?

• How long did it take you to translate the sealed portion?

• If you produce the seal portion do you then accept the Book of Mormon as the Word of God?

• Are you a prophet?

• I’ve made some calls and have been told that money is not your object – some have said that you never, ever ask people for financial support. How do you live or make ends meet?

• Do you consider yourself one of the elect of God?

• Tell us about this reincarnation of Hyrum Smith stuff.

• I’ve read you have a great heart for the disadvantaged – the poor, people of other races . . . and that you even had a formalized ministry outreach called The Widows Mite which cares for single mothers?

  • Tell us about this.
  • Also what is The World-Wide United Foundation and The Marvelous Work and a Wonder.

Open Line for Discussion

Hey, let’s open up the phone lines –
(801) 973-8820
(801) 973-TV20
Do you have thoughts or questions on or for Christopher? Call in now. And while operators take and clear your calls, let me talk to you about what we do here. We came to Utah to help reach people – all people with the good News of Jesus Christ – but especially the LDS. The Lord has blessed the ministry with an abundance of fruit. If this ministry speaks to you, if it is something that is part of who you are in your heart, of what you think is important, please prayerfully consider supporting us through prayer, sharing the ministry with others, volunteerism, and/or financially – if you are in a position and as the Lord leads. No widows, limited fixed income people, no elderly or poor struggling to get by. We realize that there are a lot of very good causes out there that could use your support. Go as you are lead of Him . . . and no other.

Alright . . .

Conclusion and Reflection

Is there anything you would like to say in conclusion of the program tonight, Christopher?

(HIS RESPONSE)

What did you think of Christopher, folks? Was he influential? Did he move you? Did you “feel” he was speaking truth? How can you tell?

Join us next week – where Christopher is invited to return – and where we will reveal the contents of over

Main Topic: Christopher and His Claims

175 printout pages relative to Christopher and his claims.

Conclusion

See you next week, here on “Heart of the Matter.”