Live from Salt Lake City, Utah
This is Heart of the Matter Full Circle, and I am your host, Shawn McCraney.
Let’s pray – YAHAVAH
Mags and Del
In Yeshua’s name, Amen.
Show 25: Shawn is Interviewed by Cult Expert Chris Shelton
October 22, 2024
Five Super-Quick Announcements
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(GRAPHICS)
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TWO
Check out new content on the Yeshuan link at GreatNewsNetwork.com from Danny, Sarah, and Grady.
THREE
Call in every Thursday at this number and talk about anything meaningful from 11 AM to 1 PM MTN.
FOUR
Join us Friday, November 8th and Saturday, November 9th for our Christian Peace Initiative.
FIVE
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(where you can get the APP).
Addressing Misconceptions
Because we are so controversial and are considered both a threat, dangerous, and even non-Christian, we often receive online posts, comments, emails, and videos that do not reflect the reality of what we teach, believe, and do.
Every now and then, we try to get ahead of such things because we frankly care about our message getting to people in the most unencumbered and truthful way possible.
The Transversional Apostolic Record (TVAR)
Several years ago, we announced that I was going to embark on producing a new “transversional” edit of the Apostolic Record, or what people mistakenly call The New Testament. The working title of this endeavor is known as the TVAR (Transversional Apostolic Record).
To try and get some financial support for this endeavor, we launched a campaign. We did spots, presented a well-intentioned plan, and had maybe five people come forward and contribute to the cause—some for a much longer time than others.
The goal was for me to work through every word of the Apostolic Record, compare translations, check the Greek, and include insights and explanations as a means to make the text more obvious eschatologically.
I don’t know how much money was specifically donated, but I do not think it was more than four to five thousand dollars over the course of the past six or seven years.
Acknowledging My Failures
At the time, I said that I was not going to cut my hair until it was finished and that when it was finished, we would have a party, give those who donated first-edition copies, and invite all of them as special guests to a launch party.
I straight-up failed to keep my promises in the following ways:
First, I cut my hair – I couldn’t take it any longer. My bad for making that promise, and my apologies to those who feel I broke a covenant with God by doing so. If you were a donator and were relying on my hair to remain uncut, write to us and we will refund your donations in full.
GRAPHIC: shawn@thegreatnewsnetwork.com
Second, I had no idea what this project would entail or how deep every single passage would take me. We planned for five years, and I missed it. Again, apologies.
Progress Update on the Apostolic Record (AR)
That said, the TVAR, or what I have changed to the AR (Apostolic Record), is by no means not going to happen—unless God takes me or renders me unable. In fact, let me give you an update on how far we have progressed.
I finished the AR version of the Gospel of John. In fact, we have made that available for free to download. The only thing it lacks are the end notes, which are written but will only be included in the full volume.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke are also complete with the same exception.
Additionally, we finished the most difficult part of the AR, and that was the Book of Revelation, which is not only printed in hard copy and available to read and study, but we also took all the end notes for that work and compiled them into a 22-volume set, which is available at our site for a price of $4.99 per book or $99.00 for all 22.
We are talking about a non-religious, studious body of work that is all just for the AR version. We will release it in the future once the rest of the books are complete.
Addressing Criticism
Am I guilty of not doing what I planned and said I would do? Yes, in terms of haircuts and anticipated completion dates. But what we have done in the face of these failures should show that we are:
- Trying to do it right,
- I have put several thousands of hours into it already, and
- The important elements of the whole pursuit remain in place.
In other words, we’re not done.
It’s really easy to pick on people who try to get things done. They call it “armchair quarterbacking,” and admittedly, we are low-hanging fruit for the nit-picking, mean-spirited folks out there who will do anything to undermine our open, honest work.
But the Apostolic Record will get done (God willing), though my hair has been cut and the completion date extended. Someday, I think people will be grateful for this.
Spiritual Spectrum
Before we get into our topic tonight, which is a clip from a recent interview I did with cult expert Chris Shelton, I want to present to you a concept that is a bit conjectural but can be seen not only in the scripture but also in how our material world operates.
Because the Old Testament speaks of things given to the nation anciently as types and shadows of things to come, I tend to wonder if the material world and how many things operate here also reflect spiritual realities in the life hereafter.
For instance, in the material world, we understand many things operating on what we say are spectrums.
We recognize obvious spectrum ranges in things like the colors of the rainbow as spectrums of light, with red having the longest wavelength and violet the shortest.
Then there are electromagnetic spectrums, which include radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.
Waves that come to us, whether in sound or oceans, are also on a spectrum. A spectrum can also be what scientists call “a graphical representation of a signal functioning as a variable,” which is beyond me but illustrated in things like “energy or mass-to-charge ratio.”
Biologists refer to “a range of effectiveness” against pathogenic organisms, such as “broad-spectrum” or “narrow-spectrum.” In the past twenty years, we have begun to describe certain behavioral and developmental problems as being “on the spectrum.” Those spectrums can include a range of symptoms such as repetitive behaviors, emotional problems, and challenges with communication, social skills, and play.
Almost everything around us in the material world can be understood in terms of range or spectrum, including:
- Maturity
- Grief (in stages)
- Dying (the process)
- People and their myriad complexities
The Afterlife Spectrum
Here’s my point:
I cannot help but wonder if, in the heavenly realm—which is entirely spiritual—there also exists a spectrum of spiritual sensitivities, understanding, purity, and/or maturity.
Perhaps we might imagine the afterlife realm as being on a similar spectrum, with an ultimate point or place of Spiritual Light, which Revelation calls the New Jerusalem. This is where YAHAVAH and YESHUA dwell and function as the Light thereof. This specific location is the lightest, brightest, purest, most-liberated environment in all of space. From that specific polarized place, the Light emanates out and diminishes until it reaches the darkest, most polluted, selfish, uncaring, predatory, and false environs imaginable.
The question then becomes:
Where do YOU want to be?
(BEAT)
With the second question being:
What DO YOU think is required to get there?
We offer a biblically based response, all things considered, to what we believe it teaches is required. And I’ve gotta tell you, it isn’t a church, attending church, or playing church.
Agape Love and Protecting Ourselves
Last week, we talked about agape love, and a frequent question we hear often sounds like this:
How do I love with agape while protecting myself from others who are dangerous?
It’s a really good question, especially in this day and age.
I would suggest the following, based on my understanding of scripture:
We always seek to love unconditionally through our words, attitude, and actions, but we love conditionally in our trust of others.
I think this clarification is important because some tend to think that part of agape love is to unconditionally trust all people. No way. Remember, Yeshua Himself said, “be wise as serpents but harmless as doves.”
Suppose a man asks us for some
money on the street. We smile (attitude), we are courteous and respectful of their person (words), and we explain that we have no cash, or we choose to give what we feel led to give (action).
But we conditionally receive him, and if it’s someone who is not trustworthy, we wait to trust them until they prove otherwise.
Agape Love is utterly unconditional in our words, attitudes, and actions, but our trust is entirely conditional and based on what “others” say, do, and prove.
Just wanted to make that observation clear.
Interview with Chris Shelton
About a year ago, I met a man from the UK who heard an interview I had with John Dehlin and Anthony Magnabosco.
His name is Matt Bywater, and he has taken the time to really dig into my former life as someone who clearly displayed a significant level of psychopathy or sociopathy in my early life—something I readily acknowledge as part of my flesh and something for which Christ has greatly helped me overcome.
My witness to the world is that my encounter with the living God brought me new life that I cannot deny and not only gave me the ability to empathize rightly but also tools to use when I would rather just resort to violence or confrontation.
Matt introduced me to Jon Atak, a delightful man from the UK with a podcast. He is one of the most well-read people I’ve ever encountered. The two of them are friends with the man you are going to see interview me over the next few minutes.
His name is Chris Shelton, and he also has a podcast that focuses on cults, as he escaped from decades of devotion to Scientology. Chris is not a Christian, but like Matt and Jon, he is very intelligent. After the first forty minutes of discussing my background, we engaged in a conversation that I believe may help equip you in understanding the logic and tone when discussing Fulfillment.
Take a look:
Run interview from 40:22 to 1:14:50
Because our audience might not know of Chris Shelton, we wanted to share this with you tonight and hope it adds to your life.
Closing Remarks
Remember, every Thursday from 11 AM to 1 PM MTN, Delaney and I open up the phone lines and invite you to call in, ask questions, and challenge my stances—but with honesty and love.
Other than that, we will see you next week here on Heart of the Matter Full Circle.
