Introduction to Heart of the Matter

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…

Evangelical Christianity Meets Biblical Christianity Face to Face.

And I’m your host Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., broadcasting from our new and improved studios. Now look around you, we have labored like you can’t believe to create this set for your viewing enjoyment! I mean look at the sheen and gloss, the workmanship! (beat) I’m just kidding folks – this is a virtual studio made possible by our newly acquired Tricaster 455, which enables us to create almost any kind of set we want to surround my person virtually. Here’s the deal. We are still building out Heart of the Matter Steaming Studios so until our real brick and mortar set is complete, you are stuck with me looking like I’m sitting on a soundstage made for Monday Night Football, the Today Show, or something like that.

Viewing Information

As an FYI, Heart of the Matter (Mormon) is going to begin airing on the NRB Network channel 378 starting Friday night, April 5 and then replaying on Tuesday evenings at 11pm. There are a number of ways to access the NRB network but the most semi-ubiquitous is through DirectTV channel 378. They also broadcast over SkyAngel channel 181, Roku, and a number of local affiliate stations. So, you can view seven years of Heart of the Matter replays through the NRB Network. Of course you can also go to our website at www.hotm.tv and watch replays of all of our programming relative to Mormonism and now the programs related to Evangelical Christianity.

Questions and Social Media

We’ve received some questions regarding this streaming version of Heart. Lowell asks:

“Will HOTM be making more use of Social Media to promote the ministry, especially the Twitter format?”

And others have asked, “Hey Shawn when are you going to get your own Facebook or show up on there once in a while?”

We are taking things one step at a time, my friends, and if and when the door opens we will certainly walk through. This being said, I am not personally interested in social media so I doubt if I will ever personally have a Twitter or Facebook account.

Alex asks:

Hey Shawn

I’m a little confused around the availability of the new show. Are you going to put it up on youtube or on your site afterwards?

Website, certainly. YouTube? Again in time if nobody else does it. Our ministry never put a YouTube up of our program (even though there are thousands of them online there). They were all added to YouTube by fans of the show – especially our friend in Norway, Andrew. Again we’ll see how the Lord leads.

Alright, let’s take a minute and consult with the Lord for His guidance and blessing on what we are going to cover tonight.

PRAYER

Examination of Evangelicalism

We are going to spend the next ten months examining American Evangelicalism. Last week I presented a case for why this is not only allowable according to the Bible and history of the church but necessary for members of the Body to have a healthy church experience AND so that those coming into the Body can have the same. It was our spending seven years working on bringing Mormons out of Mormonism and then looking at what was available to them by way of Church in the state of Utah that caused us to say, “Hey, let’s spend some time examining our own house and what it is doing before we continue to try and bring Mormon people out."

When I was an active Latter Day Saint – especially when I was younger, I felt a great deal of pride and security in belonging to what Mormons call, “The Only True Church on the Face of the Earth.” Walking around with the belief that I belonged to the Only True Church on earth produced a number of truly “anti-Christian” attitudes within my person which included pride and piety, an “us verses them” mentality, and a deep rooted spirit of legalismRule-based religion is over. Faith and love—not law—define life with God now. that is tough to comprehend unless you were once a card-carrying member of the Mormon church . . . and have since left.

The Premises of Mormonism

This is how the whole thing worked in Mormonism: The first premise is Mormonism is the only true church on the face of the earth. Then, this true church taught that salvation (being saved and exalted to live with God the Father after this life) came by and through a combination of the work of Jesus AND my efforts to be obedient.

Third, part of my required obedience for salvation/exaltation…

Legalism and Cultural Identity

Included compliance to a whole bunch of external allegiances and applications demanded by the faith. These demands included, but were not limited to, a whole bunch of expectations (spoken and never spoken) which are laid on every faithful latter-day saint, including how you spent your time, what you dressed like, how you appeared, what you ate, drank, your education level, whether you are married or not, how many children you had, whether you served a mission or not, where you served your mission, your priesthood level, the places you vacationed, what meetings you attended, what callings you held, if you had piercings, tattoos, where you lived, the cleanliness of your home, your activity level and commitment to the church itself, how you spoke in church when giving a talk, whether your children attended seminary… and the list goes on and on and on and on and on.

Gathering all of this up and placing it all in one basket, we could label that basket Mormon culture.

Cultural Implications of Legalism

You see, when a religion embraces any sort of legalism and applies it to the salvation (or exaltation) of its congregants, there will always be accepted and rejected cultural applications. Because a Mormon must “do this and that” to be worthy of salvation, Mormonism produces a culture that must be embraced for those who are going to merit Mormon salvation. It must be.

In Islam, another religion where its adherents are promised salvation/exaltation (or whatever) by adhering to Islamic demands, there is an accepted culture and one that is by necessity rejected among the faithful adherents.

Looking back to the Old Testament, this relationship between the promises and legalistic means of salvation ought to be no surprise when we observe the Children of Israel. Talk about legalism (Law)! And then look at the cultural product the presence of such law produced! This was by divine design, of course.

You see, God wanted the Nation of Israel to be separate and completely different from the pagan nations surrounding them. He accomplished a great distinction then between the House of Israel and everyone else through two distinct means: By giving them the Law – civic rules, moral rules, and ceremonial rules. And by making them distinct through outward appeals like regulating what they ate, how they dressed, and how they appeared and interacted with other peoples. There were many prohibitions, limitations, and demands – which all served to help carve out a specific culture which continues to exist among Jews even to this very day.

Cultural Formation and Christianity

Of course, cultures are created anytime two or more people spend any amount of time together, whether it be as a couple and their family, in business and industry, or in the community at large. Whether we realize it or not, almost every neighborhood has its own culture, every workplace, certainly every race, all the way down to the sports teams we join to the places we frequent when dining, recreating, and for education. And it almost goes without saying that there are probably no cultural environments on earth more powerful and binding than those produced in families, races, communities, and religions.

I can accept this sociological fact when we talk about race, and communities, and human families, even certain religions – but I cannot accept it relative to Christianity.

Before we get to your emails, comments, and questions tonight, allow me a few minutes to build a case for this stance.

Cultural Parameters and Spiritual Living

First of all, we have to examine culture and man’s innate desire to create and or belong and conform to them. They create security. And as a means to feel safe, and accepted, and a part of something good and common, they thrive. If they fail to thrive they fail to provide people with the security, and acceptance, and commonality desired.

In order, therefore, for a culture to thrive, the parameters set by the culture must be met, kept, and respected. This keeps those who comply and conform “in” and those who are different or out of harmony with the cultural demands out. This equilibrium creates the sense of belonging and acceptance and import alive and thriving for those who are able and/or willing to adapt.

The problem with these standards relative to Christianity is the body is not materially driven and kept but thrives “spiritually.” Our culture is not one seen, and heard, and embraced because of its appeals to the flesh but toward the things of the Spirit including love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance”… against such there is no law.

If there was EVER an accepted Christian culture it would have to…

Rejection of Christian Culture

Unfortunately, within the confines of Modern American Evangelicalism outward appearances, political partisanships, hobbies, lifestyles, speech patterns, music styles, and the way people spend their time and money have all become more representative of what is deemed Christian than those things of the Spirit scripture presents. I have heard a number of Christian people say, “Well Shawn, the Bible even admits that 'humans DO look on the outward appearance, even though the LORD looks on the heart.’” I would agree but cannot help but add that those with “God abiding in them (believers) ought to start looking on others as He looks on them and put the ways of their natural flesh behind them.

I would also reject the idea or reality of Christian culture as acceptable on the basis that Christianity, unlike Mormonism and/or Islam or those in the Nation of Israel still under the law) is (or ought to be) dead to the law, not embracing it. As pointed out earlier, legalisms play a very strong role in creating cultures and as a Christian church and pastor are clear on their soteriology I would suggest they would also simultaneously reject any and all appeals to cultural Christian demands.

Since biblical Christians ought to be entirely dead to the law and its letters (which killeth) and live “according to the Spirit” (which giveth life) there ought to be a natural revulsion to any and all attempts to create, support, or endorse any sort of universal Christian culture. Why any pastor trained by the Word and Holy Spirit would encourage any sort of cultural template for their flock is beyond my ability to understand. This means making either a positive or negative issue over ANY cultural application that believers have the right to personally embrace or reject according to their own conscience. To embrace or promote or embody a culture in this day and age automatically creates an “us verses them” mentality within the flock, and includes or excludes people according to their complicity to the culture and NOT the fruits of the Spirit they bear.

Cultural Impacts on Christianity

Walk into almost ANY Christian church where the pastor is seeking to remain (or to become relevant – whatever the hell that means) and you will see them promoting a culture that has spread like cancer through the modern American church. I mean it soaks though everything – from the fonts used in their handouts, to their speech patterns (who often sound like a compilation of a surfer and an apostle – “Dude, its like the Lord is soo guud. He waaaants you to, like be transparent, and relevant, and engaged.” Huh? This is no different than the time when to speak-ah with a the language-ah of the Lordah was popular-ah. But they have NOTHING to do with truth, the Word of God, or honest representations of genuine Christianity – and here’s my point, more pastors and churches ought to ardently resist these cultural appeals than to embrace them. Relative to our ministry to the LDS, this is more than important.

Come read our emails someday. Read how people who are really seeking to know God are immediately turned off and away by what has become standard American Evangelical cultural fare, whether it lies at the liberal end of the cultural spectrum or the conservative, culture kills Christianity. Another reason I am so adamantly opposed to the promulgation of any Christian culture is the New Testament narrative is from every turn presenting information that proves it was also tacitly against it.

Universal Acceptance Beyond Culture

The veil, which represented one of the most rigidly defined cultures to ever exist on earth was rent in two, from top to bottom, signifying that the Good News was now available to all men and women and children on earth . . . From the suits and ties to the great unwashed, the tatted, the pierced, the homosexuals, the maimed, the good, the bad, and the ugly – He is calling. Culture says no. It says there are observable standards, attitudes, and opinions that must be kept in order to be loved, and received, and accepted completely as a believer. This is a lie.

Additionally, where culture thrives in race, and families, and nationalities, and legalistic religions, true Christians have their race, family relationships, nationalities, and former religious allegiances absorbed in Christ. This is why Paul writes in Colossians 3:10 that Christians have put on

“on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: where

Christian Unity and Cultural Influence

"There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all."

He shed His blood for the Ethiopian, the eunich, the whore, the slave, the communist, the educated and the ignorant. Any and all – as they are – must be welcomed, seen as equals, embraced, included who believe the shed blood of God Man is all that is needed to reconcile them to holy God, and seek to follow Him spiritually. Culture, especially American Evangelicalism, has done a number on this premise, and has pushed a cultural image out to the world that is so revolting, so smarmy, so pinch-nose, and in some cases so stinking liberal that any true seeker of truth would certainly step back and wonder if Christianity is really anything more than a method, a group rather than the fact that Jesus is truly its personal King.

Christianity as a Relationship

Listen, Christianity is NOT A RELIGION but a genuine RELATIONSHIP between individuals and God. These believers then congregate (no matter what cultural device they embrace) as a means to engage and interact with others spiritually. With Christianity being dead to the Law there literally ought to be no ground in which any sort of material Christian culture can take root. If you agree, then we have to ask ourselves how these cultures (deemed Christian) have in fact taken root – especially American Evangelicalism.

The Diversity of the Body of Christ

A final point. If we look at the construction of the human body, each part is certainly engaged in a culture all of its own. My hands experience a completely different world than my liver, eyes, hair or feet. And yet they all come together, in love and harmony and unity for the cause of my physical body. So with those in the body of Christ. Accepting an agreeable Christian culture, or to limit Christianity in any way in terms of how it looks or operates or thrives based on what others consider cultural norms is akin to telling the ear that it has to live in an environment that is just like the stomach, or the brain that it must act and respond to life like the buttocks, meaning it must accept being sat upon.

Aside from everything already mentioned, you might still be of the opinion that the presence of an accepted (or several acceptable Christian cultures) is harmless or a non event. Maybe you are of the opinion that once a person has received what Jesus has to offer the Holy Spirit will lead them to an acceptable Christian church where they will feel welcome and be able to assimilate into its existing culture. I think that if we were speaking of people who came to Christ in the infancy of Christianity you would be correct because from what I can see Christianity was deemed a relationship between anyone who received Him, no matter who they were, where they came from, or how they continued to thrive. But over time men and their ideas, their need for order, and certainty, and security, and control has snowballed, and the church has generally (not in every case) but has generally embraced a culture that I would suggest is ANTITHETICAL to spiritual growth, to discipleship, and that has done as much to embrace the ways and means of this world as reject them.

I saw this when I went and visited ten of the largest churches in Utah over December of last year. The “so called” worship (which we’ll talk about in months to come) The appeals for money. The pastor and his show – his stories, his life, his trips, his perspectives and opinions . . . The fonts. The Evangelical Christian style and look. The sing song “tone” embraced. Effing religion. Effing culture. Effing sick. One church actually had typed on their programs that it didn’t matter if people who came to their church believed as long as they belonged.

The spread of culture. The sword of progress. The Vector of sufferage. A warm and septic breeze. The pomp and elation. The duty and vocation. The blood of the hybrid. Is just a recipe . . . for culture . . . which means conformity . . . which means control . . . which means the loss of liberty and freedom for which Jesus Christ the King came and gave His all.

(Beat)

Let’s read some emails.

Dear Shawn, I've talked to you a few times in the past but was not being myself because I thought what you were saying was mostly attacks. That was my former self I need help transitioning out of mormonism. I've been going to a baptist church.

Exploring the Journey Towards Christianity

Trying to get closer to God and Jesus but hang ups and not wanting to give up my Mormon roots is holding me back. Some major things that bother me about what Christianity I've been taught about is that if you're not born again you go to hell even if you never were given the opportunity to hear of the Lord and how great he is for yourself. Why is it that we should think of ourselves as horrible dirty people? If we think that then how would we ever know that hey I follow Jesus and he cleansed me with his blood so I can live with his Father again? I don't want to give up on God but I just don't know how to go at it to have that relationship. I've done the sinner's prayer with my pastor and I've prayed alone wanting to know how and to have a relationship. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or what.

Sincerely, Jason

Hello Shawn. I want to thank you for the work you have done in the past with HOTM and I am looking forward to the future with HOTM Modern American Evangelicalism. The problems with the evangelical church really do need to be discussed. Unfortunately many are afraid to do so. A word of caution about "Calvinism, hyper-Calvinism, and Lordship salvation". There are many ways these ideas are defined. Many are false. As always though, I trust you will do much research on these subjects.

We live in northern Illinois and have ATT DSL. We will continue to ask God to pour out a blessing on you, your family, and your ministry. In Christ's love.

Jim and Tami

Challenges with Faith Transitions

Dear Shawn,

My name is Dan, I am 25 (tomorrow) and live in Gloucestershire, England. I felt I should email you to send you my most sincere and heartfelt thanks for opening my eyes and finally helping me to put 2 years of 'wondering whether I had done the right thing' behind me. I was baptized Mormon in 2010, just before the birth of mine and my wife’s first child. During a meet with the missionaries and a church member my wife (and I) were told that we would not be together in heaven if she didn't get baptized. This instantly put her guard up and she wanted nothing more to do with the church. I carried on for a short while but it caused such an enormous divide between us I left a few months after I was baptized. To cut a long story short, it racked in my mind for 20 plus months wondering whether or not I had done the right thing. I'm immensely thankful I came across your show about 2 weeks ago as it has lifted the burden which weighed so heavy on my heart and mind all this time. Although I am still great friends with the missionaries I am amazed at what skeletons 'the only TRUE church' had in the closet. I'm a huge fan of yours, you have taught me not to overcomplicate faith. That for God's approval I don't need to wear a pinstripe suit, polished shoes wearing my best aftershave. I will see life through new eyes with thanks to yourself and God’s message.

Once again a heartfelt thanks and all the very best for the future.

Kindest regards,

Daniel C.

Reflections on Christian Struggles

Mr. McCraney,

I am writing you for advice. I am the worst sinner I have ever met. I try to be a Christian man, I seem to do well for a while and then I fall back to my old ways. How do you keep your focus on what Christ wants us to do rather than live a world-centered life?

Jay

Shawn, I love watching clips of your show on YouTube! You are hilarious! You may have missed your calling as a comedian.

I wanted to comment on the analogy you used on one of your shows about the two houses..one with a righteous man and the other with a piece of worthless crap person…and the jet crashes and kills them both…crappy guy prays…goes to heaven…righteous guy goes to hell….what a really crappy story! My ex is the perfect description of that piece of crap. I would be really pissed to find out that he gets to heaven when after

Understanding Salvation and Faith

all ive done to live right, search for truth, raise my daughter to know truth and follow the Fathers will for her life, only to find out that it was all for nothing and our Heavenly Father would let someone who doesnt give one thought to what God desires as far as worship and living according to his will into heaven before he lets someone in who earnestly seeks to please him in. I mean…what is that all about??? That seems very cruel and heartless to me…that doesnt sound like a loving father. Why send someone to hell who desires to please the Father and receive someone who viewed God as their friendly State Farm fire insurance agent? This is what does not make any sense to me at all! BTW…love ur show…not trying to be a jerk…just sharing opinion…feel free to respond by email..i cant watch your show live. Thanks! Cari

Grace of God and Faith

Cari,

The story is to take the grace of God to an extreme. It is to show it is by faith and faith on Him and His works and righteousness (not our own) that saves a person. Your righteousness and efforts are meaningless in saving you, my friend. This is why God sent His Son – to save a world that could do NOTHING to save itself but LOOK ON HIM and believe He did it all for us. God is not unfair in this for He so loved the world He allowed His Son to truly suffer on its behalf. Herein lies the difference between the LDS attitude toward salvation and eternal life and that of a Christian. It is only when you totally and completely understand and embrace the principle of the story that you will know and truly understand Jesus Christ, who He is, what He did.

A Tale of Two Paths

Okay, now with that being said, suppose the plane is suddenly swooped off course and crashes far enough from the houses that both men live. And both men learn that they were almost killed. And BOTH men fall on their knees and ask God to forgive them, and for Jesus to be their Lord and master. And the man who has lived a bad life continues to live a bad life and the one who has lived a good life continues to live a good life (which is what God calls ALL who follow Him to do) at the judgement, the "bad Christian" will be cast out (because he obviously didn't really appreciate being saved by Christ) and the "good Christian" (good because he believed and loved, which are the two commands for any and all once they receive Jesus as the author and finisher of their faith) will inherit eternal life.

In applying the story to your life, if your ex finds Jesus and CHANGES you cannot begrudge him for his past mistakes even if you have lived well and worked hard all your life! And if he discovers Jesus and follows Him and you continue to "do well" but never receive what Jesus did, you will not be saved – no matter how much good you think you have done. I know, in human terms, this does not appear just, but in the end, "no person comes to the Father but by Him," for He is "the way, the truth, and the life."

Transforming the Heart

Go to God, Cari, and ask for a new heart. Realize all your goodness is nothing but filthy rags before God if believe they somehow will justify you before God. See, He sent His SON to justify you, Cari. If your "goodness" qualified you His Son would not have needed to come. Once you have truly received Him, your heart will actually break for your lousy former spouse, and you will truly want him to also know the King. And in this state, you will discover something you have yet to discover – freedom in Jesus Christ.

I have no vested interest in getting you to change your world view other than I came to realize all of the above, received it by the grace of God, and He set me free. And it was then I came to discover true liberty, and an ability to truly love (in spite of the fact that I am an idiot). You can too – but it is going to take your willingness to truly seek Him, truly die to your

The Importance of True Belief

own will and ways, and to believe on Him as the source of your salvation, and not yourself.

JEFF WROTE:

Dear Brother Shawn,

I get what you're saying (on your C.A.M.P.U.S. statement of belief page) about not serving man by bowing down too much to his rule. We have to outwardly a little bit, for now, because of what Jesus said in reference to Caesar. But inwardely, it's the one, true God to whom we choose to bow. And one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We begin to do that once we're born again. But the full expression of everyone bowing under His authority will not happen till He returns (I'm reminded now of the lyrics of Bob Dylan's song, When He Returns — lyrics attached, FYI).

So, I know what what is meant, to some degree, by the play-on-words, Christi-Anarchy. And a lot of heavy hitters (many with philosophies and theologies that go out into orbit somewhere) have used that term quite a lot. You were exposed to a lot of their thinking in your BC days.

But instead of the letters 'An', I wish it was just Christi-Archy. I think that connotes what you're getting at way better than the other term. Reason is, for most people, the other term sounds very negative, at first blush. Anarchy means w/o rule. There's that bumper sticker that came out about 10 years ago that reads, 'No Rules'. Imagine what a world that would be like to 'live' in.

Perspectives on Anarchy

The first image that some people might have flash in mind when they hear the word 'Anarchy' is the WTO protects here in the streets of Seattle. Anarchy means rebellion, for sure. I think it is a good idea to rebel against the devil. And against the mankind's rebellion against God, summed up in the Humanist Manifesto. I hate this world system, on the one hand. But we have to live in it a while longer, on the other hand. We're in the world, not of it.

I wish someday you'd drop 'Anarchists' in C.A.M.P.U.S., and come up with something else that starts with A, and which doesn't cause red flags to start flying every time someone reads your stuff, or hears what you're trying to say about the Kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future.. How about Christ Abiders / Admirers / Adorers / Advocates / Associates / Meeting to Prayerfully Understand Scripture. Or toss the word CAMPUS altogether at some point, since you've moved off campus now. At least, off the U or U campus. Just some thoughts.

Jeff

Encountering Various Religious Teachings

From Jenny,

I came out of Mormonism in the 90's and I have church hopped. I have seen so much. I went through the cleansing stream teaching of the Pentacostal group. I watched as people would have demonic strongholds cast from them. I was told I had to take my cross off because demonic strongholds could not pass out of me if I had my cross on. Then after the meeting the prayer intercessors were prayed for and they were rolling and screaming on the floor. I asked a friend if they had been through cleansing streams before why they were going through this. This friend told me that you need to come back each year to be released from things. I told her I did not want to come back to be repossessed and scream and roll on the floor each year. I have been told that I am not spirit filled if I don't speak in tongues.

I have hopped around a lot and I am just as confused as before. I have even looked into the Messianic group. There is a lot of Messy antics and unloving people there. I was excommunicated over the internet because I did not agree with kabballah. I didn't even belong to the group. I just told a friend that a Messianic leader said that you had to be over 40 to study kabballah and that you had to study it in the dark. I told my friend that if one leader of this group was teaching things like this the whole group would soon believe the same because a little leaven leavens the whole lump. She sent the e-mail to the leader and he excommunicated me over the internet and I got hate mail from around the world.

What do you think of teachers who demand an apology if you do not agree with some of their teachings. I was told that I have a rebellious spirit because of things that happened. The scriptures says to test everything. I don't think that

Faith Struggles and Questions

Jesus Yeshua ever demanded an apology if someone did not agree with Him.

I just feel like all I do is get deceived over and over again. I just feel so defective and all I want is the truth. Please do not read this e-mail on the air I don't want to get attacked again. Is it possible to call and talk to you privately? Pray for me.

Totally confused Thank You, Jenny

I've been looking 4 U on ch 20 on tues nights 8 pm not there. Comcast is revamping their channels as always like hide and seek with their customers. What channel are you on local here in slc?

I can not believe in many churches saying, "Their #1 the true church, the only one" you know there are over 10,000 + religions out there before it was all Mormons going to heaven now its the catholic church…..wild huh? I am a cradle catholic and do listen to EWTN man, they sure now how to bring it on. Like other religions do not exist. Then listening to the Mormon church saying they have a great relationship with the Catholic's. NOT! It's still the same old story. Ask a question to 10 priests and you will get 10 different answers.

The Exclusivity of Religions

How about all the other world religions? Guess they are not going to heaven. Being discriminated all my life just being catholic they preach it hard in church that "We are the TRUE and ONLY Religion!" How sad it is to think a non-Catholic faithful to their own religions all their life then nothing after when they die. Was it a big joke?

Religions need to come clean! Even the Catholic's are in my opinion still hiding some big issues that you never hear about. Heard a story on the news after this last cardinal was ousted saying there is a private gay priest society. Hidden of course.

I went and graduated from Judge Memorial in 1970 it was going on while attending there 66-70. Mean priests and the Rapp investigation with the Colosimo boys in magna. This destroyed their lives and the reputation that Judge had in those days. I can name many priests in those days that you never/ever talked to one look the wrong way…watch out! I could hang many of them and they were being investigated the same time Rapp was arrested now serving time back east on other assault charges with other boys. Priests in those days were mean and always threats being expelled or worse no recommendations to colleges and losing the FAMOUS Scholarships that were fixed. Can name at least 2 car dealerships that gave FREE NEW CAR'S to each Priest at Judge for their sonny boy to get a scholarship and a flunky as well. One dealership is still here and I went to school with his kid. There was plenty of hidden things going on in high school. If I had to do it again I would have attended East high school and not Judge. Back then it had the reputation of a great high school. We wore uniforms and ties with the patch on the coat pocket. We were noticed and given high remarks even applying for a job. Now I tell people I graduated from Judge they say "Oh" think it went to hell when it went co-ed in Sept 1970. Should have flunked out on my senior year and would have been with the girls from St. Mary's. Now again I mention Judge people look at me and say. "I thought it was a GAY school all boys!" Not saying there were plenty of gay boys there when I went to school and knew them well.

(Sorry for the rave)

Thanks, Paul

Recent Experiences in the Church

Shawn, I know this is a rather long letter, but please bear with me. I feel that you have some insights that would be invaluable to me.

I feel like I've been "dying on the vine" for quite some time. I can't seem to be satisfied with what I see in the body of Christ anymore. Even churches and movements that I've respected for years seem to be losing focus on what I believe seems to be the true mission of the church on earth. I have felt for a few years now that God has been calling me into the ministry, but I've resisted because of some recurring struggles with sexual sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. and relational difficulties. I know I don't have to be perfect, but there are qualifications, and I don't currently meet them. At the same time, I can't just continue to participate in the fakery and foolery of the modern church. It turns my stomach to see what's going on in the name of God.

Starting a Church: Core Spiritual Disciplines

and Christ (in my opinion, the very definition of taking the Lord's name in vain).

I've begun praying about starting a church, with some definite ideals in mind about structure to help maintain focus on primary objectives. I'm afraid though, of becoming legalistic or ritualistic, and becoming just another man-made religion. I'm writing to you because I'm sure you would understand my concerns, having launched your own church in the last few years, even after emphatically stating that you would not.

My goal is to institute these core spiritual disciplines, which i feel are necessary, but which most churches seem to lack:

1. All staff studies and prays together regularly.

2. All staff maintain strict accountability relationships.

3. All staff participates in missional objectives, outreach ministries and community service programs.

4. All staff are continuously and actively involved in mentor/disciple relationships, in both directions.

5. All teachers teach regularly (I see a lot of frustrated teachers, with lead/senior pastors hogging the majority of opps).

6. All staff offices are the same size (I know it seems trivial, but I think it sends a message).

7. Spiritual growth and mentorship/discipleship of the entire body is taught, promoted, counseled and modeled at every level.

There are probably things I haven't even thought of, but I think any church that does these devotedly and persistently will grow on the inside, which is imperative, and on the outside, God willing.

Let me know what you think, and please pray for me.

thanX,
GOD Bless

Experiences with Spiritual Abuse

Thank you for your wonderful show! I am an artist in Honolulu and listen to them while I am painting. I used to live in Idaho and got a burden for the LDS people then. I hope one day to be able to go back to Utah on a missions trip. In 1984 I was able to go on an outreach to the Taipei, Taiwan temple opening and in 1985, to Seoul, Korea.

Anyway, I was in YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Honolulu for 12 years and when I left, felt spiritually and emotionally dead due to spiritual abuse. That was in 1995 and I still have bad dreams about being back in YWAM all these years later, several times a week! I love the Lord and continue to pray and read my Bible, but cannot bring myself to attend any Christian church for fear of getting sucked into another abusive situation. I know of several people who upon leaving YWAM became atheist—even one of the directors at the base I was at!

Support Groups and Resources

I started a Spiritual Abuse in YWAM group on Facebook that now has 54 members. https://www.facebook.com/groups/113250385367748/ If you wish to join, I will add you, so you can read through the comments.

I also wrote about some of my experiences in a blog: These two entries are the best to give you an idea:
http://longehawaii.blogspot.com/2007/03/cult-of-ywam-honolulu.html and http://longehawaii.blogspot.com/2007/03/streams-in-desert.html

That said, I know you are going to do shows on American Evangelical Christianity, you might consider doing an expose on YWAM. Though I will miss your shows on Mormonism, I look forward to your new series on the Evangelical church in America.

Aloha,
Joel