Walking in the Age of Fulfillment

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 walk in this age of fulfillment. And I’m Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host.

Show 39A It’s Important
Prerecorded Show on September 6th 2020
Aired September 14th 2020

Tonight’s program has the potential to sting some people so I want to be very cautious about how I proceed as I want to balance my remarks with care and understanding. Unlike our Calvinist brothers and sisters who maintain a strange man-made doctrine relative to God and His consummate sovereignty over all people, I maintain that in the existing relationship between God and human-kind there is a two lane highway – one where God is constantly reaching and extending down to us, and the other where we choose to reciprocate and respond back to him in faith, dedication and love. I would also suggest that God works in and with us relative to the things of this world – and that he is not always the driving force behind things that occur here, but he is, in fact, always there in amidst things in some way or another.

The Dual Paths in Human-Divine Relationships

We have a tendency to slip to one side or another when it comes to our lives and God, and either give him all the credit relative to some situations or exempt him from any participation in things at all. Again, I emphasize the idea that God is engaged with us, to some extent or another – and determining that extent requires some thought. For instance, in the event that someone is murdered, we have the tendency to say: “So, and so murdered that man.” And our laws confirm this position when the murderer is convicted and sent to prison. But the reality is, if you believe that God is the giver and taker of life, that he had a hand in the loss of life that took place.

Contemplating God's Involvement

I mean, if someone points a gun at me, and fires, and the bullet misses, or hits me but doesn’t kill me, I would say as a Christian: God spared my life, right? But if the bullet struck true and killed me, people would say, “He was murdered by the murderer.” It’s interesting isn’t it, that we don’t include the idea that when someone is shot that it is God who takes the life – it is God who determines whether someone lives or dies, and not necessarily the one pulling the trigger. I think this is an important caveat to our thinking because I believe that there is a healthy, healing factor involved when we include God on all sides of life’s events – not just some. Certainly, on the two lane highway, the person who pulls the trigger is guilty and ought to be punished, but in an effort to bring peace and tranquility to our hearts, I think it is also important to admit that God could have saved the one shot – and didn’t. The same is true with everything when we think about it. We are so profoundly prone to praising God when someone is spared in a traffic accident, from the ravages of cancer, from dangerous situations, surviving war, and all the other things we are prone to give him credit for in our lives.

I am suggesting that we squarely place him in all things that occur around is not matter what the outcome as a means to honestly and truthfully admit that our God allowed certain sad and unpleasant events to take place, and did NOT step in to stop them. Because God is good – and this is tough – but because God is good, then whatever he decides (in any given situation) is out of love, out of goodness and light – and if it includes taking a babe in their crib, or a teen in a car, or a young wife from cancer – he remains good, and I would submit to you, he remains an active participant in every outcome relative to us the survivors.

Remember – it is a two way street when it comes to God. Traveling down from heaven is Him and His ways; traveling up from earth is not only our reception and willingness, but also factors relative to free will, a fallen world, choice, and all sorts of issues of which we are not even fully aware. Our Good God is ALWAYS there to help us pick up the pieces when our lives are shattered by what must be (according to his will and ways and eternal.

The Role of God in Our Lives

Perspectives) but what also makes Him good and light and love is he does not leave us alone in our hour of desperation.

As hard as it may be, I think it is really healthy, necessary and biblical to admit now, and in our hours of tragedy, that God does have a hand in what happens in this world – especially relative to outcome and our responses. Solomon reminds us three times in Ecclesiastes that it is God who gives each of us our days under the Sun.

Biblical Reflections

Acts 17:15 tells us that He, God, “giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.” Certainly, men and disease and decay will play their role in our existences, causing pain and deterioration, but no human being or disease can take the life of another without the permission of the living God.

Insights from Job

Job 1:21 says:

Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

In my estimation, and while we all play or may play limited roles in causing pain and even deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. on this earth, to admit and include the loving, living God’s hand in all things will contribute to our healing, our faith, and our trust in Him in all things – Good or Painful.

Write your comments below and we will get to them tomorrow night here on Heart of the Matter.