The More Excellent Way

Live from Salt Lake City, Utah, this is heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology. where we do all we can to worship God in Spirit and in Truth. I’m Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host.

Show 11 488 Jesus Christ Part VI
March 15th 2016
And our prayer tonight will be given by

__________________________???

Announce play? Sorrow.

Seeking Understanding

Other unique emails

From: Stephanie Sunderland
Subject: God doesn't care

Message Body:

Dear Shawn,

I have watched your show since leaving the church 1 1/2 years ago. I have appreciated and embraced PreterismThe belief that all biblical prophecy—especially “end times”—was fulfilled by 70 A.D. More. But I have lost my faith because the one question I need answered, no one seems to have an answer. Why has God let terrible things happen? For example the Holocaust. I cannot imagine a loving God allowing such atrocities to take place. Why weren't their prayers answered? Why have all my prayers been unanswered? How can I put faith in a God that doesn't seem to care. This question haunts me. I now feel more lost than when I left the Church.

The New Testament's Directives

(RUN FROM THE WORD HERE)

I shared this with our Milk group at CAMPUS a few weeks back but it’s a really important and fresh view so I want to share it again.

We have maintained that the New Testament is a compilation of directives the Apostles gave the converts to the faith then (based on their circumstances and times) and that we cannot allow ourselves to believe that the Bible is a manual on how to operate brick and mortar churches.

Paul's Teachings on Spiritual Gifts

I present to you the words of Paul that prove this stance better than any I have ever encountered – and I just came to understand this a few weeks ago.

We’ll begin in 1st Corinthians chapter 12 where Paul is speaking to the believers in his day and says:

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (Now listen to what he says)

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet . . . (LISTEN – “and yet,” he says) . . . I shew unto you a more excellent way.

And guess what comes next? 1st Corinthians chapter 13 – the Manual on Christian LOVE. He has described all the parts of the Body of Christ, which we are, and he has delivered important points relative to us in it as members.

He gives us an order of different body parts that are present and thriving and operative in it AT THAT DAY . . .

“first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

Then he asks:

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly (the Greek is “zeeloo” and means to either warmly support or wrongly envy – so we know here it means warmly support) the best gifts: and yet . . . (LISTEN – “and yet,” he adds) . . . I shew unto you a more excellent way.

“A more excellent way?” A more excellent way than a body of apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healings, helps, Governments, and diversities of tongues??”

What could this MORE EXCELLENT WAY BE?

Since the Bible was not written in chapter and verse our answer lies in the next thing Paul writes – which is our 1st Corinthians chapter 13. And what is this chapter all about? Agape loveSelfless love marked by patience, mercy, and humility—central to living in spiritual liberty..

Agape love is THE MORE EXCELLENT WAY Paul introduces!

We have historically taken these roles (mentioned here by Paul) which were necessary to the governance of this early apostolic church – this church where Greeks and Jews were warring with each other over material distributions and claiming favoritism, and he tells them, (in a letter to them) listen:

God has put the church together with a bunch of roles and offices to handle and inspire and assist each other.

But this does NOT mean all of these roles and ways are needed in our day and age. There is a better way, he says, and the fact that he mentions the “better way” means it IS possible!

In fact, speaking of all these early church roles, Paul said in Ephesians chapter 4 beginning at verse 11

11 “And He gave some, apostles; and some,

The Role of Love Over Church Roles

prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Deacons and Material Distributions

I strongly suggest that where the apostles established deacons to oversee the material distributions of the Church in that day and that it was good and necessary for their situation, and for their times, and for their day. But if love was able to abide and thrive the need for specifically called deeakanos would have been unnecessary.

This is why Paul says to the believers at Corinth, “Yes, God has given all these parts and roles, receive them warmly, but yet . . . Let me show “you a more excellent way.” In other words “INSTEAD of relying and looking at apostles and prophets and Evangelists and pastors and teachers as being the ultimate form of doing church and living in the Body together, let me explain to you the MORE excellent way.

The More Excellent Way: Love

And then he begins to articulate this more excellent way, and says in 1st Corinthians 13:

1st Corinthians 13:1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

And then he describes what this love looks like.

I ardently propose – ardently – that we can, will, possibly even have, come to a “unity of the faith” – the place where apostles and prophets, tongues, teachers, etc., are no longer necessary – when we allow LOVE to reign over the things we have formerly allowed to divide us. I am convinced that with the destruction of Jerusalem, the temple, the priesthood, the Law, the Nation of Israel and all things of the former economy, that God has opened the way for true love, which comes by and through conversion to Christ, to exist. And when it doesn’t its because we have stepped BACKWARD in our faith not forward.

This day of which I speak was described in the Old Testament and supported by the New Testament apostles when they wrote of it and said in Hebrews 8:10: “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, (those days of material religionA fulfilled system of temples, rituals, and laws—replaced by direct spiritual relationship.) saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.”

The apostle John touches on this day and condition in the Body when he said:

1st John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Did you note that both of these passages mention that there is no need for teachers? That term is didaskolos and from it we get the English word didactic, which might be understood as someone who says: “This is how this is, and this is how that is NOT.“ In the day when the Spirit reigns such instruction is unnecessary – and believers

Love as the Fulfillment of the Law

We do not need a man standing over us delivering such instruction because we have the Spirit with us, and we have chosen to respond to each other in what Paul described as, “a better way.” LOVE. Which fulfills the law, and therefore where there is love there is NO law. Show me a group of people who choose to love and I will show you a group of people who do not need apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, or pastors. Such a people can exist when they promote, exhibit, and appeal to love governing rather than external laws and instructions. “Every wind of doctrine becomes irrelevant when doctrine is replaced by love in Christians.”

This view is not new. It’s present and promoted in scripture and it moves the writer of Hebrews in chapter 6 to say some words that rock the world of material religionists today:

“Therefore…leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, …let us go on unto perfection; …not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, …and of faith toward God, …of the doctrine of baptisms, …and of laying on of hands, …and of resurrection of the dead, …and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.”

Do you know what this is saying? It is saying that the presence of continued teachings (doctrines) surrounding “Christ, repentance, faith, baptism, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment” are evidences of spiritual immaturity. Leave them BEHIND. Leave the need for apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers behind and move on to perfection, which we’ve learned is LOVE!

Characteristics of Love

A love that is:

• LONG SUFFERING.
• That is KIND.
• That does NOT envy.
• That isn’t self-promoting.
• Or arrogant.

It’s a love that behaves, is not self-serving, isn’t easily provoked, doesn’t think evil, or rejoiceth in evil. But it is a love that has joy in truth, a love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, and a love that never fails.

Move on and perfect this, live in it, by this, on this, through it, and we can put aside all the other stuff – all of it. Because God is love. And the deeper we draw into Him the more abundant the love we are – not the more abundant the love we possess. The more Love we are.

The Concept of Jesus as Firstborn

Alright, last week we talked about the LDS and the Christian ideas relative to the term “only begotten.” Tonight, let’s continue to talk about Jesus but not as the only Begotten but as the firstborn, a topic which often places LDS people at odds with Christians because of the divergent manner in which they apply this title.

See, to a Mormon, Jesus is the first born Spirit to whom all other spirits are his juniors. In other words, to the LDS, Jesus is admittedly the first born of all spirits, but since all human beings and demons are also created spirits of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother in the LDS pre-mortal existence, Jesus winds up being our “elder Spirit brother” instead of being the ONLY being to ever come from a pre-existent state, which is the traditional Christian view. In other words, as Brigham Young said (and Charles Harrell quotes) “all other humans are his junior.”

In the LDS Journal of Discourses (18:290), Orson Pratt said: “How long since the Savior's birth took place is not revealed; it might have been unnumbered millions of years for aught we know. But we do know that he was born and was the oldest of the family of Spirits.” The first documented public reference to spirit birth (and unique teaching within Mormonism relative to our status before physical birth) also includes a reference to Christ as our “older brother.”

There, in Orson Pratt’s Prophetic Almanac of 1845, he wrote: “What is man? (and answers) The offspring of God. What is God? The father of man. Who is Jesus Christ? He is our brother.” But it was Brigham Young who, six months after Smith’s deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God., said publicly that, “Christ is our head and Elder Brother.” (Charles Laubs, Nauvoo Journal, page 178). This stance, and the echoing language that comes with it (where LDS young and old refer to Jesus as “our Elder brother”) rolled forth and became the normative manner.

Understanding Different Views of Jesus

In which the LDS see Jesus.

So, to commonality, both the LDS and biblical Christians see Jesus as the first-born. But this is where the commonality stops and, to be honest, what the LDS bring to the table on the topic has produced some really horrible results in the minds and hearts of faithful Mormon people.

One of the biggest black lines between the way biblical Christians see Jesus as the first born and the way the LDS see Him as firstborn is due to the LDS teaching of a spiritual pre-existence of all things prior to a material. In other words, the LDS teach that all of us were spirit children with God before coming to earth – Jesus included – He was the firstborn of all spirits.

But the Bible clearly suggests the reverse order as Paul said in

1st Corinthians 15:45-46

“And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. (LISTEN) Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.”

In other words, Paul says that the order of things is NOT Spiritual first but the physical is first and the spiritual second. This is the order of earth creation. Mormonism teaches otherwise. Additionally, when Jesus was speaking of Himself relative to the Pharisees He said:

John 8:23

"Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world."

A clear delineation between His origins – from above – and theirs, from beneath, or from the dust of the earth.

Biblical Perspectives vs. Mormon Teachings

In

John 3:31

John the Baptist said, speaking of Jesus:

“He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.”

If there can be an earthly that has not come from above then there is a real problem with suggesting all human spirits came from above, right.

In

John 6:33

Jesus said:

“For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.”

Does this difference matter in the Mormon/Christian debate? It matters greatly.

If a person believes that Jesus was the only being to live on earth that came from a pre-mortal existence with God the Father, and that person accepts that the rest of humanity originated from the dust and was then animated by the breath of God to life, the personal view that individual would have of Jesus would be very, very different from a person who sees himself as also coming from heaven as a spirit child of God where Jesus was the first born (or Elder brother) of the Human race spiritually.

The first would look to Jesus with awe and worship and devotion, the second would possibly see themselves as related to Him, and therefore more… entitled to the Father? The first would be deeply grateful that God so loved us that He would send His Only Begotten to save us, where the second might wonder why they weren’t created first, or maybe wonder how close in the line of the Spirit family they were to Jesus. The first would have a personal humble allegiance to Him, the second would see Him as doing a really great job for the human family but doing his assigned job nonetheless.

Do you see what I’m trying to say? And I say it because for quite some time I meet devout LDS people who have absolutely no heart-felt connection to Him. There is a gap between the mind and heart. Of course, this can certainly exist in other religious people and not just the LDS but the LDS have some ideas that make devout allegiance to the King difficult – and this is one of them.

Complications in Perceptions of Jesus

Part of the problem lies in this very issue – who Jesus is compared to how people see themselves. If you believe Jesus was just a man, you are going to face a different set of obstacles to knowing Him. And if you believe He is your elder spiritual brother, you will face others. Admittedly, when we look at the various ways Christians even see Christ, there can be complications, but in the end, whether Jesus is an uncreated, co-eternal, co-equal part of the Trinity or if He was the full expression of God in the flesh, or the Word made flesh, to all biblical Christians, Jesus is God with us. Fully God incarnate as fully man. The only to

Exploring Faith and Beliefs

have ever come from above. The only begotten of the Father. And the author and finisher of our faith, and not “our perfect example on how we to can come close to living as He did” but with the added benefit of having His shed blood there in the case of our needing to repent.

I don’t think Mormons and what we refer to as biblical Christians need to agree upon everything. I never have. Bishop Earl refers to a show we did some seven years ago where we asked, in reference to the LDS: Are they Christian? In that show, way back in 2009, we openly admitted that the LDS can continue to maintain all their strange stuff. To be honest, I don’t even care about their focus on works – if people want to live that way that’s up to them – between them and God – and plenty of Christians do the same thing (even if they claim they don’t.) But I hope and pray that we can begin to just open the dialogue up about who we all think we are relative to who He is. And that the minutia and fine points can be set aside, but that we can all agree with the single biblical premise that Jesus Himself presented when He said: “I am from above, you are from beneath.” How about we just agree on this?

Let’s open up the phone lines: (801)

Perspectives on Damnation

From: Richard Rawlings

Subject: Why GAWD won't save everyone

Message Body:

I’m doing parts 1 & 2 on damnation. GAWD is love, to be sure. But the part I differ with is that GAWD is powerful enough to usurp human will. The answer I found, by way of CS Lewis, is that the lost are damned because they will not be saved. The focus on the self . . . the insistence that they are right . . . the eyes shut tight . . . fingers in ears, mouth opened only to scream defiance . . . signals the truly damned. GAWD (the God of my understanding, not necessarily anyone else’s) would save all. But there are those who will never change their minds (repent) because they recognize no higher power. At some time. At some point, the will surrenders, the mind dismisses, the heart closes. The decision has been made.

But the truth is; the salt has just lost its savor. A soul that would not be saved, cannot be saved. I can see how the vision of the smoke of the damned going up before GAWD is apt. They (the Trinity) remain ready to save, even in the face of burning defiance. It isn’t that He can’t do anything about it. It’s the damned who would have it no other way. It’s just that we cannot see things as they are. So as fallible humans, we assume. With all the dangers inherent in that activity.

I’m a little hazy on the details. "Through a glass darkly . . ." as Paul writes. But, I’m easily amused. A lot of people who hold that GAWD is going to throw others into Hell, I just tell them. "When you see GAWD coming, and you realize how wrong, how hateful, and how stupid you’ve been, you won’t be thrown into Hell. You’ll jump. Because it will look safer in Hell than before the roaring fire of GAWD's pure love." Although I don’t understand, I do agree; Jesus said "All will be well". It will.

Richard

Endurance and Perseverance

From: Richard Rawlings

Subject: Don’t let the bastards . . .

Message Body:

Picked up your Eternal Punishments 1 show. At the end, your daughter called. You mentioned, "Don’t let the bastards grind you down . . ." I can only add that a submarine crew I worked with had the Latin motto made into a ship's patch, and a few, a tattoo. But the phrase, more elegantly presented in Latin goes, "Illigitimatae non Carborundum". It looked really elegant in roman script. Sort of an inside joke.

I was a little hard to understand your daughter's concern. It’s great. But I see you butting heads with yokels every time you’re on. I do find it funny that you use 'boy scout' cuss words. I mean really, what is your heart saying? "Frickin'"? "Bite the wall"? Personally, I found an 'ah-ha' moment on the frozen decks of a fish boat in the Bering sea. Great fishing, but we had filled the boat overnight. It should have taken a week.

I was cold, tired, scared, angry, cold,

Reflections on Journey and Identity

More cold, sleeplessly tired, and well, I thought I had died and gone to Hell. And, to my great dismay, it was cold there, too. An utterly low point in my entire life. As I looked across the cold deck to the freezing stormy seas, more fish than we could handle, I could not, for my life, think of a fresh cuss word to describe my situation. I was confounded!

I do notice you can take the man out of the Mormon, but it's a little harder to take the Mormon out of the man. I came up a little different, so cussing was, well, an art form. I had endeavored to culture the vocabulary of a well-educated sailor. And many have observed my success. Can't be helped. With a name like "Dick" your skin gets thick. I served on a crew with another man named "Dick." I was the taller. Levity ensued. It's just not the important thing. I'm more used to a man calling me every name in the book and smiling while he does it. Rather that than cold, unsmiling blessings. Well, back to work. God bless your daughter, and peace for her concerns. I tend to go with the thought that GAWD's all grown up and can defend Himself. I have little use, as do you, for these creepy defenders of the faith. I think I'm starting to get your drift.

Richard

Personal Experiences within Mormonism

From: Evan Selcer

Subject: Growing up gay in Mormonism

Message Body:

Hey Shawn! I'm sure you get emails from people all the time that have left the church, but I feel that my story is taboo in the Mormon culture and should be discussed. I've done baptisms for the dead in the Atlanta temple, passed the sacrament, and dealt with mentally crippling bullying at the hands of my old quorum, and yet after all of that pain, was still denied access to my own sister's temple wedding six years after I left. Yes, I left the church of my own will, but in all honesty, I was shoved out, I didn't believe any of it, but my whole family is still active…I didn't want to be the black swan of the family. Believe me, I understand the corruption in the church more than you know. I feel that speaking on air about the experiences I had during my time in the church as a gay man would shed SO much light on issues facing the church today, and I would absolutely love to correspond with you about my story. Hope to hear from you!

Sincerely, Evan Selcer

Reflections from Personal and Spiritual Journeys

From: Tim Tuttle

Subject: Breaks my heart

Message Body:

Shawn, I guess I am late to the game. I just watched episode 349. I have been searching for someone for years who feels the same way I do. I left the Church of Christ several years ago because I was accused of something I did not do. Admittedly the person that was doing this had become a good "friend." I was guilty by association. Since then I have not been able to find a place where it doesn't feel like they are putting on a Broadway show every Sunday. I have started working nights and needed something to listen to. I will be catching up on all episodes and would like to correspond with you as I think as of 2013 we are cut from the same cloth. I am asking for prayers for my oldest daughter who I am rapidly losing to the captivating world of Sexual Identity. Since I have not been involved in Church and most Christians she knows are very hypocritical, especially her mother (my ex-wife) who only views religions as a way to impose her will on people (Jezebel spirit). Of course, a teenager only sees how people act and not what the actual word says. I love your show and wished we lived closer as CAMPUS sounds like something I could be very involved in. Keeping it short and to the point. Keep up the good work!!

Tim Tuttle

Insights from Christian Teachings

From: Josh H.

Shawn, I heard an episode the other day while I was at work, and in it, you said that Jesus had to be regenerated. I'd never given that any focus in my study before and it got me to thinking. If Jesus' resurrection was his regeneration, then the resurrection of the dead ones in 70 AD would be our corporate resurrection, since the first-century Christians were told that their resurrection would be his resurrection, not their own. His resurrection being as surrogate as his death.

"For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His…"

Resurrection and Being Born Again

“resurrection,”
Romans? 6:5? NASB??

Notice, we are planted into HIS death and HIS resurrection. So the idea of our corpses coming out of the ground one day is as ludicrous as saying that each one of us will die for our sins on a crucifix.

So then they were born again in prolepsis by faith and the guarantee of the Spirit.

Next point.

1 Peter 1 says that they were caused to be born again to the hope of the resurrection. This is an epistle written to the divorced tribes of Israel which would be huge news for them. So being born again, I believe, is toward the promises of God. So a Jew like Nicodemus who was physically born to the promises of God must be born again, spiritually. And a gentile like a Greek or a divorced Israelite can be saved at the end of the ageThe close of the old covenant era, fulfilled in 70 A.D.—not the end of the world.. Salvation, regeneration, atonement, resurrection- all pretty much the same, just different facets of the same diamond. All at the return of the priest from the holy of holies in 70 AD.

Would you agree with that?

Concerns about Religious Influence

From: Ken Vickers

Subject: Daughter getting drawn into the mormon faith

Message Body:

try to make a long story short;; My wife & I have been separated for about 2 yrs at that time my daughter was 15 or so ..( The kids live 90% with mom).. My daughter started hanging out with this boy @ school.. He was very respectable & looked like a good kid to me..His Family was mormon & I thought great a good Christian road..She is very involved with the church now & It worries me alot these days…I have learned alot about the mormon views that I dont agree with..She is putting pressure on my to let her get baptized again as a Mormon..as well as the missionaries stopping by weekly trying to tell me all the reason I should let her get baptized as a mormon.. I let them in & we talk .. They are very nice kids & I like them & I told them this or I wouldn’t let them in….. As I learned more about the mormons I formed a pretty strong opinions with listening to shawn's show & other sources ..My daughter is pretty head strong like me LOL & i try to keep it low key but sometimes our discussions get a lil intense..she tells me she's going to do what she wants when she is 18,, She avoids going to my church with me.. I have been to her mormon church many times to view & see what is going on down there..all real nice & welcoming I think my info gathering is done.. I tried to watch your heart of the matter show with her.. Its was like she got offended .. She’s a good kid & i think being lead down the wrong path.. With my wife & I's dysfunctional family I think she goes in to the mormon church & sees everybody all happy & they got all the answers… I’m going to try to get her to go to my church & maybe have a talk with the pastor & see if he can maybe talk about false prophets…A couple of weeks ago the missionaries brought one of the higher-ups in the church over. I don’t know his title.. All I know is he teaches down & I think he said he was a former bishop was adding his 2 cents about my daughter being baptized …I could tell he was choosing his words very carefully…Finally, he looks @ me & says You know we have got her & it would be a lot easier if you came on board……Pretty much pissed me off!! I let it roll off….. Last night the missionaries came by & after a long talk a lot about bible scripture.. They saw they were not getting too far along with talk of the book of mormon so it has been bible talk for the last 3 weeks then it got back to their beliefs with Mormonism…@ the end of our talk I could tell something was up …They pulled out a paper contract saying that I give my OK for my daughter to be baptized with the latter day saints church…I smiled & nicely said I cant sign that….Got to give them an A for effort……..Thanks……..Ken Vickers

Personal Church Experience

Hi Shawn, The church I've attended a couple of times is an Assembly of God. People seem nice and genuine, they have good standards, but I'm not comfortable with the charismatic nature, singing with arms and hands raised,

Speaking in Tongues

What do you think of speaking in tongues? Seems like it could be an evil thing, as much as it could be a manifestation of the spirit. It's not something I associate with Jesus, but I guess they did it back then. I have no framework with which to evaluate this.

Thanks, Doryn

Subjective Christianity and Art

With five minutes left:

Before we sign off tonight, I want to make note of something I find meaningful. All the talk we have done over the past few years regarding subjective ChristianityA direct, personal relationship with God—free from institutional authority, guided by personal relationship, faith and agape love. leads, if you haven’t thought about this, to Christianity in the individual being seen more as “an art” than “a science.” I’m not suggesting that there aren’t linear objective “rights and wrongs” in the faith – I believe there are, and I maintain that our Bible serves as a wonderful map on how to determine what is inside and outside these boundaries. But I personally see the faith today as much of an artistic experience and expression as a science. I mean, in most cases art is extremely subjective and if this is the case we can certainly make the case that if Christianity is subjective then it is certainly more an art than a science.

When it comes to actual art, many Christians have very little resonation – and therefore Christian art is very limited in terms of breadth, scope, and audience. Generally speaking, art that has been “accepted in the faith” is typically relegated to classical or traditional representations – either through the masters or guys like Thomas Kincaid – with modern art and expression almost entirely rejected. Why do you suppose this is? I propose a few answers.

Institutional Resistance to Artistic Expression

Firstly, institution and institutional thought (with all of its objective demands) ardently resist individualistic expression – even down to the art they will allow on their walls. Look at the Third Reich, for example. Hitler, a frustrated artist who possessed some skill in the traditional styles and applications of painting found himself rejected by a burgeoning modern art movement in his young life. When he came to power it is not surprising that Nazi Germany actually collected all the modern art that they could – as a means to mock it! They called it “Enartete Kunst” which translated means “degenerate art” and even had entire art exhibits where what they called the “degenerate art” was displayed.

One of the reasons the art was rejected was because it was created by artists who were free-spirited, who challenged conformity to the norms of form, (not to mention that many of them were Jews). You see, to a regime where order, demands, and strict obedience to the established ways and rules were a must Modern Art was anathema. It represents independence, non-conformity, and expressions based as much on emotion and feelings as it does on material reality. Coming out of Mormonism, I personally witnessed the promotion of the classics in art (most wards at one time or another have owned at least one Thomas Kincaid and/or an Arnold Friberg print) and the demotion of modern art by virtue of its total absence in the wards and homes of members. In other words, the more artistic interpretation given to a piece, and the less resemblance it had to reality of the subject, the less acceptance it received in the faith.

To the LDS (and to the Evangelical mindset) which are equally founded on the objective, they say how life must be lived; they say how the faith MUST be interpreted and modern art represents individual interpretation and expression – which are anathema to their established control and order and what they truly believe is right and wrong. So just in art types, in this simple comparison between traditional classic art and all modern expressions (that cannot be defined as classical), we find thriving, pulsating, divergent worlds at odds. And here’s my point relative to Christianity – the power struggle lying in art is no different than what we find in the Christian faith when it comes to subjective and objective approaches.

We are not promoting exclusivity or modern art alone in our views of subjective Christianity. We are saying that the faith is subjective – and therefore has room for those who wish to live the faith objectively! Unfortunately, the favor and liberalism is not typically returned. Just like many traditional artists and art lovers mock modern art as “degenerate,” many that cling to classic elements of the faith believe subjective Christianity to be the same. When art lovers are able to love art – classic, modern – the art is appreciated and the differences are ameliorated. So it is with the faith.

Appreciating Christ Through Love

When all lovers of Christ can love Christ as they see fit, we might begin to see Him truly appreciated and the differences dissolving.

We'll see you next week here on HOTM.