Keepers of the FAT

Reflections on Recent Shows

Hey this is heart of the matter and I’m Shawn McCraney – we are calling tonight’s show, Miscellany – meaning we have a lot to review and make comments about. So, let’s kick it off with a prayer.

Alright, let’s work backward – last week we had a wonderfully courageous LDS man on the show by the name of Sam Young who has founded, “Protectingldschildren.org” and whose goal it is to put an end to the LDS practice of people interviewing children under 18 years of age alone and of taking about sexual topics at all with them. He is holding a march on March 30th and you can help his cause by going to his website and signing the petition (you DO NOT NEED TO HAVE BEEN LDS TO STAND AGAINST THIS PRACTICE) and if you have a story to share it. We will keep you abreast of the March as we get closer to it.

A number of people have wondered why Sam continues to be active in the LDS faith. He has not told me this, but it seems that Sam is remaining active for his family, that he is not a true believer but merely chooses to presently stay in what he calls “his church.” I enjoyed speaking with Sam and support his efforts but do believe he is missing the Heart of the Matter in going after a practice in the church and not the doctrine that created it – personal purity practice to keep people clean before God. We pray God’s abundant blessing on Sam as he works to bring about a good change in policy in Mormonism.

Interactions with Brother James White

Then Brother James White was with us two weeks past. Obviously, we’ve had a number of viewers and responses from the Show with James White. Many of them very positive – especially toward James and his treatment of me and I personally enjoyed the banter and his willingness to just talk. Understand, this was a step in the right direction of trying to bring all things to the light and in love, and while I am pretty certain James is not real fond of my views or perhaps even of me, he was willing to sit and talk with me civilly and I thank him for that. I also want to thank all those who have responded with information regarding the Trinity.

Some of you have forwarded information to me from men like RC Sproul, others have recommended books, and some suggested I study either with Unitarians or with Oneness Pentecostals. Thank you all for taking the time to try and help me out in one way or another.

Personal Views on the Trinity

Upon some deep reflection I suppose my greatest obstacle to the Trinity is the fact that I cannot help but see one God, who is called the Father in scripture where Trinitarians see the Father as just a member or person of “God.” From there everything else breaks down, as it were. I also see the one God as manifesting himself (not as the Father but as God) in Jesus of Nazareth and as the Holy Spirit. And then I also see Jesus of Nazareth (the man), God’s only human Son, the Word made flesh, rising to a resurrected inheritance (that he earned as Jesus of Nazareth) through obedience to His father, the One God. If I am not a Christian, or am not seen as saved, or am called a walking contradiction that cannot be trusted because of these personal views, so be it but that is where I stand today – come hell or high heavenly water. However, all that being said, I do have to admit to an honest terror I possess in the face of all of these unique views I maintain.

On the board I have written the names of some of the biggest or better known universities and colleges and of some better known Christian ministries on earth. Take a look at them for a minute as they represent the present-day organized arm of the faith. Note that all of them revere the Bible. All of them seek after God, all of them – or the majority of them, at least claim to want to please God over themselves. I’ve also included the major Christian churches in and around this compilation. All of this is in operation today on earth. And much of it has been around like this for nearly 500 years.

So we are talking about probably hundreds of billions of people represented by these groups on the board over time. (PAUSE) Almost all call themselves Trinitarian. Almost all believe in a literal eternal hell. Almost all

Second Coming and Theological Views

believe Jesus is coming back to earth for his second coming. Almost all would reject total reconciliationism and Subjective Christianity. And I bet there is not one of them – not one, present or past – that embraces all five of these views which I cannot help but see and believe.

And so I want to say something really really important to you right here and now – Statistically speaking there is a great likelihood that I am nuts, that I am so tweaked in my brain that I wouldn’t recognize the truth if it flew in the room, landed on my head, and made a nest.

Understand, I honestly believe all I teach and how I see the faith, but in the face and weight of historical popular opinion, I appear – even in my own mind – to either have a keen ability to see and discern the Bible like few others on earth OR I possess an uncanny ability toward spiritual blindness – or somewhere in between these two positions we find the truth.

I do NOT want to lead anyone to the hell most of the Christian world endorses simply because I am personally convinced of views that go against the historical grain of theological thought – my heart is to only speak His truth no matter what – but take all I say and teach VERY seriously, pursue God by the Spirit, read for yourselves, test all things, hold fast to what is good, but understand that I even understand that l Represent an anomaly in the face of Christian history, and I see why the traditionalists see me the way they do.

Views on Criticism and Tradition

I don’t agree with them, but I do understand why they are so against me. And this has helped me see why many of Dr. White supporters viewed my approach as bizarre. Or a walking contradiction – which I am – but so are you. It’s what makes us all human. Jesus addressed the state when he spoke of the Spirit being willing but the flesh being weak, and Paul addressed it when he admitted that he does what he doesn’t want to do and he doesn’t do what he wants. That’s a walking contradiction.

One criticism I do resent however is when some have said that I am obviously still a Mormon – a criticism I find very unfair. However, I would also add that Mormonism is not entirely off the mark on all things and I believe that there are things that Evangelicals can learn from the LDS that are often dismissed just because of their core doctrines.

Reflection on Dr. White's Visit

Finally, some suggested that I used the visit from Dr. White as a marketing ploy – as evidenced by the pre-recorded wrap up we played before Dr. James gave his final remarks. Of course, we wanted to reach a broader audience with our message – who wouldn’t? But that was a by-product of having Dr. James on the show – and by the way – we did not request him to appear, he volunteered – and we are so glad he did.

The fact that I pre-recorded my final thoughts before we even talked together merely shows that I know what we stand for in terms of what Dr. James represents and that I represent which his visit would not change in the least –

He represents the old, objective way of the faith with everything still in place as it was in Jesus day and I tried to represent the new subjective approach to the faith with all things having been fulfilled. Our approaches are what they are because of these respective representations.

Considerations on the Trinity

A couple more follow up points on the topic of the Trinity. One was Dr. James admitting that most Christians when asked to explain the Trinity offer up a modalistic definition. And he asked why.

I did not turn that on him because I was really trying to just dialogue with him. But I think it was a great question we all have to ask ourselves – why do most people view God modalistically? Could it be that that is what the Spirit teaches them, that the idea of Trinity is far to complex, and that the general explanation of God proves this.

Another thing to consider: When I was on live television I would give examples of the Trinity to our live audience. Nobody said a word against me and my explanations. And where I verbally supported the term Trinity my analogies of

Understanding the Trinity

The Trinity were actually examples of Modalism – I just didn’t know it at the time – like most Christians. One example I distinctly remember was saying that God is a consuming fire. That fire was still in heaven, having taken on the title of Father, when He sent His fire to fill Jesus of Nazareth, his only begotten Son. And I then likened the Holy Spirit to the same fire as evidenced on the day of Pentecost and the flaming tongues.

So that’s how I explained the Trinity – and again, no one seemed to care. As I’ve read and watched different explanations of the Trinity since meeting with Dr. James White two weeks ago, I notice that several explanations – even from men like R.C. Sproul, are similar to my earlier explanations. But RC Sproul called his explanation, The Trinity. Others have done the same thing and then I realized something that came to me like a bolt of lightning – nobody would have EVER had a problem with my views IF – IF I had never said I don’t believe in the Trinity.

See, that’s the key – maintaining and supporting the idea and the continuity of what men call the Trinity – and NOT having the explanation of the Trinity completely right in the first place! I didn’t realize this! In all probability, I could have described God and Jesus and Holy Spirit like I do now, called it the Trinity, and very few people would have ever cared. But the moment I challenged the historical precedence and the term Trinity itself, the moment I said it, as a general concept, was trash, the attacks began.

The Idol of Tradition

What does this tell us? It tells me that MEN have created an idol to explain God, that idol is maintained in name alone, and as a means to maintain an “us verses them” situation, anyone who steps up to challenge the idol in name alone, will be cast out and castigated. And this then tells me that this is the work of Man – not God. This is the way men and women think. And the presence of this thinking serves to keep the masses from seeking God and Jesus in Spirit and truth – because, just like the Mormons, the Christians are saying that “the thinking has been done.”

Give all of this some thought.

Christian Life and Physical Appearance

Finally and before we open up the phone lines, let me ask a question: Can a Christian – meaning a person who is saved and loved by God because of their faith in His Son – be fat? Or when they become a Christian are they supposed to lose weight? Or once they have become a Christian is God disappointed with them when they gain weight? Is God better pleased with his children who are thin or better yet, fit? Does he love the non diabetic better than they diabetic, those with hypertension less than pictures of health?

Or perhaps you believe that the condition of a person physically has no bearing on how God sees them but if they are to be considered a “better or best” Christian among men he or she would be fit? I ask this openly because over the course of doing ministry I have been confronted (typically through emails but on occasion in person) about my (ahem) size.

Recently a well-meaning Christian woman asked me to please consider getting to the gym – that it would prolong my life – which she said she was worried about. Then last week I received an email from a Mormon man in Texas. After assuming that I have never repented before God for anything in my life, he made further assumptions – about my weight. This is what Frank said: “The faith of Jesus followers must be tested, whether by lions in an amphitheater two thousand years ago, or by a chubby, middle aged man behind a microphone who has called himself to be a minister.”

He then added: “look back at your youTube videos and see how far your have fallen” and “how can you represent Jesus Christ when you appear on your show to weigh in the 300+ pound range and when the Bible strongly warns against the sin of gluttony?” He provided scripture, assuming gluttony was my crime, including where Paul writes Phillipians 3:19 "Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach." Proverbs 23:2 "Put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony." Romans 13:14 Clothe yourselves with the love of Jesus Christ and do not think about how

The Issue of Gluttony and Weight in Christian Teachings

"Then he asked: 'Was Jesus obese? Were any of His apostles?' And finalized his opinions with: 'Please repent of your gluttony and save yourself physically from a possible heart attack, stroke, diabetes, etc. as well as more importantly, save yourself spiritually. Your family needs a husband and father who is not obese and Jesus wants a disciple who is at his proper weight.'"

So again, what are we to say in the face of this attitude in the faith? I will address Frank's assumptions here in a minute, which are part of the problem with his views in the first place, but what are we to believe when the Bible speaks of gluttony (by the way, it does not speak to being overweight – so take note of that – and I say this because a person can be gluttonous without having a weight problem) but what are we to do with things like this?

Scriptural Warnings Against Gluttony

Obviously, the presence of such passages leads some or most religionists to somehow believe that a person cannot really be loved the most by God or be seen as true Christians if they are overweight. What are we to say to this? These ideas are either true or they are not. If they are, then true Christians would never have weight problems and if they are false then this is yet another area where religious people need reform relative to using the Bible as a knife. I want to point out some reasons why the latter is true.

First of all, and as I mentioned, the scripture warns against gluttony. Certainly, this act is often practiced by obese people but that is not always the case. I have friends who eat less than I do and never exercise and who do not have a weight problem at all. Why? It’s this thing called genetics.

See, Christ having had the victory over all things makes way for genetic predispositions to exist, something that was NOT available under the law. That is why people in the OT who had crooked noses and bent backs could not enter the temple, and homosexuality was condemned with death – by the law, it did not matter how you came into this world – YOU conformed or YOU would be cast out.

Changing Attitudes With Jesus

With Jesus we begin – begin – to see these attitudes starting to change. That’s why we read that John the Baptist came "neither eating nor drinking but Jesus came eating and drinking" – and they called Him a glutton and a winebibber. When people look at others and use the Bible to assess them, they are using elements of the Law to do it – and it reveals their heart, not the "Christian status" of those who they are condemning.

Teachings of Jesus and Paul

It’s why Jesus taught:

"Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."

It’s why Paul taught:

Colossian 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days."

These were the teachings that were breaking down all of these law-based opinions and attitudes that religionists continue to use today – on people like me and you – which amounts to driving souls away who look to Jesus in faith but struggle with life in the flesh – in the flesh Jesus gave them.

That’s another point I want to make – when we judge others by their flesh what we are asking them is to improve their flesh – something that will never, ever bring about good things with God. How will improving the flesh help overcome the focus on the flesh? Whether we are talking about fornication, or homosexuality, or gluttony, it's non-sensical to think that if someone changes these practices by the Law that their flesh will be weaker. It does not work that way – and yet religious men continue to focus their attentions on such approaches.

Let me explain something from my own life that might help. I even have visuals. I come from a long line of very heavy people. Our heritage is out of hearty, strong workers of the land who bore pounds to withstand harsh cold winters. My Aunt was 800 pounds when she died in her 60’s, and my Dad, who is 86 and still thriving, is 360 plus. So not unlike many others, I have a genetic propensity for bearing weight.

Managing Stress and Perceptions of Body Image

I also bear a genetic propensity for difficulty managing stress. One way our family members have managed stress was through drug abuse, alcohol abuse, sexual misuse, and yes, food. Third, I was born fat and was heavy all my life until I started swimming for high school and college, and even then my body type was very different from a number of others who were lean and lanky. So while I typically worked harder than other guys on my team and certainly ate less than them, I remained much thicker. Who made me this way? God. There is nothing I can do about it except for maybe plastic surgery.

And so when I stopped swimming competitively I continued to exercise and watch what I ate, but I gained weight back like mad. It is my life's lot and I have had to live with it—so these emails are nothing new—except now they are done in the name of God and Jesus, using scripture to condemn me for being how God made me! But the lesson gets better—when we started the show back in 2006, I was probably close to 280. That was what I was, and having found authenticity in Christ, I was not ashamed to be me.

Criticism and Attempting to Change

So on the first show, I dressed in my clothes and came on the air authentically. Here’s a picture of me on that first night. Well, guess what happened? Within four weeks of my doing the show, the main criticism was not of my information nor was it of my way of giving it—it was all about me… my personal style, my clothing, and above all, my weight—from religionists of every kind, but especially the Mormons. The Baptists told me to dress better for Jesus. The Mormons asked how anyone could take a fat freak like me seriously—and the attacks poured in.

I thought I could take it, but it started really bringing me down secretly, so where I started off wanting to be who I really honestly was, I soon discovered (like most people in this world discover), that this was not good enough. So, guess what I did? I did what was necessary for me to be loved and accepted and most importantly, not attacked. In my case, this meant working out HARD twice a day (which included rowing on a machine at an extremely high level of effort for 30 minutes), cardio, and weight training all the while eating no more than 1200 cals a day—at the most. Here is what I created myself into within a year. (SHOW SEVERAL PICTURES OF IN-SHAPE SHAWN)

Consequences of Seeking Acceptance

Guess what happened? People stopped picking on me—but what was the price to be accepted in this way? My daughter Delaney pointed out that in an effort to escape the charge of gluttony, I embraced several other disorders like manorexia and obsessive compulsiveness. See, I had to starve and kill myself to get to the point where I would be loved. Then, having gotten myself to that state brought something else that I knew would arrive. So instead of humbling myself before God and being what I was in Him, I chose to please men and became elevated in my flesh—and with that women—and with that came pride. Hand in hand like the evil twins to sidle up and escort me through ministry. That’s what you get when you try to please the vicious world as a believer—a vicious world that loves and accepts you and your flesh.

In time, I realized that I was paying a price that was for nothing but for ego. The emails of late tell me to go back and look at how I have deteriorated. And that’s the irony. What onlookers see as a decline, I believe God sees as an advance—in my relationship with Him and those around me. That I have stepped back from having to majorly focus on my flesh and to just reasonably live. See, I still work out every day for my health. Always have. But that’s not enough for you fuckers, is it? Just like it’s not enough for a homosexual to say they believe in Jesus, or a disabled person to stay disabled—some of you idiots tell them if they had enough faith they could be healed! Because that’s what the Bible says, right?

Criticism of Modern Christianity

The Bible wrongly leads to these idiocies – and the Good New becomes really, really mean, bad news – to people who truly love the Lord. Delaney also pointed out the hypocrisy of it all within the faith. She asked, “by what measurement does someone determine if someone has been gluttonous?” Body mass indexes? Those have proven to be really wrong. Obedience to the food pyramid? Also proven wrong by today’s standards.

The Science Debate

Isn’t it funny that Christians will look to science to tell them what a human body should weigh but reject science when it comes to anthropology and geology? So is the judgement in the eye of the beholder? Really? Ever look at art from a few centuries back where the women are rubenesque? Was that how God made them? How about where men were strong and muscular and warlike? Is that the eye we judge others by or is it by today's standards in Self and GQ? If Christians ever preach ANYTHING relative to a person shouldn’t it be from an eternal perspective of things and of each other and not what is in and of this world!?

And yet I continue to get your fucking emails saying the most insipid, assumptive things in the world about who I am and the body God gave me to inhabit. And you know, I’m pretty thick skinned. And I’m a male and while this stuff is painful I’ve dealt with this stuff all my life. But what about those not so equipped? What about our women and daughters? How sad is it that the Body of Believers will use worldly standards to assess each other and worst of all in the name of God Himself!

The Real Impact

So I have a message for you all – “fuck you and all that you represent – you are the reason this world HATES Jesus so much – it’s because of your representations to the world of who He is – petty, mean, and highly conditional toward the people who don’t measure up to your lofty physical and moral expectations. Fuck you if you think you can hurt people in God’s name, and judge them and their standing before Him through the Word. We will NEVER EVER get over these insipid approaches to the faith as long as we use this Bible as the manual instead of as a history of how God saved us all.

PAUSE

Let’s open up the phone lines:
HOTM Show 18 Miscellany
February 27th 2018