Living the Christian Life 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 working through together how to live the Christian life in the Age of Fulfillment – and I’m your host, Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion.. Let’s begin with a word of Prayer.

Show 31B: Literally Really?
July 21st, 2020

PRAYER

Announcements

So, a quick push – because it’s worth it. We have a new book out that is an EXCELLENT short illustrated read for CHILDREN. It’s called the King’s Colt and if you have children, grandchildren or know someone who does who is of the faith, we highly recommend it with a money back guarantee. To order go to our new publication site, BJORNBOOKS.com.

Okay we have some awesome comments from last nights show but before we can get to them we HAVE to cover the following information.

Insights and Teachings for Faith

Over the past nearly 15 years we have been doing something here on Heart that I only realized what it was amounting to seven years ago – We were creating content – insights, teachings, supports, and opinions – for how the faith ought to operate in this age of fulfillment. We did not start out with this intent but sort of fell into it by merely looking and examining the faith closely – everything about it – without fear of repercussion.

Over the years you have seen me change positions, and you have hopefully seen a change in me too that has steadily drawn closer and closer to the actual image of the living Christ and the Good News. Along this journey, recorded weekly for nearly 15 years, I have had “people” enter into the scene and present things that are often unsolicited. This happened with eschatologyStudy of “last things”—TGNN teaches all biblical eschatology was fulfilled in 70 A.D. More, and it happened to me out of the blue relative to eternal punishment, Satan and Hell. It also happened relative to the Trinity. I wasn’t looking to challenge my firmly established views but out of nowhere I was confronted with information I felt compelled to pursue – and after pursuing and comparing could see the value in the views presented – and I’ve changed my mind.

Email from Adnan

A few days ago, I got an unsolicited email from a longtime viewer named Adnan. It was unsolicited but reading it caused me to see yet another change that needs to occur as a means to help promote this beautiful faith in this age of unreason. I want to read this email to you now. Relative to God completing all things in Christ some 2000 years ago, this insight is gold as Adnan writes:

Hey brother,

I just finished watching your segment on problem pastors, and it helped to solidify some thoughts that I have had these past few months and I wanted to share them with you because I don't know if what I have concluded is Truth, or if I'm completely off and being overly harsh.

In short, here is what I have come to believe:

I don't think there is any biblical basis to the title of pastor, as applicable to men or women today. In other words, I don't think anyone today is a Pastor or shepherd. Don't get me wrong, before Jesus came back in 70AD, I see the title of shepherd or pastor as being valid and applicable. I see it as a title that was given to select men who were chosen either by the holy spirit (Acts 20:28) or the apostles (1 Peter 5:2) or by Jesus himself (John 21:17). To me, that makes sense because Jesus is the chief shepherd, so only He could be in a position to "hire/choose" assistant shepherds if He wanted to.

And it also makes sense that He would call select people to be pastors/shepherds to lead the sheep until His return, because the apostles couldn't be in every church at every moment to keep things in order for Christ's coming. Let me stop there and point out that Adnan appeals to scripture to vet his thoughts – which is really important to being in harmony with reality. He goes on and says:

That being said I think there is a major difference between "pastor" and other titles like minister, preacher, and teacher. I see a minister as being someone who “tends to the needs of another;” I see a preacher as someone who “publicly speaks the Word;” I see a teacher as someone who “teaches the Word;” anyone can be a teacher, minister, or preacher of the Word at anytime. (great point!) No problem.

But, here is how I view what a pastor is defined as (in regards to the church): it is a person

Understanding the Role of a Pastor

With a God-given position of authority to lead the sheep any which way they see fit. (After all, that is LITERALLY what a shepherd does with their sheep).

That means they are the final authority to their sheep on what is Truth and what is not truth – they are the final authority when it comes to how to act/behave in the world and among the other sheep.. and also the final authority on who is actually part of their flock, and who is not…

In your opinion, is that a fair assumption on what a pastor is according to scripture? Or am I way off?

(I think you are dead on – especially and in addition to what men assume the title means today when it is applied to them.)

Adnan asks:

What do you think when you think of the title of pastor? Also, if being a pastor is a title that we can still wear today, then by what standard does one have to meet in order to be a pastor? Who sets that standard? Who decides whether person "A" is a pastor, while person "B" is not?

Equal Responsibility Before Christ

In the age of fulfillment, I can't help but see that every man and woman is equal and responsible for themselves before Christ. Not one person, today, can claim God-given authority over another person. Like you teach, Christianity is subjective, and part of the reason why it's subjective is because we have no REAL pastors (hand-selected by Christ or His apostles) to make the faith objective by telling the sheep what is Truth and what is not. All we have today are men and women with a false title that gives them (or implies) a false authority.

The other reason I don't see the title of pastor as being applicable today is because the fruit of believing that some men/women can be pastors while the rest of the church are merely sheep, is, in my opinion, bad fruit.

(NOW LISTEN to what he says)

The Downside of Pastoral Authority

As mentioned earlier, that title can imply a false authority that can then be used to tell you what to believe and what not to believe. Or how to interpret the Bible, and the proper hermeneutics, etc. If you do not agree with your pastor, then at best your opinion is mocked and ignored, at worst you will be labeled a heretic and not a "true sheep" of their flock. (which is to say you are not a REAL Christian.)

Another way that it is bad fruit, in my opinion, is that it makes people lazy in the faith. When Christ is your only shepherd, then you make an effort to get to know Him and what He purposes for your life. In other words, you read the word, you listen to other people teach and preach the word, but you do not blindly follow everything they say, you question and actively search for Truth. After all "The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need." (Psalm 23:1, NLT Bible)

Contrast that with the laziness that is seen among many Christians, whose sole source of the truth is their pastor. What the pastor says, must be the truth, and there is no need for me to question it, because he is my pastor. He is holier than me. He is smarter than me. He is in that capacity because God gave him the truth, and didn't give me the truth.

Without realizing it, I feel people idolize pastors and put them on pedestals, and I think the pastors love it. It feeds their ego.

I think that is why even a small church can have all these pastor titles: "senior pastor," "assistant pastor," "youth pastor," "worship pastor," "assistant worship pastor," "outreach pastor," "men's/women's ministry pastor," and more.

To place the title "pastor" before your name basically makes you 3 feet taller, and 10 times holier than the average person, so who wouldn't want to carry that title?

And finally, I believe there is a downside to carrying that title… You become fake. You lie about the problems in your life because how can you lead people if your own life is a mess? You walk around with a fake smile, like a politician during their campaign. You don't seek for help in your marriage, because that kills the facade that your marriage is perfect. You lie to yourself about the evil thoughts you have, because you don't want to admit that you might not be as pure and righteous as you think you are.

The Challenge of Traditional Titles in Christianity

Associate yourself with unrepentant sinners (God forbid a senior pastor has a gay son, or a daughter that had "premarital" sex and got pregnant). I feel like the title has the tendency to turn people into good liars, and fake politicians…

I obviously do not think this is the case all the time, and I certainly have nothing against anyone who goes by "pastor"; I am merely against the idea of it and the bad fruit it can lead to. What do you think brother? Am I being too critical or harsh? Where do you stand on the title of pastor as it applies to people today?

-Adnan

I think that Adnan’s insights are dead on and I am going to take his views and incorporate them into our work here that is in progress. I think that this is an important step in the direction we are trying to take to help provide a lead to believers seeking to honor the fact that God has gifted all of us with the power to preach, teach and minister (in this age of fulfillment), that the faith is subjective and immaterial, and that the power and presence of brick and mortar institutions ought to be dismantled.

A Call for Change in the Age of Fulfillment

So as of right now, I am adding to the body of principles of what Christianity in the age of fulfillment ought to look like the principle that we reject the title of “Pastor” (or Reverend or Bishop) as applied to individual leaders but will continue to push for the idea that all believers can and should be seen as qualified teachers, preachers, and ministers and never Pastors, Reverends, or Bishops. LOVE THIS – thank you Adnan. You present compelling insights.

Since we are knocking stuff off the deck of Christianity hoping to lead this faith into a better place than it has been in the past, I am going to now get really direct. The thrust of what I am about to say also came from an unsolicited phone call I got from a dear old friend of mine who is steeped in the high flying world of corporate leadership. He’s recognized as leading thinking of leadership principles.

I’ve known this guy since we were 17 and he is no slouch in the game of thinking and reason and has had some real impact on my thoughts over the years – so thanks Al for the insight. And here we go!

Embracing Opportunities for Agape Love

Throughout human history we have experienced what we might see as “cracks in the established matrix,” (so to speak) which we might view as temporary openings into the way things have always been that offer us the opportunity to improve upon life through change. For example, when I was a kid nobody ever thought of wearing a helmet when you rode a bike or a skateboard, seat belts were considered a nuisance, and grown-ups freely filled airplanes, restaurants and elevators with second-hand cigarette smoke without a care.

Then came “a crack” in these established ways, and people collectively ran to the light. The result? Less head injuries for kids and better lungs for all. Right now we are obviously sitting in one of these moments – where a gap has cracked wide open – and many people are willing to actually shift away from what they have traditionally seen and operated by and toward change.

Of course, the Old Guard from every corner is absolutely terrified of change and like cigarette companies in the 70’s are fighting tooth and nail to keep things the same. But if we want a better world for all people, I think stepping in and making changes is great AND since my focus is on religion, specifically Christianity, and since there is a gap that has cracked open in our collective consciousness that affects the faith, I think these opportunities ought to be grasped by people of faith MORE than anyone else in the secular world – so long as the change amounts to AGAPE LOVESelfless love marked by patience, mercy, and humility—central to living in spiritual liberty.. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. ACTIVE REAL UNADULTERATED LOVE.

So, I want to drive right into that gap and set a bomb that will obliterate what has been for far too long accepted. So think with me tonight about what I am about to say and help me clear the deck of the old BS we have accepted for far too long. The Word of God makes it plain that in Christ there are NO DIFFERENCES between any believer. None. That the middle wall (or partition in the Holy of Holies) was broken down at His crucifixion and

Inclusivity and the Kingdom of God

All people everywhere are AS THEY ARE welcomed and invited into the Kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future. and Christ.

All.

If you are a Christian and you think that communists, Jews, blacks, women, gays, fornicators, drunkards, republicans, democrats, hermaphrodites, Native Americans, Hispanics, Germans, sinners or saints – are NOT allowed into the Kingdom you are more of a bigot than a Christian. Additionally, if you think that people are favored by God because of their denominational allegiance, their wealth, their education or their poverty – you misunderstand the faith and have probably assumed a counterfeit into your system of beliefs about Him.

A Counterfeit Gospel in Mormonism

As an example of a counterfeit Gospel let’s look at something Mormonism did (in the name of God) that proves it’s not only a fraud, but that today – at this VERY minute – it should be the focus of major blow back from the protesting world. What has Mormonism done to Jesus and the Good News that is offered to all? Aside from using Him to justify misogyny, violence, materialism and all sorts of non-love expressions (in the name of restored truth) they have more than ANY other religion on earth contributed the most to flat out racism.

In the protests going on in the “present crack in the matrix,” why is they being forgotten or ignored? I mean people are being called out and stupidly “cancelled” over things that they may have said or did years ago, often in jest, but NOBODY is saying anything about the absolute racism Mormonism built its entire empire upon AND CONTINUES TO PROPAGATE to this VERY DAY!

Racism in LDS Scriptures

In order to really get a handle on racism within the LDS Church, I am going to go to their scriptures – particularly, the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price. From these modern “revelations” which to the Mormons receive as “being from God” we find some of the earliest seeds of racism present.

In the Book of Mormon, 1st Nephi 13:15, a vision is recited by one of the main characters in the book, and in his description of the vision he says:

“And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance; (READY?) and I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people, before they were slain.”

The line that the Gentiles seen in this vision were, “white and exceedingly fair and beautiful” is key to understanding the mindset of early Mormonism relative to race because “White” is akin to beautiful and worthy and “Dark skin” was akin to ugliness and rebellion.

Later in the Book of Mormon, it describes what God did when He divided the bad sons of a family from the good ones, saying:

“And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity, for behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto flint, wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people, the Lord did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.” 2nd Nephi 5:21

Notice the correlation between the “hardness of their hearts” and the color of their skin. And that in order to keep the good from being “enticed” (by the hard-hearted), God caused a what? “A skin of blackness to come upon them.”

Later, in the Book of Mormon, in Jacob, the writer describes the Lamanite people (who were the dark-skinned descendants of a BOM character named Laman and became our Native Americans) we read:

“Behold the Lamanites, your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which had come upon their skin . . .”

Got that? Then two verses later, the writer shares a “concern” he has for his white skinned people, saying:

“O my brethren, I fear that unless you repent of your sins that their skins” (referring to the evil dark skinned Lamanites) “. . . that their skins will be whiter than yours, when ye shall be brought with them before the throne of God.”

So here, in the Book of Mormon, the supposed ancient writer of the book feared that unless his white brethren repented, the skin of their evil brethren would become whiter than theirs.

All the way out to when I was a teen

Racism in Mormon Scripture

The prophet of that day taught that he actually watched Native American’s skin become lighter as they followed the Mormon teachings! In Mormonism, dark skin = evil and unrepentant and white skin = good and humble!

In the Book of Mormon, Alma, chapter 3:6-9, the writer explains what evil existed in the Lamanites that originally caused their skin to go from white to black. It says:

“And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the MARK which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion against their brethren, who consisted of Nephi, Jacob, and Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men.”

And then later, toward the end of the Book of Mormon, in 3rd Nephi 2:14-16, the writer describes an amazing dermatological event that was occurring in the land. It says:

“And it came to pass that those Lamanites (those are the dark-skinned people) who united with the Nephites and were numbers among the Nephites (the Nephites were the white and delightsome people) their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites; And their young men and their daughters became exceedingly fair, and were numbered among the Nephites.”

The Book of Mormon and the Lamanites

So, here in the Latter-Day Saints most important spiritual book, there is a teaching that “dark loathsome people,” (who were dark because of the hardness of their hearts), can and will in fact become white and delightsome, if they join the side of the spiritually enlightened. This is in the Latter-Day Saints, Book of Mormon and those Book of Mormon passages set the racist stage against Native Americans – and in the end for most other people of color.

But there is another Mormon scriptural reference which supports racism in Mormonism past (and present) toward black people. It is found in a short reference in the Book of Moses, which is Joseph Smith’s retranslation of the biblical book of Genesis and which is included in the LDS book of scripture they call the Pearl of Great Price. The reference, found in Moses 7:22 reads:

“And Enoch also beheld the residue of the people which were the sons of Adam; and they were a mixture of all the seed of Adam save it was the seed of Cain, for the seed of Cain were black, and had not place among them.”

From this “scripture,” also provided by Joseph Smith, skin color was once again used as a barometer for righteousness – but this time, the black skin (or mark) came from the sinful loins of Cain.

The Legacy of Joseph Smith

These are the primary scriptural sources within Mormonism that have to do with skin tone – with the Book of Mormon passages referring to the Indians and the book of Moses referring to black folks. This scriptural foundation was laid for racism within Mormonism by the inspired founder of the faith Joseph Smith himself. And what did they amount to in the hearts and minds of LDS leaders over the years?

Joseph Fielding Smith, Prophet of the LDS church when I was a little kid said in his book, The Doctrines of Salvation Vol I pages 66-67:

"There is a reason why one man is born black and with other disadvantages, while another is born white with great advantage. The reason is that we once had an estate before we came here, and were obedient, more or less, to the laws that were given us there. Those who were faithful in all things there received greater blessings here, and those who were not faithful received less…. There were no neutrals in the war in heaven. All took sides either with Christ or with Satan. Every man had his agency there, and men receive rewards here based upon their actions there, just as they will receive rewards hereafter for deeds done in the body. The Negro, evidently, is receiving the reward he merits." Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.1, pages 66-67

He also wrote (in his book, the Way to Perfection – page 107):

"It was well understood by the early elders of the Church that the mark which was placed on Cain and which his posterity inherited was the black skin. The Book of Moses informs us that Cain and his descendants were black" (The Way to Perfection, p.107).

And then on page 101…

Racism and Representation in Religious Imagery

What did he, the Prophet and President write? He said:

"Not only was Cain called upon to suffer, but because of his wickedness he became the father of an inferior race" (The Way to Perfection, p.101).

LDS President John Taylor said,

"Why is it, in fact, that we should have a devil? Why did the Lord not kill him long ago? Because he could not do without him. He needed the devil and a great many of those who do his bidding to keep men straight, that we may learn to place our dependence on God, and trust in Him, and to observe his laws and keep his commandments. When he destroyed the inhabitants of the antediluvian world, he suffered a descendant of Cain to come through the flood in order that he might be properly represented upon the earth" (Journal of Discourses 23:336).

Defending segregation LDS Apostle Mark E. Peterson stated,

"When He [God] placed the mark on Cain, He engaged in segregation. When he told Enoch not to preach the gospel to the descendants of Cain who were black, the Lord engaged in segregation. When He cursed the descendants of Cain as to the Priesthood, He engaged in segregation" (Race Problems, p.15).

And these are just a few examples – they are all over the place. Where I think all human beings have to personally deal with prejudice, racist or bigoted notions, the problem with Mormon racism is “they laid it all upon the living God by creating doctrinal supports for it THAT ARE STILL IN PLACE.

Mormonism and Broader Christianity

Why is the LDS Church still skating on the subject unencumbered? The protests and cancelling ought to be toward the powers that be in high places, not individuals and their errors in judgment. But let’s be fair, Mormonism is not alone. Christianity, at large – all of us, in fact who claim Him as King – have been culpable for what we have accepted and allowed to happen even to Jesus himself by people who have taken and repurposed him for their own agendas.

And there is no bigger, wider, more universal hijacking of Jesus than what WASPS have done both with Jesus ways (meaning they have politicized it) and his image. Let’s just want to talk about the image of Jesus that we have perpetuated over the centuries and embraced. I mean, let’s get real here – based on all that we know, what did Jesus really look like?

The True Image of Jesus

While we don’t really know for sure we do know some things and one of them, taken from Isaiah, is that he would NOT be handsome or attractive. How on earth have we, seekers of truth, allowed and accepted the iconography of him that has become so ubiquitous in the Americanization of the faith? We are presently in the perfect window to get ourselves closer to the reality and further away from yet more manipulations of our faith – so let’s do it – and let’s include the manipulation of the image of our Lord and King.

Quite frankly, I think it’s purposeful we don’t have a rendering of Him as the relationship (to me) ought to be entirely spiritual. This automatically transcends race. But at least rejecting what we have allowed is a good place to start.

In 2001, an anthropologist took a skull from a Galilean male living around the time of Christ and using forensic science and methods of reconstruction reconfigured what he believed this man would have looked like. When we think about it, the Jews were a VERY inclusive tribal group, and we might reasonably conclude that most of them, especially from the same vicinity and limited inner-breading, probably looked quite similar.

So, in what is probably a much closer depiction of what our Lord and Savior looked like in his life – this is what they came up with:

Image 1

Can you worship and relate to such a person? Or is it easier on you, when you think of God’s only human Son, for him to look more . . . repurposed? I mean look at what the Mormons have done with him?

Image 2

Image 3

OR HOW ABOUT AN EVANGELICAL VERSION? LIKE THIS Image 4

Ain’t he cute? Or how about some more ridiculousness through these cultural re-appropriations: Image 5

The really handsome Jesus. (Dude) Image 6

Or the Arian Nation Jesus (The Furor is pleezed with your obedience) Image 7

Or my Father was actually an Orthodonist Jesus Image 8

The Chinese Jesus Image 9

Or perhaps you relate most to the dreaded Jesus

The fact

Challenging Cultural Imagery of Jesus

The fact of the matter is Jesus was a Jew. He was not white, not black, not Asian, not handsome in the least; he probably did not have light colored eyes, and in all likelihood did not have long hair. It is improbable that his orthodontia was even close to good, and I doubt very much he smiled a lot – especially during the years of his ministry. And yet we regale images that represent a lie. Worse yet, they represent what WE want Jesus to look like.

From my perspective we are talking about three things here. We are talking about having the balls to clear the deck of the Doctrines of Dinosaurs as a means to IMPROVE on this beautiful faith, and we are therefore talking about removing impediments that are in the way of as many people as possible receiving Him. And I think representing the truth of Him goes a long way in doing the latter. So how about we push for a new image of the Lord.

Embracing Authenticity

Not one that has been hijacked by the Arian nation (who ironically hate Jews but claim to believe in one), NOT one that has been repurposed to being white and delightsome, and not one that caters to any certain culture or race OTHER THAN the one from which he came. Judaism. Let’s unite in refusing to receive or publish or honor this:

(Show picture of Anglo Jesus below)

Image 10

And at least, if we must have an image, let’s receive the earliest depictions of him that are probably far closer to the reality of his person than any of these other foolish representations – like this one:

Image 11

Or this:

Image 12

This is a Syrian depiction actually painted around 235 AD. I hate lies. And I hate manipulations – especially religious manipulations.

Rejecting Deceptive Icons

If it’s true I want it – no matter what. And if it’s a lie – no matter what – I want NOTHING to do with it. I’ve lied too much in my life, I don’t need any more. If you’re the same, let’s DO something about it. And let’s begin with this: Reject these phony culturalisms. Reject things that LIE to us – even if they are only icons.

Alright, let’s run through our emails and comments from last weeks shows.

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

This stance, my brother is really nice, and comforting the soul, but it is problematic for several reasons. And the first reason is your literal interpretation of the passage and application of it to others. What has this lead to, brother? 30 thousand different expressions of the faith, division and the impossibility to EVER agree on ANYTHING? ANYTHING. Simple things. Easy things. Warfare. And your stance with this scripture is part and parcel of the problem. I’m sure you mean well. But anyone can walk around with a Bible and make these claims. But your issue are far more problematic than the fact that it doesn’t work. The passage itself is greatly misunderstood.

2Ti 3:16 (WEB) Every writing inspired by God is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness,

Read Robertson’s Greek analysis on this abused passage as it best reads, once all the issues with it are understood as "All scripture (or every scripture), inspired of God, is also profitable." This is a better step in the right direction.