Heart of the Matter Broadcast Analysis

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 try and get all people to walk toward the love of Jesus Christ. And I am Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host.

Upcoming Interviews on Mormonism

Okay. We are going to be interviewing and releasing some really interesting people relative to Mormonism in the next few weeks. Look out for our releasing them to you. The first will be a young man who comes to Utah to protest LDS General Conferences making threats of hell to the people around him. That should be enlightening.

And the second interview, which we are going to do here on Tuesday October 8th at 3PM, will be with Denver Snuffer, a modern leader of former North Temple LDS people. All are welcome in the live audience or you can watch all three parts as we release them on Heart of the Matter Youtube, and through Podcasts. Additionally, we are adding some books to our library from other sources so look for them. We will try and get them to you as cheaply as possible – so look for that.

Before we get into last night's responses to the presentation we called “SOCKS,” I want to admit something to you all – and explain my admission by using the White Board. My admission is that if I did NOT have the eschatological views I possess today I would practice my Christian faith through one of the three expressions – I would either be: Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodox Or LDS. I’ll tell you which one in a minute.

Scriptural Authority and Institutional Religion

How could I say such a thing since I am so ardently against brick and mortar institutional, authoritarian religion? When we read the New Testament we are presented with an order or approach, if you will, that Jesus established when He was on earth. That order began with prophets in the Old Testament (and there were people with the gift of prophecy in the New as well) and continued on with His chosen Apostles whom He called and trained to go forth and share the Good News until He returned. These men had authority from God and what they said was law. They governed the church, did miracles and signs to prove they had the power of God with them to direct it and they kept it together . . . again – till He came to take her as promised. Their authority is radically expressed in the epistles they wrote and they did not make excuses for it.

And we cannot get around the fact that they demanded holy living amidst the Bride, and took great measures to keep her pure through lots of different policies – including excommunications. We can readily see that Jesus Himself had tremendous expectations for the Bride as Revelation 2 and 3 has Him speaking very plainly to the believers, warning them that if they didn’t change their ways they would be cast off. If Jesus has NOT come back to take His church/bride, and He is coming back to take her (who had to be pure) then there is no way on earth He would leave His church/bride without authority, direction, guidance, and men and women to govern it (as He established it to be when He walked the earth).

We have taught verse by verseTGNN’s Bible teaching series—book-by-book, through the lens of fulfillment and spiritual liberty. through most of the epistles and the apostolic order and approach to the Church/Bride cannot be denied. For this reason, I am wholly convinced that IF Jesus has not come back and taken His church bride as He promised He would, then the following MUST be present in His Church today:

Considerations of Church Authority

PLAN A or PLAN B

• Apostolic Authority (Jesus came back as promised and
• Earthly Governance the faith is as I live it – subjectively,
• Established doctrines and Traditions outside brick and mortar, fulfilled,
• Communion/Sacrament and God writes His laws on the minds
• Brick and Mortar and hearts of those who love and seek
• Discipline and expectations him irrespective of the practices and positions they uphold.)

(BTW There is no way the Reformation Sola’s hold water to the above. They have zero claims on any real authority AND the Bible they look to for their authority was not available to most for almost 1500 years. The chaos they create is anathematic to Christ Bride)

So, this leaves . . . PROS CONS (Jesus Church?)

• Romans Catholicism Line of Authority Hats Robes Uniforms
• Eastern Orthodoxy Order Wealth and Opulence
• LDS Brick and Mortar Incense, Icons Discipline and Expectations Prayers to Saints, Angels and Mary
• Communion Temple works Earthly Governance Priesthoods
  Egregious histories
  Molestations/Politics

WHY?

They have a claimed line of authority, they have leadership, they have communion, they have discipline. However . . . (let’s look)

Examination of Non-Biblical Traditions

At the results of each of them over the course of their histories. What have they accomplished? What have they allowed in non-biblical traditions and beliefs?

SO, IF JESUS HAS NOT COME BACK, AFTER EVERYTHING IS SAID AND DONE, I WOULD PROBABLY TODAY FOLLOW MOST OF THE PRACTICES OF EASTERN ORTHODOXY (especially their stance on the Fili-ok-well). HOWEVER . . .

So, the question that needs to be answered, in my mind, is whether Jesus HAS come back and taken His bride as He promised to – or not.

I have put the work in, without bias, and have discovered the truth for myself.

Tools for Independent Study

IF you want to examine this yourself (because the denoms do NOT want to budge on their stance) I have several recommendations for you to consider. First, on our website we have a free book and/or a free booklet. The first is called, “Its not the End of the World,” and the workbook is called, “The End of Material ReligionA fulfilled system of temples, rituals, and laws—replaced by direct spiritual relationship..” Get them. They are free to you. The second way is to order Pastor Glenn Hill’s book, “Christianity’s Greatest Dilemma” online. And the third tool is to consider our verse-by-verse teaching through the Book of RevelationA symbolic prophecy fulfilled in 70 A.D.—not a prediction of future global events. found in our archives at www.campuschurch.faith. You can also check out Preterist archives.com and Don Preston’s websites online too. The later is exhausting but full of information and proofs that support the fact that Jesus came and took His church/bride from the earth at the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem. If He did folks – if he did – all these religions are just playing church and billions of people could be free from the bondage they impose upon them.

Online Interaction and Community Engagement

So LETS OPEN UP THE PHONE LINES 801. And while we wait for the black ops to clear your calls, let me give a shout-out to some of our online posters from last week's live show: Tim McCray, big Jim smith, Paula Edens,? Indigochild (from Sweden), Susan Rawlinson?(from the uk) Duane Dahl, and Charlie Clark, Bry, Dean Medcalf, Melissa Bowers, and Mark Edgar Peterson – you guys all make me laugh.

Then last night we presented a segment called SOCKS – which was a show to illustrate how 1 simple material rule instituted by Man in religion in the name of God will wind up dividing people up into camps – let alone a dozen. Our online comments about that included:

Kenneth Bailey4 days ago (edited) What I don’t understand about Peterism: Will there be an end of the world and a millennial reign of Jesus on earth? Will there be a RaptureA misinterpreted concept—biblical “rapture” language was fulfilled in 70 A.D., not a future escape event. More? Will there be a resurrection of our bodies?

kathleen Wharton4 days ago Jesus Has Saved and Freed Me From Religion and ALL Religionists! It is Wonderful!

Old Religion Dystopia: Knowing Vs. Belief2 days ago Nice Tub!

Also, a quick shout out to some of our online regulars from last week– Cathleen Hansen?, Laura Odle, big jim smith, Gregory Anderson, noble grand42?, Claudalley M H, beaux brasseur?, Justen.d.s Blackburn, ?Charlie Clark, Dr. Ramon G. Rivera, christine devine?, Elvira phins, brother Tyler and all the rest!

The Gospel of Socks

And then to our comments on our presentation last night called Socks:

3 Itty Bitty Piggies Story Time “Well, the Gospel of socks just totally socks!” You guys is clever. But really, the Gospel of Socks does suck. And the principle has to be taken out to the extremes to understand HOW badly it sucks. Remember, the sock wearing is just representative of ALL – ALL material applications to religion that are demanded by various institutions as MOST OF THEM WILL create material divisions and judgment among people. When I was LDS and was taught to take the sacrament it was ALWAYS with my right hand – always. And when I got to be about ten or eleven I would look around and watch others – most of them using only their right hand but a few – typically males – would use their left – and the rebellion was palpable. God knew this about human beings – and he showed through the Nation of Israel that material religion and its appeals will fail us as a group. So He made created a spiritual Kingdom established above that dwells in individual hearts that operates subjectively (it's all between the person and God) and is absent a material footprint other than the tabernacle of flesh housing it. Like little piggies said: “The Gospel of Socks just totally Socks!

Eunice B wrote: Thank you Shawn! Love your spirit and sincerity!

Thanks Eunice. Our longtime supporter and friend of the ministry, Larry Freestone.

The Power of Peace

Larry Freestone
Your sermons lower my blood pressure and bathe my soul in peace. The spirit of truth is evidence that you are definitely onto something of great intrinsic worth. God bless you and all those who follow your message.

Thank YOU my brother. Last week at CAMPUS we covered the passages in Luke where Jesus tells the disciples to cross over Lake Tiberias and in the crossing they get slammed by a storm. Most of us are familiar that Jesus was sleeping on a pillow and the disciples came to Him and said Lord we perish and he calmed the wind and the waves – bringing peace to the sea and to the hearts of those with Him.

Then they land and run into a demon-possessed man in the tombs – naked and cutting himself and breaking their chains and after time with Jesus we discover him clothed and sitting and as scripture says: In his right mind. Peaceful. In other words, this is the job, the result, the evidence that Jesus is in your life and not religion – peace. I would suggest that ANYTIME you find your blood-pressure rising, yourself stressed, burdened, argumentative, inordinately ticked off, hateful that it is a clear indication that something other than HIM is at work in you – and to let it go, and let Him take the controls – especially of your religious burdens. LET THEM GO.

Love and Condemnation

indigochild79 wrote:
Great show Shawn These are just my thoughts, but I think/hope those who believe will sooner or later understand that surface doesn't matter when it comes to love ….thank you and God bless.

Amen sister. I love a line from a Bad Religion song that says: You sit there and judge me and you think it makes a difference! Condemnation of others, for anything – I mean anything – does zero good. Instructing family and friends and children with patience and love – great. But condemnation is hollow and as futile as worry. LOVE. As Christ loves us and gave Himself for us.

Tyler R shared something interesting, saying: When I was a missionary I was sitting with my investigators when the people in front of us started rudely talking about my investigators' clothes (just loud enough that we could hear…) We looked at each other and they got up and left. We went by and they told us they would never go again. I agreed that was best and vowed that day that after my mission I was done with white shirts. The sad part about that is if and when I leave the church they will just point at my colorful shirts and say "he never believed"

In the brick and mortars, especially in Mormonism but in many of the rest – it is ALWAYS the fault of the departed who abandon the ship and never the fault of the ship or the crew. It comes with the territory and I thank Tyler for so poignantly reminding us of this.

Stephanie Smith
I love this message. I thank God for you and this ministry. And I thank God for people like you, Stephanie who will consider what we have to say.

Acts 15 and Burdens

coachmarc2002 writes: Shawn excellent insight into the nature of fallen mankind. I like your ideas. Something that came to mind while listening to your talk was Acts chapter 15 where some were troubling the gentiles saying they must be circumcised and follow the laws of Moses. It was determined that those things were an unnecessary burden but that they should abstain from a few things. Namely things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication.

Do you have any insight on why these things seemed to be necessary for those believers? I have an idea but I'm curious about what you think. Marc

I do have some ideas on this brother, as we taught through Acts a few years back and I learned then. A couple of things – anyone joining the Body or bride of Christ there were expected to keep themselves untainted from the world and their former carnal practices. This was a challenge for the Gentiles as they lived lives steeped in the flesh prior to coming to Christ.

Because Jesus was coming to take his Bride that the gates of hell would not prevail against, she was to be chaste – as evidenced by the worlds of the apostles and Jesus to the Seven Churches in Asia Minor.

A HUGE part of Gentile life in that time was

Pagan Temple Worship and Modern Application

Pagan temple worship – which included rites and rituals performed in their temples that included sacrificing animals, drinking its blood and engaging sexually with temple prostitutes – which in all likelihood this is what the fornication reference speaks to. It was a necessary rule for the Bride in that day as a means to keep her pure and undefiled as there was a constant pressure on her to assimilate these things into her life. That is why I think James gave this specific advice to them – and it is a good example of how many things do not have application to us now.

Personal Testimony and Deliverance

ExMormon4 ChristAlone

This episode brought back a lot of fond memory for me. I always knew when I sat across from the bishop at my worthiness interview that I really didn't need his "letter of accommodation". See, after a long downward spiral of addiction in my life and long period of inactivity to LDS church, the spirit of God alone delivered me in my darkest hour and I knew I didn't really need the bishop's stamp of approval years later when I returned to that church and he sat across from me asking me all sorts of uncomfortable personal questions pertaining to my quote worthiness.

See God delivered me from my sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. while I was still in my sin. (such a great point there) I guess you could say I was a born again Mormon myself. It's too bad it took almost another decade after that for me to find out that the LDS church was not what it claims to be and took my name off their rolls. Praise God, he delivered me Himself with 11 years sober and because of that experience I had with God, I remain a Christian. God bless brother.

Thank you for sharing this vital insight to what God is waiting to do for all people all the time always – without the infringement of Religion or Religious people.

Insightful Feedback

Contact 360 wrote

My goodness Shawn, your insights are so amazing! Love the idea of using socks to put a light on an ever-growing problem. We in England call it Coventry, where a person, or even an entire family, can be given the cold shoulder for just simply voicing a different point of view! Even if that viewpoint is correct, and stands with the teachings of the day! Of course, once again, I can only speak of my own experiences! And in no way wish to cause offense. But as they say, The truth will out.

Gospel love.

I love the humility of Moira – it exudes through every word.

Humility. Love. Faith. Him.

Don’t need too much more, folks.

Reflections on Religion and Relationship with God

EMAILS

Shawn:

I've discovered that religion is kinda demonic. 

1. Religion is man's attempt to control man's beliefs about God and how to connect with God.
2. Religion produces either PRIDE or SHAME with its followers. There is not much of middle ground.
3. Religionists don't play well in the church sandbox with liberated believers.

Relationship (adoption) with God is a wonderfully awesome thing. Keep up the inspired work, my Brother.

Jeff Nicholas jeffn89@yahoo.com

Mon, Sep 16, 9:29 PM (12 hours ago)

to me

Dear Shawn,

I have done a lot of research about the LDS church. Last week I wrote you and stated why I had left the church. These are two Bible verses that I believe also prove the church false. What are your thoughts on these verses?

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Jesus speaks this, therefore if the Book of Mormon was hidden for 1,700 years, then this verse would be a lie and his words would have passed away for all the generations who did not get to read the Book of Mormon. 

The second Bible verses are Galatians 3:23-29

Verse 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 
Verse 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we may be justified by faith.
Verse 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Verse 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Verse 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Verse 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Verse 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.

The scripture to me solidifies

Discussion on LDS Church Practices

that the LDS Church is false. This verse does not state if you belong to a certain true church, have gone on a mission, paid tithing, did temple work etc. Verse 26 and 28 stats it very clear. Verse 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Also verse 28 for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. This to me says if we believe in Christ and follow him and his teachings, then we are all one with him.

Thank you again, and keep up the great work.

Sincerely,

Jeff from Michigan

Unforgivable Sin and Teachings from John

Thomas Koziol

Hi Shawn,

I am currently listening to your messages on John from 2013 and you mentioned that there is one unforgivable sin, Jesus responded by saying, “I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.”

Is that a message to the Jews then or to Christians now?

Also I would love to get a pdf of any section of the TVAR.

Thank you,
Michele

Concerns about LDS Standards

From: Dom
Subject: LDS in trouble?
Message Body:
Hi Shawn,
I haven't paid tithing in about 4 years. I just pay when I'm interviewed for that week. I have chastity problems according to strict LDS standards and am married. I love eating out and spending money on Sundays! I just ask Jesus for forgiveness of my sins before any priesthood interviews and just say yes to all the questions. According to the LDS am I going to the telestial kingdom when I die? I just don't want to end up with Judas in outer darkness. This is my main concern.
Regards,
Dom

Reflections on LDS Sacraments

Brother Tyler brother3tyler@gmail.com

Shawn,
I have been excited to see what you would do with ReDux since the night I got to be in your audience the day you announced it! This new format worked great the first night and I look forward to listening tonight. As for my thoughts on LDS Sacraments. I think you hit the nail on the head last night that the prayer itself is locking members into bondage. A vicious cycle of self degradation by lofty goals that can't be met. It is for sure a driving force for members to lie and cheat their way to justify heaven.

Now when it comes to the bread and water. If all of it is symbolic then it hardly matters that it is so far off. The first night you explained how Christ has come for his church so it is not necessary to participate in this sacramental communion and I agree with you on the fact that he came, that his prophecies are fulfilled, that his laws are written in our hearts and minds, and that it is not necessary for our salvation. But I look at the Passover meal and think about how for generations this meal was practiced and the people would recite "I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt." and in the day of the Passover if you did not partake of the Lamb your firstborn son would die. You could not just sacrifice it and not eat it.

I am not saying that we need to partake of any churches wafer and wine to be saved. What I want to stress here is that the similitudes of the Bible are set out for us to learn how to worship the Lord and I don't see the Lord our God killing the first born children of an entire people just so two thousand years later He can say "Eh, Whatever". I believe that we should still break bread and wine when we meet together these days. As a final note, I want to use the example of Acts 2:46 which says they broke bread in their homes and ate together Every Day. I know you claimed that it was only for until Christ came. But I feel that it was a much more personal activity in the teaching and sharing of the gospel. A simple gesture that had huge divine implications that was taken by men and used to subjugate man. I don't feel it is right to say it is done away but I agree with you that religions have abused it, misused it, and replaced it. Keep up the good work Shawn.

Your friend in Christ