In this teaching, Shawn McCraney contrasts Mormonism with Christianity by emphasizing that Mormonism focuses on actions and works to earn favor with God, while Christianity centers on faith and allowing God to work through individuals by the Spirit. He encourages believers to focus on a direct relationship with Jesus and suggests resources like TalkingToMormons.com, ExMormonFiles.com, and CheckMyChurch.org to help those transitioning from Mormonism or seeking to deepen their faith in Jesus beyond institutionalized religion.
Emulating Christ's humility, particularly as He forgave those who crucified Him, is vital for Christians today who should learn to seek divine forgiveness for those who wrong them, despite personal grievances. This message underscores the importance of humility in the Christian faith, a trait exemplified by Jesus, emphasizing the call for praying for forgiveness for offenders, even amidst suffering or adversity, which remains a distinctive element of Christian doctrine.
The teaching emphasizes the importance of humility in the Christian life, illustrating that Jesus consistently chose humility by prioritizing God's will over his own desires and by enduring suffering without retaliation. Believers are encouraged to follow this example by humbling themselves, valuing others over themselves, and exercising mercy, as this aligns with God's call for grace and uplifting those who embody humility.
Embrace humility and gratitude as pathways to inner peace and strength, especially when facing challenges like attack and injustice; by continuously choosing humility in these situations, you align yourself with the teachings of Christ, which fosters a spirit of gratitude for the blessings in your life. Gratitude shifts focus from what is lacking to appreciating what God has provided, helping to counteract anger and bitterness.
Heart of the Matter: 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..
Show 30B: Nothing to Fear
Live Follow-Up
July 14th, 2020
Last night we had a show we called “nothing to fear,” and it was one where I talked all about grace – the grace of God. As per some comments I have received, I guess all the teachings on what “hangs in the balance” have caused some of you to fret and worry. Even though our message was called don’t worry, I have still caused some of you to fear that you are not gonna make it. First of all I am sorry. Secondly, it is all about FAITH and LOVE.
I had a couple of you even say that the tenor of the messages of late sound like Mormonism where people have to earn our salvation, etc. So, let me quickly explain the difference between the Mormon idea of salvation and the Christian relative to how they each tell people how to live their lives. The key to understanding being a Mormon is doing. The key to understanding being a Christian is letting or allowing. Mormons do things to earn their place and love with God. They DO temple work, the DO their hometeaching. The DO what is right lets the consequences follow, battle for freedom in courage and might. They trim their hair and wear modest clothes, and pay their tithes and attend their temple, and meetings. As their old hymn, “Have I done any good in the world today” used to say: The world has no use for the drone.
Mormonism versus Christianity
In Christianity, it’s never been about doing, it’s about letting. Allowing. Letting and allowing what? Letting and allowing God to work in and through you, past you. It’s about Him teaching you to live by the spirit and its fruits not by the will of the flesh. The Christian focus is always on God working on the inner man or woman first, on each believer to allow God to help them choose Him and His ways over their own. Mormonism is about doing the will and ways of Men. Christianity is about letting God work on your heart, mind and soul with us getting out of the way. Simply put, Mormonism is about materialism and Christianity is about the Spirit.
The differences are night and day and I never want the messages I give to appear or sound like you must “do” Christians will LET. And I forever want to encourage believers to allow (and let) God.
Recommended Ministries and Sites
Okay, I want to reiterate some sites I really enjoy and then offer you a new one. I want to remind you that I endorse these few websites and ministries because they are all about bringing Mormons out of that man-made religion and into a direct relationship with Jesus Christ OR they are about helping people see predatory Christian religion which inevitably enables people to walk more freely with Christ. Bottom line – all of these sites and the ministries behind them are PRO Jesus and Jesus alone while placing little emphasis on institutionalized religion.
The first ministry you ought to consider is www.talkingtomormons.com. Danny and Seth have gone to great lengths to provide really good information about Mormonism RELATIVE to Christian truths. Great site full of excellent information.
The second site is also to people who have been LDS but explores those who were once Mormon but are now sold-out Christians through interviews. It’s called www.exmormonfiles.com. I love this site because it talks to former LDS people who have not abandoned the faith in Jesus Christ. Check it out.
Next we have a site not only exmormons should consider but all people wanting the truth, and that site is called, checkmychurch.org. And what you will find there are unbiased reports about what people will find in the churches here in Utah and Idaho. There are some great little churches and there are some institutional places that prey on their congregates by feeding them religion all the while robbing them in Jesus name. Checkmychurch.org. Even if you live outside of the intermountain west, checkmychurch is a model for what could be available on all churches throughout the nation and world.
TalkingtoMormons
Exmormonfiles
And Checkmychurch
Finally, a number of weeks ago I told you all a story about a tight Evangelical who readily dismissed a little illustrated book we created for children called, The King’s Colt. I told you that we
The Launch of Bjornbooks
Would be offering it to you with a 100% money-back guarantee that it will touch your heart for Jesus and that it will be loved by children who read the story.
It is now available for purchase by going to www.bjornbooks.com. I will tell you about Bjornbooks in a minute, but right now The King’s Colt is available in print or ebook form at www.bjornbooks.com
WITH A MONEYBACK GUARANTEE
Now, as always, if you cannot afford 7.99 for a children’s book, you can email me and we will send one to you for free. My email is shawn@alatheamedia.com. This is risky business because there are takers out there who no matter what will seize upon the opportunity to get something free. I don’t recommend preying upon the ministry that way, however, if you are a single parent and have children, and cannot afford this book we will send you one for them. Its worth it.
Just to let you know each of the printed books cost us almost 5.00 bucks each and they are another 2.50 to mail domestic (not including the packaging) so like all of our books we are not in this to make money – we are in this to bless the lives of your children and grandchildren with a tale about Jesus and a rebellious donkey.
So what is this new site about? We have a lot of writings coming forth – a lot – and we are launching our own small publishing company. Hence, bjornbooks.com (explain name). We are even looking at some other titles. So, there it is – and the first title, the Kings Colt is the first title being released by our small publishing house, Bjornbooks.com
The Importance of Humility in Christianity
Okay. Before we get to your comments from last week, from other shows and from last night’s presentation on Not fearing, I want to talk with you about a Christian characteristic that is steadily becoming more and more important in the life of a Christian as I study. And while this trait has always been an essential to the life and heart of God’s Sons and Daughters, it is becoming even more vital in this strange age and world we live in today.
Naturally, when we look to the life and deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. of Jesus our King, we see this trait embodied beyond human comprehension – and that trait is his humility.
Jesus' Humility on the Cross
When Jesus was on the cross, suffering immeasurably he said
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
This line, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do,” is seen as a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 53:12 which says:
“He made intercession for the transgressors.”
The prayer was obviously offered for those who were guilty of putting him to death but it is not certain whether he referred to the Jews or to the Roman soldiers at this time, or both, though it seems like he spoke of the Romans as they were indeed ignorant of who He was and were merely obeying order like they would with any criminal.
Of course, we learn from this that it is “like Christ” to pray for those who are hurting us, OFFENDING US. And the prayer is that God would forgive them – which is something unique to the faith – praying for those who harm or have harmed us to be forgiven. What a concept? To pray for those who hurt or have hurt us. And in my estimation this requires some level of humility – as does loving all, doing good to those who do us evil and the like.
In Luke’s gospel account the next verse after the one I just read says
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.”
After the Jewish leaders say this to him, Luke tells us that the Romans soldiers say the very same thing to Him, and then the two robbers say the same! Save yourself if you are a King. On down the line – all of them telling him that if he was truly the King of the Jews to save himself and come down from the cross – with the robbers adding, “and save us too.”
Can you imagine the humility required to both be in insufferable physical pain and to then have these three separate groups of people attacking you WHEN you have the power to wipe them out, to call down legions of angels, to turn
The Principle of Humility
From his reaction we know that Jesus humbled himself, and looked to His Father’s will . . . instead of his own. I have always maintained, because I think the scripture maintains, that in the relationship between God and human beings a two-way street exists. He grants his grace, we choose to believe and abide by faith; he gives his Spirit, we choose to receive it and bear its fruits or not. He provides knowledge of Himself in creation and His word and we choose to humble ourselves in the face of it – or not.
There are places in scripture, four in the Old Testament (Exodus 10:3; 2nd Chronicles 34:27; Proverbs 6:3; Micah 6:8) and others in the New Testament, that when speaking of humility, tell believers to “humbling themselves.” So here was Jesus, God with us, capable of destroying these mockers before him who were wagging their heads at him, but in the depths of self-imposed humility, chose to let them do as they would without rebuke. I’m convinced he actually could have come down from that cross – but instead chose (the path of humility as a self-imposition) to remain so that he could save others.
Humility in Scripture
When healthy and walking the earth Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 18:4:
“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
In Matthew 23:12 he said:
“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
James said in James 4:6 “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” And three verses later added, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
Finally, the Apostle Peter wrote in 1st Peter 5:5-6: “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (And added)
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.
The more I live this life, and the more I am in the word, the more import I discover in the principle of our “choosing to humble ourselves.” That is what His Son did, that is what His Sons and Daughters will do. It is the holding of our tongues when we could assassinate. It is stepping aside and letting others take the limelight, the credit and of being right.
It is turning the cheek, going the extra-mile; and is found in gratitude and praise when we are suffering; it is being little in this world, thinking more highly of the other person – it is mercy, mercy, mercy – which includes withholding condemnation of others.
In terms of personal characteristics, “humility – contrition” is high, high, high on the list for the Son and Daughter of God. It begins to occur when you allow yourself, by the spirit, to assess people and situations and giving them the benefit of the doubt, by letting love override flesh and realizing that God loves humans that are humble.
Apostle Paul's Take on Humility
Listen really carefully to what Paul writes in the 2nd Chapter of Philippians:
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Everytime we choose to die daily with Christ, we do it when we submit to the death of our will, our flesh, our ways – and submit to the will of God. By nature I am in my flesh super attuned to fighting, to resisting, to correcting, to judging, to condemnation, to self, and to warfare against others. But over time God by the
Choosing Humility
Spirit through Christ has taught me to try – try and choose humility. That in the face of attack, injustice, unfairness, irritants, stupidity, and even malevolence toward my person, to humble myself, and die to self with Christ.
It takes time – and we never really arrive – but each victory does lend to more successes, and the inner peace and strength that comes from Him to us as we choose this path far outweighs the momentary glory of fleshly victories.
Connection with Gratitude
And one more thing – the ability to humble ourselves comes hand and hand with gratitude and being grateful for all that God HAS done in your life, and doesn’t flourish too well when we focus on what we are lacking. Gratitude pointed to God enables the human soul to step down from our angry bitter cynical high-horses and to humbly thank the Grand Creator for the Good we have, rather than on the Good we do not.
Opening the Phone Lines
Okay, lets open up the phone lines – if anyone cares to call – and in the meanwhile Seth, give me your device.
