Announcements and New Endeavors

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 try and worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

I’m your host, Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion..

Show 48 474 Ontology of God part V
December 1st, 2015. Our prayer this evening will be given by . . . . _______________________.

Alright, three things. First, we want to announce to our audience that beginning Tuesday, January 5th, 2016, this ministry will begin airing a new program right before Heart of the Matter. It’s called, Breaking Bread and it is with Warren Puckett, who will serve as presenter/host. Half hour long from 7:30 PM Mountain Time – again – right before Heart of the Matter. And this is brother Warren Puckett. Tell us about the show, Warren.

Additionally, we promised people last Christmas a copy of another book free if they participated in the Holiday Special. Well it’s about ready. It’s called: “Knife to a Gun Fight” and it is at the top of my favorite books we’ve produced. Now in the interim we’ve also released a free book that you can download called, “It’s not the end of the World.” We hope you will take advantage of this information by going to www.hotm.tv but for those of you who purchased last year's Holy-day Special expect this newest release, Knife to a Gun Fight, within the next five or six weeks. We appreciate your patience but think the information will be worthy of the wait.

The Danger of Institutional Religion

Finally, don’t usually talk films or movies here (entirely too subjective) but I saw one last week called “Spotlight” and I recommend all adults take a minute to go and view it. For years this ministry has cried and complained over the evils of institutional religion and this film gives one real example of what they are and why they exist. Even if you don’t see the movie do yourselves (and your families a favor) and walk from any man, woman, or religion that inserts itself between you and God. Do not give any of them your allegiance. Refuse their leadership, counsel, and demands. But DON’T (beat) Don’t throw God out with the Bathwater. The reason we can reject institutional faith is because God sent us His Son who lives in us by the Holy Spirit. If we have the Spirit why on earth would we need the counsel and directives of flesh and blood? We don’t. Go see Spotlight. It represents all that is wrong with institutional religion.

Thought-Killing Clichés

I was talking with two of my daughters last week and the subject of thought-killing clichés came up. I am guilty, guilty, guilty of using them. And I want to repent and change from the practice. Anytime we describe people based on one or two negative aspects of their person, out of context and without any history, we are guilty of using them to kill others. Jim? Oh he’s gay. Doesn’t matter that Jim cares for his aging Mom, volunteers at the shelter, or loves God – the fact that Jim is gay is enough to kill Jim in the heart of others.

Mike? He’s an ex-con. Cindy? She had an abortion. Tom? He’s a liberal. Grant? Can’t keep a job. Been married twice. They make our lives easier, and keep conversation fluid, but are an injustice. I think it’s why Jesus said to let our words be yes and no for the rest amounts to evil.

The LDS use thought-killing clichés among themselves in their meetings. If someone asks a difficult question defenders of the Church will say: “Is that important to your salvation?” And most people, feeling guilty, go silent. The word “apostate” is big with them too, as is “anti-Mormon.” Little words and lines that categorize others in such a narrow, limiting way that any good they do represent is lost and any influence they may have is deflated.

Christians are just as guilty. Instead of “apostate” Christians like the term, “Heretic.” Step in a room of 100 Christians and announce that Bill (who isn’t present) as a “heretic" and I believe that 90 to 99 of the people present there will carry suspicion in their heart toward Bill forever more. “Cult” is another one of these words.

One of the most difficult things in this ministry is being misunderstood. And while the admitted onus for most of this must lie with my inability to be clear, “thought-killing” clichés add to the frustration. Instead of explaining my full eschatological stance (with love and consideration) brothers and sisters will simply say: “McCraney believes Jesus has already returned.” Boom!

The Importance of Grace and Understanding

A monotheist who believes Jesus is God in the flesh, they say: “McCraney rejects the Trinity.” Boom! Instead of using the content from hours and hours of presentation on the subject of eternal punishment, they say: “McCraney doesn’t believe in hell.” Boom! And the list goes on and on.

Maybe we can all begin to step away from assassinating other believers' characters in this vicious and unfair manner and take the words of Paul to heart where he said:

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

I am willing to wave the white flag. Are you? I hold to this because I am convinced if we don’t, we will be found guilty once this life is over.

This past month we have been emailing out our recent newsletter. In it, I explained our new approach to Mormonism was aimed at trying to show the areas where Mormonism and Christianity are not as far apart as they might seem and where Mormonism goes right (and Christianity goes wrong) and vice versa. Apparently, from the following email, we’ve got the whole thing wrong as David wrote:

And with that, how about a moment from the Word.

James: Mercy and Judgment

We have worked through the NT books to cull the passages that support Christian Subjectivity. Tonight we’re in James. There have been people who have maintained that God’s mercy cannot rob justice. That in order for Him to be fair, mercy and justice must be equally balanced. According to our first passage tonight in James, this is not so. It reads:

James 2:13 “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”

Most translations put the last line of this verse as: “Mercy TRIUMPHS over justice,” OR “mercy glories over justice.” In other words, God DOES allow His mercy to overwhelm the demands of justice. In my life these words clearly mean: “Error on the side of mercy with all people and leave justice and judgment to God.”

Then, one of the major points of subjective ChristianityA direct, personal relationship with God—free from institutional authority, guided by personal relationship, faith and agape love. is because our relationships with God are between He and the individual, we ought to hold our tongues and withhold from evil speaking of one another.

James 4:11-12 says: “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?”

I do understand the need to properly and rightly divide the Word and for discussions, but when the talking has been done judgment ought to be over.

Listening to Paul's Wisdom

On that last line where James asks: “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” I can’t help but think of the fantastic words of Paul speaks of himself in 1st Corinthians as a “steward of the mysteries of God” and says

1st Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. (But then he continues and says)
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Goodness, how much better the faith would be if all believers could embrace such an attitude.

Finally, in James, we have an awesome verse of subjectivity – James 4:17 – which says “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace..” This places our Christian lives lived squarely on the shoulders of the individual, his or her conscience, and their respective stance before God.

One more thing before we get to our message tonight.

There has been all sorts of fallout from the decision of the LDS leadership to refuse.

Decision on Blessing and Baptizing Children in Same-Sex Marriages

to bless and baptize children living in same sex marriages.

I want to point out a few things that may have already been addressed in social media – but because of the Kunzler speech I wasn’t prepared to share my thoughts.

The first thing is the LDS are accomplishing with the decision ought to be apparent to all – and its exactly what they wanted from this – to get rid of the liberal riff-raff presently in the church today. On the outside looking in we tend to think that these are a bunch of blundering old men who are out of touch with the ways the world works. Wake the freak up. They know exactly how the world works because they epitomize the running of it.

And remember, Mormonism is all about power and creating a master race of good people to rule the earth. No matter what they say Mormonism is not about catering to the weak and lost and needy like biblical Christians. It will help and assist them but only so long as the lost, and weak and needy do not effect their strength, growth, or goals to dominate. Now when we think about it, what segment of LDS members are probably create the biggest drag and drain on its wards and stakes? It’s not the conservative living, gainfully employed tithe payers who obey the rules. It’s the people who are difficult, who kick against the party lines, who lose jobs and question authority, right? And it could be those people who struggle with making ends meet, who have the bad teens, the people on welfare, and those who see life differently.

Impact on the Church and its Members

Will conservative, right winged, family values members freak over this decision? Hardly. And they are the core units that keep the church powerful, rich and thriving. So why not make an administrative announcement that gets all the people (who are seen as subpar by LDS standards) to jump ship? It’s a great move and will only serve to make the institution stronger because it will validate the families who toe the party line and it will invalidate and alienate the families who don’t! We have LOOONG maintained that when it comes to “institution building” and survival the LDS are masters because the people – especially the struggling people – are not primary focus. The Church is primary focus.

In true Christianity the institution or the church will always take a back seat to the needs of the lost, suffering and needy. That’s why true churches of Christ often limp along month to month. Certainly this decision will cause pain in the ranks of the members who straddle the line – those families who are both ardent and faithful to the church but who have a homosexual in the home. It will painfully cause them to choose between the church and their gay family. But in the end this cleansing is not by chance and serves them purposefully. So there’s the first point.

Institutional Priorities

Secondly, (and this is a point we made a few weeks back) is ANY religion that will withhold its mandated rites for salvation from children due to the circumstances in their lives proves – proves – that the institution cares more about its own survival and strength rather than the needs of the most needy. This is the opposite of true Christianity. Our friend Reed pointed out that the LDS article of faith that says:

“We believe that mankind will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam transgressions”

ought to be changed and say

“We believe that mankind will be punished for their own sins (and for the sins of their gay parents) and not for Adam transgressions.”

Finally, the main problem with this whole freaking bloody mess related to homosexuals and gays and blah blah blah is Christianity and most of those who somehow claim to represent its founder, has made SIN its focus rather than the solution to sin – Jesus Christ. I guarantee you that every single person on this earth who believes they have the right to attack gays has sin in their life and ought to first look in their own eye before looking into others. This is not hyperbole – it’s what Jesus taught. The point of the faith is someone came to save us in and from our sin – all of our sins – all the time and no matter what they are . . . by faith.

Conclusion

And so the message is believe, look to Jesus, trust in Him and let Him work with you.

Exploration of Theological Views on God

It has NEVER ever been to eradicate sin from this world or from its inhabitants – that is IMPOSSIBLE. So while the LDS are making asinine rules to clean their own house of difficult riff and raff, the Evangelicals are not much better, and fuel these fires in their own ways. We need to preach and share Jesus with everyone all the time. That is what Christians do.

Alright back on October 6th we started in comparing and contrasting the good, bad and the ugly found in Mormonism and in Evangelical Christianity and we began with doing four shows on each respective views on the make-up of God (or ontology of God).

We said that the LDS descriptions of God are best defined as henotheistic, with polytheistic overtones that include tritheistic descriptions of Father, Son and Holy Ghost . . . and that the various Christian views on the make-up of God include the Trinitarian, the various Modalist views and the Unitarian. Do you remember? If not you can go to our archives and watch four shows where we covered this content.

LDS First Vision

In the last show (before we got side-tracked with Kunzler) I said that as a means to really understand the development of LDS ideas on the make-up of God we have to examine what the LDS call their founder Joseph Smith and his “first vision.” The first vision is a story told in Mormonism about Joseph Smith going to a grove of trees to ask God which church was true and it resulting in a visitation from heaven.

But before we examine these visions and how they play a part in the LDS ontology of God there is one area I want to clear up relative to the Christian views on the make-up or ontology of God. I want to do this because Christians can really get smug in their certainty on the make-up of God not realizing they too have embraced ideas that cannot be supported in scripture.

New Testament Hierarchy

In chapter four of 1st Peter 4:11 Peter says we ought to be hospitable to all (ready) “that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” There is a hierarchy presented to us here –

First, “that GOD may be glorified”
Second, “through Jesus Christ”
And third, while not stated but implied “by (us believers) using the gifts He has given us to us “hospitably” on others.”

That is the New Testament Hierarchy. All glory is always given to God through Jesus Christ in all we do. 1st Corinthians 10:31 says:

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

Peter adds the addendum, “Through Jesus Christ,” meaning because of Him as our mediator to “the invisible God” (through His victories over life, deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. and sin) we are able to have and live by the Spirit which moves us to “love in such a way” (here on earth) that God is honored.

Simplifying the Hierarchy

This hierarchy is difficult to understand (and relate to at times) and as a result many people, as a means to simplify matters, focus on only one element of it. The LDS, having made Jesus “their elder brother,” tend to diminish His capacity down to being “THE Savior, “our perfect example” who “gave His life for us” while the total focus for them is on Heavenly Father and their desire to live with Him again – as families and as gods.

But at the other end of the spectrum are those sold out Jesus people who make Him the focal point of all things to the point that when they speak of God it is Jesus, when they worship God, it is Jesus, and when they pray to God it is to Jesus – to the point that Yahway (who is now referred to as the Father) is almost lost in the mix entirely and to whom glory rarely given – as Peter and Paul all say it should.

In my most humble opinions I tend to think that all of these ideas are a by-product of faulty tradition-based teachings accepted in the LDS and in the Christian communities at large. The subject is obviously not the easiest to tease apart. But let’s dip our toes in the water by reading a simple passage from John (and from the Words of Jesus Himself) who said in John 17:3:

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou (the only True God) hast sent.”

What a passage!

Eternal Life and the Knowledge of God

To say that “THIS is LIFE ETERNAL” to know both “the Only True God AND Jesus Christ whom (the only True God) has sent. The Greek “might know” (ginôskôsin) is the Present active subjunctive with hina (the subject clause) which means, "should keep on knowing." I would strongly, strongly, strongly suggest that when Jesus was speaking these words that He was NOT referring only to the limited ontological facts of the make-up or construction of God but to our epistemological knowledge (or our knowing them in and from the Spirit and with the mind and heart and soul).

Since He is eternal, to keep on knowing Him might also suggest an “eternal continuation of knowing Him,” something that would include the constant morphing of our feebly ideas about Him and His person rather than glomming onto traditions as a means to feel certain. Religious minded men have long tried to take the words of Jesus in John 17 and force others to agree to an accepted standard (agreed upon by the masses and supported by tradition) relative to the ontological make-up of God – with most mindlessly adhere to the tradition called Trinity. And as stated, Mormons glom on to their unique henotheistic “three Gods of one purpose model.

Understanding the Ontology of God

But the actual ontological knowledge of God is very very difficult to perfectly find and this may be why there are so many variations and differences among people who DO know God epistemologically . . . but still disagree about Him ontologically. This ministry has ALWAYS maintained that there are people who are His – saved Christians – who have a very messed up ontological view of God to the point that they may not even know the name “Jesus” while having been saved by Him.

I would zealously maintain that knowing God and His Son Jesus epistemologically, however, is everything to “life eternal,” EVERYTHING – and that He is the sole reason anyone will ever enter the presence of God – no skipping around this biblical fact. But when we take our impressions of His and the Father’s physical make-up (and then draw lines in the sand to establish tenets of conformity and certainty) we have missed the mark we ought to be seeking, which is epistemological understanding.

Challenges of Dogmatism

One of the most quoted lines ardent dogmatists snidely use on people who differ with them relative to ontology is – “Well, you worship a different Jesus.” Don’t we all, ontologically, to some degree or another, “worship another Jesus?” And if this is the case about someone who actually lived among us what on earth can we say about our true ontological understanding of His invisible Father?

The line, “you worship another Jesus,” automatically erects enormous barricades, creates a defensive attitude in those to whom it is said, and proudly plants a flag that screams, “I know the truth about Jesus and you don’t!” It’s this kind of thinking, taken to an extreme, that convinces people that they have the right to “kill others” in the cause and name of God. Admittedly, there are false Christ’s in the world, but when it comes to the ontology of God I would suggest we have to be very, very careful to avoid arrogance and presuppositional stances against those who seek God in Spirit and in truth.

So where Jesus words could not be more true regarding a person’s epistemological knowledge of God, saying “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent,” we have to be cautious in thinking we have an ability to concretely establish God and His ontological make-up and then demand it . . . of others.

All that being said, I do want to take a stab at trying to explain what I believe is a good and reasonable ontological description of God (using the Bible) – just as a means to help clear the way for some better discussion among ourselves – whatever that understanding winds up being. I have learned a great deal in this area from others and I have to express my gratitude for their work on this specific topic which has helped me greatly understand why I read the Bible the way I do.

Genesis and the Plurality of God

So why don’t we start with the first verse in the Bible that is used to support the idea that God is a plural – twenty six verses into chapter 1 of Genesis we read: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…." Who is being referred to by the use

Plural Pronouns and Their Implications

Does the use of the plural pronoun “our” imply that God is more than one? Does it indicate that Jesus pre-existed the incarnation as the second person of the Trinity? Now, this is not the only time in the Bible where a plural pronoun is used of God. The plural usage is found in . . . five hundred other places? Nope. A hundred other places? Nope. Ten other places? No again. Three other places folks – there are a total of four places in the Old Testament where we discover the plural noun as it relates to God.

First in Genesis one:
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness….”

Then in Genesis 3:22:
“God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil.”

At the building of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:7), God said,
"Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech."

And finally when Isaiah heard the Lord say in Isaiah 6:8,
"Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"

Interpretations of Plurality in Scripture

All through the Bible God is described as one, one, one God . . . and yet in these four places, we discover a plurality mentioned relative to Him. And these four passages are used ad nauseum by Trinitarians and LDS henotheists alike to support their pet man-made definitions of the makeup of God – who is one God.

What do these four plural pronouns applied to God mean? Who is the “us” spoken of here? Who are the “our?” Do these passages prove that Jesus was with God the Father in a council before the foundations of the world as the LDS claim? Do they support the Trinitarians' arguments? I would say neither – and I think we can give good biblical reason – which we will offer next week.

Transitioning from Mormonism

Many people in Mormonism are coming to see for the first time in their lives that the institution has lied to them, that their history is not what it has claimed, and that its teachings are unbiblical and that its leadership does not represent Christ or His ideals. But more and more these once devout souls are winding up in atheism. Why? Because they can see the fault lines in Evangelical Christianity and its traditions and cannot get reasonable biblical answers to their questions and concerns.

So we establish ministries to help the LDS exit from Mormonism but these ministries are run by people who have embraced another set of traditions and religion and who will appeal to the VERY SAME rationale to which the LDS appeal! It works like this:

You used to eat carrots as a Mormon, now you eat celery as an Evangelical. You used to wear white shirts, now you wear Tommy Bahamas. You used to go to a ward, now you go to this church. You used to think of God as three, now you think of Him as three in one. You used to pay tithes . . . now you . . . pay tithes! This is not what Jesus meant in John 17 when He said “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou (the only True God) hast sent.”

This is moving human assets from one set of religious approaches to another. And the only place any seeker of truth should be led is to an emancipated, liberated life that comes by faith in God through Christ.

About CAMPUS

It’s called CAMPUS. And you can access CAMPUS online by going to www.CAMPUSCHURCH.TV. Why do I say we do it for you? Because you can join us live every Sunday and never need to show your face. Because it’s a verse-by-verse study of the Scripture unencumbered by any religious tradition. You can come here or watch for free – we place no pressure for you to pay a cent. There are no memberships, there is no accountability to me or anyone else (except God) and you are free, encouraged, and welcome to differ with the views presented if you wish. Take a look!

That’s www.CAMPUSCHURCH.TV. Every week – 10 and 2:30 – Milk and Meat.

This past month we have been emailing out our recent newsletter. In it I explained our new approach to Mormonism was aimed at…

Exploring the Complexities Between Mormonism and Christianity

At trying to show the areas where Mormonism and Christianity are not as far apart as they might seem and where Mormonism goes right (and Christianity goes wrong) and vice versa. Apparently from the following email we’ve got the whole thing wrong as David wrote:

After reading your last news letter, I have to responed. Let's get to the point of your news letter. Their is no likeness between the Mormon faith & the christian faith. The mormons depend on works to get them to their planet,and the christian looks to the cross, where Jesus shed His precious blood.(Hebrews 9:22, without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.) The mormon faith is built on a counterfeit Jesus. Joseph Smith was a false prophet straight from the pit of hell. Joseph, or whoever wrote the book of mormon,must have been smoking dope to think up all those lies inside that book. That book has demonic powers. I'm guilty of ripping up many mormon bibles. I hate anything that's false. You never see a cross on a mormon temple, do you? Satan has the mormon followers duped. It is very sad to see people so deceived think they are going to a planet of utter bliss, when in reality they are on a broadroad of destruction. The last thing I've got to say about the mormon church is it’s a cult – plain & simple.

Questions of Faith

FROM ROBBIE

Shawn,

I just had a few questions I was hoping you could answer (or give some guidance):

1. Homosexuality: what is the Bible’s true stance on homosexuality and what should one do to deal with it?

2. Biblical Studies: how can one keep their faith in the Bible strong in the face of some biblical scholar’s views (I’ve been taking a college Bible class and what is said is quite disheartening. I.e. some letters not written by Paul, gospels not written by who is traditionally thought to have written them, insertions into the text, untruthfulness of the narratives, etc.)

3. What can I do to worship God “in Spirit and in truth” while I am looking for a good church to attend?

I ask that you please keep these questions private. Thank you so much for your time and thoughts.

Robbie

Reflections from a Lifetime Mormon

FROM ANDREA

Subject: What is this life?!?!?!

Message Body:

Hi,

My husband and I are both lifetime Mormons, raised our five children to be questioning Mormons…we wanted them to think for themselves. Ha ha that was the best thing we ever did because they investigated everything! I couldn’t understand why they didn’t want to go to church anymore. They came to me with things they’d found online and I gave them the answers I’d been programmed to give.

It came time for my oldest son to go on a mission. He told us he couldn’t go. With tears in his eyes he told us he didn’t want to be disrespectful, but he couldn’t possibly go preach lies to people for 2 years, and that we shouldn’t even want him to. We didn’t pressure him to go, but I watched as all of the other boys his age went. The thing is – I knew those boys. They hadn’t treated my son very well, and here they were being praised to high heaven while my son – a very gently, loving soul, was looked down upon.

I was still in denial and blamed myself for his "falling away". I beat myself up 24/7….really just believed I had failed. I was sitting in Sacrament Mtg one Sunday praying and I finally thought, "What kind of a religion makes you feel like you have no worth? That you fail on a daily basis? That that you have no hope?" From experience, I knew my son was ten times the person some of those boys were – and this "religion" was putting up a thick wall between my son and I. It couldn’t be right!

In the meantime, my daughter went on an LDS mission. We told her it was her decision but that she should just preach Jesus and love and not worry so much about baptizing people. Having served a mission myself, I knew the kind of pressure she would be under but I have tried to write letters which are truthful, testify of Christ and stress the New Testament.

After she left I started reading and studying everything I could find about the church and was blown away by the deception and the mind control that occurs from the moment of birth. I was angry, then sad, then angry again….still somewhat angry but moving forward. I've

Navigating Faith Transitions and Seeking New Spiritual Paths

shared everything with my husband and family and they're all on the same page I am. But my daughter is due to come home from her mission next month and I don't know how to handle it. I know all the lies she's been being fed. I've sent her a few articles…about Joseph and the seer stone, and this new mess with the children of gay parents.

Do you have any ideas as to where I should begin with her? I need to give her just time to be, but I also don't want to be deceptive. (Also I've learned to like coffee in the morning!! ha ha)

I'd like to say I've transitioned from Mormonism smoothly…but I have panic attacks at times and think that I'll be stricken down for leading my children astray. Some therapy may be in order.

Thank you for your ministry. You people have saved my sanity! I appreciate the sacrifice your family makes so that you can reach so many! Love to all of you!

Andrea

Finding a Church Home

From THE MURPHYS

Subject: we left the church five weeks ago!

Message Body:

We live in a small town called Burney in Ca. There are only a handful of local churches. We are very confused right now. We are not sure which one is most suitable as an alternative Christian church. Some have web pages that make them seem interesting, others make them seem like they may do a lot of ranting and soap boxing. I want to make sure that we don't accidentally join another cult or any church that has extra-biblical books. If you, or someone qualified could briefly do a web check of the Burney Ca churches and give us an educated guess as to which one could be most appropriate, it would be very helpful. Like we said, we are very confused and need a little guidance. Our local churches are probably not ready for us. We have three children to think of who need Christ in their lives.

Spiritual Journeys and Challenges

FROM MARK
Thanks, Shawn. I just sent him an email letting him know (politely, of course), what I thought of his devotional. It was wrong on so, so many levels. Hey, just wanted to thank you so much for what you do. I'm a 48-year old "active" but unbelieving member of the church. I live in Provo (stone's throw from the temple; trust me, I've tried hitting it a few times! Ha ha, jk), returned missionary, 4 kids (one on a mission), faithful LDS wife. I've been on a 12-year journey of spiritual discovery that's nearly led me out of the church, but I've stayed mainly out of fear; fear of losing my wife and family, fear of "letting go" of all I've known, etc. I could bore you with the details, but it's been a long, lonely and very painful journey.

Through all of this, I have to admit I have felt promptings, as I've contemplated what to do with my situation, that I should just read the bible and believe in Christ. And I have, and I've come to realize that the simple, beautiful truths found there have been so disfigured and hidden in LDS theology as to make them nearly impossible to find in the LDS church. In addition to what's been changed, they have literally replaced the fulfilled Law with the church. I mean, they literally rebuilt the temple veil–crazy! Christ set mankind free, and the church sewed up the gash in the veil. I found your podcasts a few weeks ago (I'm up to #14 from 2006–I have a ways to go!) and it's been like a blast of clean, cool, fresh air to my tired soul. Honestly. I agree so much with what you preach, from the fact that ordinances were nailed the cross with Jesus, to the need to be born again, etc. What you say–and how you say it–resonates so strongly with me and with where I am.

I wanted to thank you for your efforts. I want to believe. I want to know the Lord. I want to be born again, as I know I cannot save myself and I can't remain where I am spiritually, or mentally. But man, taking that step–of trusting in the Lord and "letting go" of my life–is hard. I haven't done that yet, and I know it's because of my fear, my weaknesses. I hope to. Soon. Anyway, I'm sure you get these kinds of emails a lot, so I appreciate you reading and your ministry. Take care, Mark

Seeking Guidance as a Young Believer

From: Reed

Subject: Advice

Message Body:

Shawn,

I'm a high school student. A girl that I have been romantically involved with for

Q&A on Faith and Beliefs

awhile is a Mormon. Firstly, I'd like to thank you for this ministry, because if I hadn't seen your YouTube videos, I might've not seen the truth and might have become LDS. Secondly, I love this girl. Not in a lovey-dovey, high school crush way. I want her to know Christ the Lord and the True and Living God. Do you have any advice for me?

Sincerely,

Reed Sweet

Concerns About Church Practices

FROM SANDRA
Dear shawn, I've always enjoyed your shows and watch them whenever I can. I was surprised, that you didn't understand the depth, of the churches, banning of children getting baptized. It's my understanding that it doesn't extend just to children living with SS parents. I'm given to understand it extends to children living with a straight parent, and the other is gay! Please check out the Facebook site: suffer the little children. And read some of their accounts! Thanks in advance,
Laura.

From: Sandra Estrella

Subject: New downloadable book

Message Body:

Hi, For some reason, the new book Shawn has mentioned will not download for me. I guess I don't have the right programs or something, but I was wondering if I could get a hard copy of it? I purchased the bundle last year that was offered with the hope of receiving the newest book Shawn was writing, but never did receive anything. Could this be the one he was promising, and if so, can you send me a copy? My address in in your files, I am sure, and I would love to get a copy. Please let me know if that is possible, and if you need my address it is: Sandra Estrella, 8909 Oliver Dr., Pasco, Wa 99301. Thank you.

Sandra

Discussions on Creation

FROM Steven

Subject: Creation

Message Body:

Hi Shawn, I was just wondering if there would be

any chance you could have Kent hovind on your show. I believe one of the best ways to reach out to Mormons is to teach Creation. I've converted close to 12 Mormons and 4 Catholics in the past years to have a relationship with jeaus. They've left there churches, Two of them where Mormon missionary's on there missions and I want to thank you for doing what you do and its made me follow Jesus even closer.