Heart of the Matter Episode Overview

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 39 465
September 29th, 2015

Friends – all the September predictions have passed. The Blood moons in the fourth triad series are over. All the signs, all the expectations, all the predictions aimed at the destruction of this world (and to some the return of Jesus Christ) – passed. If ever, in the history of the world and in the face of external signs, wonders and events this world was EVER going to end it seems to me that it would have happened this past month – September 2015.

We have admitted to this – all the signs that people could ever think of – here . . . and now gone. And we are still here. Are you ready to be free in Christ rather than in bondage to fear mongering?

(beat)

Oh, don’t worry – I know the game. People make predictions, but then nothing happens! So there is a redefining that will occur. That’s right and in the months and years to come they will look back over September of 2015 and they will say:

“You know, we didn’t see notice it then, but did you know in September of 2015, during the fourth tetrad blood moon period . . .

• That Interest rates were at the highest (or lowest) in the history of the world? OR
• That a child was born in London to wealthy parents with a mark on his head. OR that
• Ten thousand chickens died of coop fever in Afghanistan?

And the hype will continue, with new books, and new videos, and new fervor.

Understanding the Preterist View

Makes me ashamed to be associated with Christianity today. I hope and pray that more people will take the time to consider the Preterist – even the full Preterist view of scripture now that the great threat has passed. It’s a contextual, reasonable, biblical – in my estimation the MOST biblical view on earth regarding the contents of the Bible. It allows us to read the word and learn from the vast spiritual lessons experienced by the House of Israel and God working in and through them to bring the world the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

It’s a view that removes the man-made fears that Jesus is coming again to wipe us out – because that is done. It’s a view that recognizes when scripture speaks of the end of the world it was speaking of then end of THAT world – the Jewish age. It’s a view that does not allow for ANY difference between Jew or Gentile, a view that supports the biblical teaching that this WORLD is never going to end, that we all have our raptureA misinterpreted concept—biblical “rapture” language was fulfilled in 70 A.D., not a future escape event. More, our resurrection, our judgment at our own respective deaths.

Celebrating Christian Life

And best of all it frees us to really love God and Man knowing this is our purpose – not some futuristic apocalyptical event where billions of man hours and dollars are wasted on sign seeking and screams to prepare. In celebration that God has not come and destroyed us we are having a get together this coming Friday Night – it’s really a celebration of Christian life.

It begins at 7 and will end at 9. Go to www.campuschurch.tv for directions. Now listen – if you want to be baptized join us here at the studio/church at 5pm because there are some who want to display their inward faith by and through this wonderful external expression. We have an enormous cattle trough to dunk anyone who wishes it – (there it is)

(DERRICK ANGLE ON TROUGH)

After the baptisms we will continue on with the party – which will really just be a social to talk, eat refreshments and take time to thank God for His grace and mercy afforded us through His Son. So that’s this Friday Night, October 2nd 5pm (if you want to be baptized) – 7-9 for the food fun and fellowship.

And truly, thank you Lord for your love and patience with all of us in extending our lives and blessing them as you do.

Video Premiere and Upcoming Projects

We have a new piece of video work from Cassidy and I think very, very highly of it so take a look at this world premiere – now.

(SHOW NEW SPOT FROM CASSIDY)

Cassidy is working on the final third of her, “Girl” “Boy” “God” Trilogy. Because it deals with God it has taken some time. Look forward to it in 2016.

Extending Beyond Liberation

A video link was sent to me from a conference held in Salt Lake City in 2014. I don’t recall the title, but it focused on Mormonism, and we were even asked to host it until the churches in Utah opposed. I didn’t watch the video, but there was a group photograph of some participants who presented there: Andy Polland (formerly with Concerned Christians), Sandra Tanner (of Utah Lighthouse Ministry), Bishop Earl Erskine, Doris Hansen, Aaron Shafalof, and Rob Sevulka. These individuals, along with others who may have been present, like Chip Thompson or Bill McKeever, and all those attending the Manti pageant, have made significant contributions in reaching out to the LDS community with truths about Mormonism.

I started to reflect on the tremendous efforts and insights shared by these individuals to help people understand Mormonism. Ten thousand, even hundreds of thousands or millions, have been liberated or prevented from being trapped in Mormonism through their work.

The Role of Apologists

The thought then occurred to me: “We’ve gotten a lot of people, or kept a lot of people, out of Mormonism, but what have we led them to?” I likened those of us reaching out to LDS members to liberators walking through an enormous zoo filled with trapped animals. Some warn others not to enter, some share literature or videos revealing Mormonism’s flaws, and others even force open the cage doors to free the animals.

I imagined the global apologists’ efforts succeeding—with liberated animals wandering into the parking lot of the zoo. Sandra, Bill, Chip, Doris, Earl, Aaron, and everyone involved in LDS outreach awaited them. Eagerly welcoming the liberated, we congratulated them on their courage to leave the confines of LDS.

However, a bear posed significant questions to the apologists: “What should I do now? How do I survive? What is true about my existence as a bear? What about my cubs?” Advice came from Bill McKeever, Sandra Tanner, Aaron, Earl, Doris, Chip, Rauni Higly, and myself, yet the bear expressed confusion and left. Questions from the giraffes, snakes, elephants, and chimpanzees soon shifted focus to religious practices and beliefs: “Is baptism required of me?” “Why isn’t the Trinity in the Bible?” “Do I need to pay tithes?” “Is it okay to drink alcohol?”

Direction After Liberation

In contemplating all the work done to liberate the LDS, I questioned what exactly we’re leading these freed individuals to. While we may convince ourselves we’re leading them “to the Lord,” I find more and more that many don’t find a suitable refuge that represents Him in Spirit and in Truth.

My question is, what are we apologists doing to ensure those who escape Mormonism aren’t led into another man-made cage? Are we not responsible, having set them free, to guide them to safety, freedom, and do all we can to protect them from being fooled again?

We are. The point of all this is, as much as other apologists may not like or appreciate my methods, we are failing in our duty to protect those liberated from Mormonism from further MANipulation. The only viable way to lead, protect, and care for exiting Latter-Day Saints is to preach and teach them that relational, subjective ChristianityA direct, personal relationship with God—free from institutional authority, guided by personal relationship, faith and agape love. is their best option for survival. Our message should always include that they can—CAN

Understanding Subjective Christianity

Come to know the Lord and His word by themselves through the Spirit and to never, ever think an organized religion has the right to insert itself between them and God again. In any way. We have to teach them the variables of the Christian walk, present them with dangers of denominations, and admit to the fact that even among ourselves we frankly will disagree, in some way or another, on almost every point of doctrine. We have to let them know that there are as many fairy tales and traditions of men orbiting around “Christianity” as there were in Mormonism, that there are pastors that will try and put them in bondage, and that they are “free, free, free” to think, to challenge, and to walk with God through Christ as led by Him…

We pride ourselves with getting people out of Mormonism. And we rejoice when those people exit say they have “come to know Jesus.” But often this does not have any lasting effect. I’ve seen first-hand the end result of many of these liberations, and in my estimation, we are helping to fulfill part of Jesus' parable of the sower by casting some on wayside, or thorny, or stony soil and not preparing their hearts to receive the Word alone.

The Challenge of Freed Souls

I recently attended an event that John Dehlin of Mormon Stories held downtown. John is a beloved figure among the ex-LDS and for good reason. He is a very kind and sincere man – one I love dearly. The managers of the place closed the doors on his event because it was so packed with people. As I walked through the masses I was approached by a dozen people who stopped and told me how “big a roll” I played in getting them out of the Mormon church – how I opened their cage, so to speak. “So what are you doing now?” I asked a number of them. Of the seven I asked, seven said with a smile: “Oh, I’m an atheist.” I left the event utterly broken-hearted. But not surprised. And I fully accept responsibility for my part in “getting them out” but not “leading them to.”

The Reality of Subjective Christianity

But imagine if all the apologists who so ardently feel the need to reach the LDS would lock arms and also reiterate the reality of Subjective Christianity for them to consider. Think about it, folks, because it's one thing to open a cage it's quite another to manage the animals that walk out. And with that, how about a moment from the Word?

We’re looking for passages in the New Testament that encourage peace, love, faith, and lend to the theme of Subjective Christianity. Tonight we’re in 2nd Timothy and have three blocks of verses for you to consider.

1. In 2nd Timothy 1:13-14 Paul says:

“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”

2. 2nd Timothy 2:14-26 says:

“Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach.

Importance of the Word of God

Patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

2nd Timothy 3:14-17 adds:

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

I include this passage in to show how vital the Word of God is in the lives of all who are His.

The LDS Situation

Okay, I’m still building on and working our way back into our outreach to the LDS. Let me attempt to bring some understanding, reason, and sympathy to “the LDS situation” so we might begin to operate from a new direction to the whole matter.

Why do I refer to it as “the LDS situation?” In terms of ultimate organizational religion, I don’t think there are many that compete with Mormonism. Catholicism used to. And some fundamentalist Muslim groups are right up there with them, but in terms of holding people bound in religiosity Mormonism, in my estimation, reigns.

LISTEN CLOSELY – this is NOT because it is the most strident and controlling (like a Jonestown cult) – quite the opposite. It’s because it contains so much good – which makes it doubly desirable to those who are in it – therefore keeping them married to the really bad elements. That is what makes it the most superior religious institution. Again, in my estimation Mormonism, while offering a lot of dubious practices and doctrines, counters them with such a lively culture and lifestyle that THIS is what makes it so difficult to leave and therefore the most superior form of institutionalized religion on earth.

The Challenge of Leading Out

But here’s my point, having been around awhile now. Most organized religions – listen – to some degree or another – are guilty of the very same things. But rarely are they as good at it as the LDS (meaning as effective, meaning as dangerous). But they try – in their own ways, they try – almost every one of them of any substance.

This is why I was asking myself earlier: “We are leading Mormons OUT but what are we leading them IN to?"

(beat)

I realize that from the Christian perspective, we think that the churches we are bringing Mormons into are “really, really good and spirit-filled refuges for our ex-Mormon friends to make a home.” This myopathy is endemic to human nature – we are all bias-blinded and have a very difficult time seeing the forest because of our pet trees we keep right in front of our face.

The Need for Mind Renewal

Einstein said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.” Do you know what he is saying? If our minds accept the things of certain faith or church those same minds cannot see the issues of the religion – our minds have to think differently before the issues will make themselves known. This is one reason why religious institutions seek to keep the mindset of their people the same!

They do this by establishing orders and rules and statements of faith and policies. And they hate it when their congregates participate in other churches! When a person steps into an institution and embraces such things that same mind will have a hard time seeing a problem with the institution they have accepted.

For this reason, people week after week sit in churches that offer them inanity and not only consider it normal they defend it as good. It almost can’t be helped – until people change their minds. Only when the mind is washed by the Word is the soul in a constant state of growth which enables them to test all things and decide what is good.

From what I’ve seen in this state (and in California) most Christian churches – in some way or another (some egregiously and others much less) represent the EXACT same approach to things Mormonism.

The Spirit of Bondage

Only in a “Christian way.” LISTEN – this is what this ministry is fighting AGAINST. We are not fighting against Mormonism we are fighting against “the spirit of bondage” wherever it may be found. Did you hear me? If not, please try now:

“We are fighting against the Spirit of Bondage wherever it may be found.” So while our focus is on Mormonism we openly admit that the solution is NOT in the local denoms or churches that employ similar tactics to control their members. It is only found in Jesus Christ, the individual’s relationship with Him, and their freedom to seek Him in Spirit and in Truth – no matter what that looks like. It's why at CAMPUS we have no memberships, no rules, and encourage people to get out and test the waters on all things. We should NOT be alone in this.

Beyond Denominations

So, Mormonism teaches something called the Word of Wisdom. Currently a law of Mormonism. The thinking has been done, the law is set and the LDS people even see each other according to compliance to the command. But the Baptist church down the hill rails on smoke and drink from the pulpit too, and the non-denom across town actually has their members sign a document saying that they will abstain from all tobacco and alcohol. What’s the difference? No difference – except in delivery.

The LDS teach that their members can become Gods. “How abhorrent!” the Christians cry, never looking at themselves! What do I mean? In the Bible, we read that we are to become “as Christ,” to be “perfect as our father which is in heaven,” that we are “Joint-heirs WITH Christ” (meaning sharing in all He has) if we suffer with Him . . .” and since we maintain that Jesus is God, is there really that big of a difference between becoming a joint heir to Christ, who is God, and sharing in all that has been given to him and the LDS idea that we will become gods?

I mean, know the differences, but we are both treading on similar ground are we not? Could it be that as Christians we have overreacted to Smith’s King Follet Discourse and instead of getting so angry we could respond to it with, perhaps, gentle amusement?

Religion and Manipulation

The LDS demand tithes of those who want to come to the temple. To go to the temple is mandated to LDS exaltation. There is a popular pastor here in town who tells people they can get to heaven without paying tithes but they will be at the back of the bus. Any difference? Not really. It’s all EFFING religion. All ugly MANipulation and I could go on and on and on.

So maybe we can use our brains and try and see all of this, instead of as an “us verses them” situation with factions warring against each other, as the ways and means individuals relate to God through Christ, rather than caring what institutions who claim to represent Him say?

Let me give you an example of this. Presently we are looking at the religion issue like this:

#1 UMBRELLA with the religions that are right being under it and those that are not being outside of it.

(Wendy erase)

But perhaps this has been the wrong perspective?

I would redraw the situation more like this today –

UMBRELLA #2

The entire world of human beings are under a giant umbrella we will label God. And out near the fringes of the umbrella are those who have absolutely no care or concept of God at all. You know they are at that place where the hot sun and pouring rain still hit them. And then the swirling mass of humanity, the closer they are to who Christ is and who they are in Christ stand closer to the center handle, which is Christ. Could we articulate things that way.

IF we did, it would allow us to admit that no matter what a PERSON is if they are out on the fringes they are closer to elements that will harm them and the closer they stand toward the center handle (where it is most protected and dry and warm – where Jesus is) the closer they stand to truth.

I’ve spent years examining LDS church history. Lots to talk and laugh about.

You think Christianity is ANY different? The fact it is – like in terms of violence, Christianity quantitatively has been far MORE violent than Mormonism hands down.

Leader for leader, event for event, we are

Examining Religious Parallels

For our Luther they have their Young. For our Origen they have their Smith.

For our Crusades they have their Mountain Meadows.

For our purity rings they have their CTR rings.

For our church weddings officiated by a Pastor they have their temple marriages officiated by a sealer.

For our ecclesiastical authoritai that must not be questioned they have their priesthoods that reign.

We need to wake the hell up.

For every single one of their unique institutional approaches we have our counterpart.

For every ecclesiastical abuse we level at them we have five.

We have communion, they have sacrament. We have our cool Christian looks, coffee consumption and fish symbols, they have their suits and ties, their diet coke and garments.

We have Jesus concerts they have the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Reflections on the Christian Approach

“None of this matters though Shawn,” people say – “they have the wrong Jesus and they teach a false gospel?”

Don’t others in our own house do the same? Aren’t there churches and pastors who teach a gospel of grace and works out there – you bet there are!

Aren’t there followers of Jesus – sold out Christians – who too see Jesus differently than others? Of course there are. IM ONE OF THEM.

Listen – have you ever thought about this principle relative to the LDS –

As Christians we teach two ways in understanding how God reaches people.

The first way is we say God reaches those who seek Him.

The second way is some say that God chooses who to reveal Himself to.

Right? Those are the two ways Christians interpret how God reaches people – THEY must seek OR God must reach, right?

Rethinking Outreach Strategies

If only truth seekers find Him then all we have to do is present the truth. We don’t need to picket LDS gatherings. Seekers will find without that mess.

And if God (and God alone) does the choosing there is even less need for the extremes we go to reach them, right?

So let’s put the carnal weaponry down and pray the Spirit move.

And by the way, the biblical principle is always, “fix your own house first before you seek to fix anothers,” right?

Get the beam out of our own eye before we try and get the splinter out of others.

So why aren’t the Christian street preachers who live to attend the LDS events standing outside our own churches with warnings and imprecations?

How come these screamers and sign holders aren’t that church we talked about last week that has just instituted memberships on their people?

How come the Calvinist picketers aren’t picketing Arminianist churches – truth is truth right?

This is my point – we are hypocrites in our attack of Mormons when our own house is in disarray.

And here’s the gig – they are ALL in disarray SO NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO POINT A FINGER!

Can (and will) we still disagree on matters? Absolutely. And we can dialogue and discuss. But the fervent street attacks are in defiance of the Spirit of the Word and if we are going to point fingers we ought to start with them.

That’s IF we are going to point fingers. But since we shouldn’t, then the only solution is to humbly teach the truth to the best of our ability, trust that God will touch the hearts of seekers of truth, and patiently give all who claim His name as Lord and Savior the benefit of the doubt.

Alright, I think I’ve laid the foundation. Next week we will begin to take what Smith taught and either show where it was not at odds with Christianity or where it is.

Let’s open up the Phone lines:

(801)

And while the operators are clearing your calls let’s take another look at this new spot from the Cash.

RUN NEW SPOT AGAIN HERE PLEASE

Seeking Spiritual Guidance

Hi Shawn,

I really want to know what you mean by reading The Word with The Spirit. I try & read The Bible everyday but can't help but feel like I'm just reading with my head knowledge & not with The Spirit. so my question is.. How do I read with/by The Spirit?

Futi A

RESPONSE

This is a really good question. How can we tell if we are being lead by the Spirit when we read scripture rather than just head knowledge or our own interpretation?

I thought on this – especially relative to my own studies and walk. I have a couple insights to share.

First, reading the Word is a thing of the Spirit – so as we do it the Spirit is working on

The Role of the Spirit in Reading Scripture

us in a cumulative effect. Secondly, we know we are reading by the Spirit when our impressions are in harmony with other passages of scripture we may not be considering. In other words, the Spirit of truth and light opens our minds up to content supported by all of scripture and we discover ourselves incorporating elements from other parts of scripture that hold water. But the most telling way, in my estimation, that an individual can tell if they are reading the Word by the Spirit is if the Spirit is moving them to love based on the things they have read or considered – for the fruit of the Spirit is love.

Hope this helps.

Personal Story of Faith and Relationships

From: michael

Subject: fake Mormon

Message Body:

Brother Shawn,

What do you think about me getting married to a fake Mormon?

Here’s my story. 6 yrs ago I meet a Mormon girl. I didn’t like her at the time since I’m a born again Christian. I would witness to her, talk to her about Jesus each time we talk. We would annoy the heck out of each other. Part of it was because we were trying to push each other away. After 4yrs went by, we’re still talking, but I realized I like her. I told her about it. She didn’t like it, but I kept pursuing her, getting to know her better. To make a long story short, I found your teachings against Mormonism and watched them. I would ask her about Mormon doctrines and she would not know. A lot of doctrines she did not know. I concluded that she’s a fake Mormon. I told her about it and she didn’t think so. The 2 things she said that made her a Mormon were, she goes to Mormon church(she goes because her parents go) and she got water baptized.

Why do I like her and want to marry her? I like her because she really wants the bible God in her life, willing to listen to teachings and apply them. I also like her personality. It was never her outward looks that made me like her. Now it’s been 6yrs and we still talk and she likes me and wants to marry me too.

Criticism of Mormon Practices

For those of us who were LDS and left the faith we seethe at the modern day deception pulled on us. It’s common to become angry and the revisionist history of our youth and at the stuff they didn’t tell us. In a way we feel sort of like a wife who finds out her spouse has been cheating on her – that our religious leaders whom we trusted have purposely lied, mislead, and deceived us. And they have. So I have zero respect – zero – for the men and women who continue TODAY to purposely and knowingly perpetrate the fraud of Mormonism on those who remain unaware of its core principles and history. Those who were never LDS but study the faith look at the doctrines and practices and history and stand aghast and what they discover.

• Temple rituals and undergarments
• Baptisms for the dead
• God was once a man
• Jesus was created
• Ten percent of gross
• Full time two year missions
• No coffee tea tobacco or alcohol
• A book from gold plates?
• A book from mummy’s?
• A revised Bible?
• Modern revelations, a prophet and apostles?
• A history of polygamy, racism, violence and business scams.
• Revelations through stones.
• Becoming God’s, etc.

For non-religious outsiders these things appear ridiculous. For Bible reading Christians the interpretation of these things is often that Mormonism is evil and run by Satan Himself. These are easy stances to take – they are like sitting ducks when it comes to this stuff – I mean, there’s a Broadway hit for goodness sake that’s all about the people and culture of the thing. But how did it really begin? And can we blame the event called Mormonism for happening in the first place? And can we, trying to see it for what it was originally intended to be help bring it back down to those original purposes? I mean, what would you do? You know, if you had all the same background and surroundings and desires to know truth as Smith had? The history of the Christian faith is littered – I mean chocked full – of people who have, while accepting Jesus as Lord – tried to get things to change or reform. How is Erasmus, or Knox, or Wesley, or Augustine any different that Smith, Ellen G White, Mary Baker Eddie, or Charles Taze Russell – in their original intentions? We naturally assign devious and devilish intentions to Smith because of His admitted connection to

Understanding God's Ways

Folk magic, but that was how he was raised—by his own father! Was everything tainted when he started out? Remember the setting and circumstances of his life—especially in light of the phrase we are all guilty of making—“God is in charge,” right? So there was a young man from a very religious family—his parents were at odds over religion, there were discussions about the Bible and a needed Restoration by others before him, conversations contained questions about the origins of the American Indians. A book was written and made available by a distant relative (Oliver Cowdery) Pastor (Ethan Smith) that gave some answers, and this young man, equipped with the gift of persuasion and spiritual insight, was moved—through some means or another—to try and fix Christianity.

We don’t know if his father, a cooper, helped him make a phony set of plates. We don’t know if Oliver Cowdery or Sidney Rigdon or others helped him write the content. We don’t know why he included elements of dreams his father had well before the plates were supposed to have been revealed to him. Nor do we know why he borrowed from a number of other sources to create the content of the book. All we know is the historical context of what surrounded the man prior to publishing the book. All we know is that despite the fact that he said he used a stone in a hat (among other methods and means) to produce the book, the book was produced and published.

God's Allowance in Religion

This we know. And we know God allowed the book to be published, right? Did He have purpose in doing so? We have to believe He did. Just like He allowed the Koran to be published, and Pilgrims Progress, and the Shack. I don’t know how or why but God has allowed Mormonism to not just exist but to proliferate but God has done this. Just like He has allowed Islam to proliferate tenfold to Mormonism, and Buddhism, and Hinduism and all the rest. If you're gonna shake your fist shake it at the existence of these faiths shake it at God because He, being sovereign, has allowed them to not just exist, but to grow.

Fact of the matter is God has allowed Catholicism to reign for nearly two thousand years, and Calvinism to take hold for nearly five hundred, and Jim Jones to reign in Guyana and Kathryn Kuhlman and Binny Hinn and Michael Murdock, the Westboro Baptists to exist right along with the Mormons. What gives? Could it be WE have misunderstood His ways of doing things? Could it be that we have given Satan the credit for all these odd appeals and approaches when in fact God has simply allowed everything to exist for reasons only He understands?

God's Sovereign Purposes

I’m not saying that all roads lead to Rome by any means. There is one way—Jesus. But in and through all these means, could it be God IS actually winning souls rather than losing them? There are very good reasons to seek God in spirit and in truth. In the end, they amount to liberating people from bondage of every kind. But have we wasted inordinate amounts of time and money for nearly two millennia by fighting against flesh and blood and brick and mortar instead of just teaching what we believe to be true and letting God work His magic on the hearts that are open to Him?

I’m beginning to wonder. We have not hesitated, myself included at times, to castigate Smith for doing what he has done. We have believed ourselves in a position to know His motives, and intentions, and heart for God—and we have said he had none. But how do we know? Would we say the same things about Martin Luther? We could . . . but we don’t. Do we say the same things about Origen? We could but we don’t. And on and on and on.

I’m thinking that the mistake we have made in the Mormon/Christian debate is to try and lay the blame on the founder while ignoring the fact that NO founder, no person, no man deserves blame or praise. In the course of the coming months we will actually see that many of the things Smith brought to the table are edible. And many are not. But why can’t we step away from the assignation of people, admit that God

Examination of Joseph Smith's Contributions to Scripture

Is in charge, continue to test all things, and possibly discover for ourselves that just maybe some of what Smith did (especially in his early years and not so much in the later) might be seen as contributing to our understanding of scripture rather than just taking away from it. Granted, many of the ideas and articles of faith he introduced are anathema to a sound view of scripture. But in my opinion I can say the same of Calvin. And guess what – the Calvinists will ardently disagree with me – as will the LDS over Smith.

Joseph Smith's Beginnings

So let’s go back, and let’s see where Joseph Smith Jun started – and see if where He started holds water with the essentials of biblical Christianity and if and when we see him go off the rails we’ll call it what it is – non-biblical – and move on to the next doctrinal subject, aight?