Shawn McCraney teaches that Jesus established a gospel and message of truth over 2000 years ago, which consists of a body of believers across different churches worldwide, rather than a singular institution organized by Him. He argues against the LDS Church's view by referencing Ephesians, stating that the true church of Jesus is based on personal relationships with God and not on institutional affiliations or rituals.
Belonging to the true Church does not require having the name of Jesus Christ in its title; rather, Christ being the head of the Church signifies a direct relationship with Him, beyond any institutional label. Salvation is found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, not merely through church affiliations or denominational identifiers.
Heart of the Matter
Seventeen Points Part II – April 22nd, 2008
And I’m Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host.
Live Streaming Video Announcement
Hey, did you know that every single show we have ever done is available online for free! Just go to our website at www.bornagainmormon.com and you can download any show from March 2006 to the present. We’re getting ready to offer specific shows at the retail level too, so if you are interested in picking one up stay tuned.
“I was a Born-Again Mormon” – the book that started it all – available at:
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And of course, you can order the book online through us at www.bornagainmormon.com.
This coming May 5th – Cinco de Mayo! – we are going to be holding an open water baptism for those of you desiring baptism in the name and faith of the Lord Jesus Christ without any ties or commitment to a religion or denomination. We do this because there are people out there who want to make a public profession of faith in HIM, but do not want to tie themselves to a religious institution. Go to www.bornagainmormon.com for the address and direction.
Upcoming Events
MARK YOUR CALENDARS, FOLKS
June: War Camp for males overnight stream fishing trip here in Utah for men, their sons, and males of all ages. We’ll provide the teaching and agenda, you bring what you need. Friday, June, coming back Saturday afternoon, June.
September: Burning Heart (which has been called Heart in the Park before)
You can also go to www.bornagainmormon.com for more information about this.
“EXPELLED” announcement here!
REIGNDOWN USA announcement here!
Other announcements / events / things in the news:
FLDS
LDS Church Claims
PRAYER PRAYER PRAYER
Last week we introduced to you seventeen points the LDS often use to prove or show why their Church is true.
The first “Point” the writer lists is an unusual one:
Christ organized the Church.
Now think about this for a minute. It implies that “Christ” then, organized their church! Give me a break! They think Jesus Christ brought in temple rites with secret names and rituals and apparel? Or that He made the Boy Scouts of America His own program for boys that age? Now it does go without saying that whatever church was truly His (however that is defined) certainly would be initiated and approved by Him. But to say that a sign of the True Church is that it was organized by Him is to pre-suppose that there is a “true singular institution out there” He organized. Not so.
What did He organize over 2000 years ago? A gospel. A message of truth. A compilation of beliefs which alter anyone and everyone with ears to hear and hearts to know. It consists of a body of believers who all fill and act in different capacities from a host of different “churches” spread throughout the world.
The LDS use Ephesians 4:11-14 to support this statement which they are applying to themselves.
It reads:
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
What the LDS fail to add to this first point is another passage in the previous chapter in Ephesians 3:21, which reads:
Ephesians 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.
You see, Jesus established His Church and it is, has been, and always will be built of believers from all over the planet – some who, believe it or not – have never even set foot in a church! Mormonism would love to have everyone in the world believe that the Church Jesus established is an institution with buildings that is run by men. The True Church of Jesus is a movement founded on individual relationships people have established with God by faith – and He is the
The True Church and the Name of Jesus Christ
One who runs the show – no intermediaries needed.
Point Two: The True Church must bear the name of Jesus Christ!
And again, the support they use for this is from the book of Ephesians (chapter 5:23).
Well. let’s look at this. And remember, their point is that the “true church MUST bear the name of Jesus Christ.”
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
How this passage supports this little “carnival trick” doctrine is beyond me.
Of course Christ is the head of His Church – the chief cornerstone – but nowhere does it say the individual gatherings of believers must use His name on the wall outside. I mean, don’t all true believers in Jesus Christ embrace the name “Christian?” You will notice a reticence on true Christians parts to call themselves by the title of the Church they attend. Conversely, you will discover that most people who have a religious relationship with God use the institutional name without a second thought. It means nothing for a religionist to proudly state: “I’m Catholic.” “I’m a Baptist.” “I’m Mormon.”
These types usually place “church” where the name “Jesus” should be. To the relationalist, there is usually a hesitancy when they are asked “what they are.” Usually, they respond with something like: “I’m a Christian.” OR “I’m a Christian who attends the Catholic church, or Baptist Church, or whatever church. Very, very rarely, will you ever hear a Latter-day Saint define themselves relationally to God, but instead they almost always tie themselves to “the Church.”
Biblical References to Church Naming
Biblically, the Church collective or believers are aptly referred to as “the Church of Christ,” and “the Body of Christ,” but does this mean “the body of Christ” should be in the letterhead or above the door of every gathering to be considered true?
What is more important of a title to God – that of a “true Christian” or that of a “True Mormon?”
How on earth did Latter-day Saints come up with the idea that the name of Jesus Christ has to be in the title of a Church for it to be considered “true?” Well let me tell you. Joseph Smith lived at a time when people were seeking to re-establish what they felt was the lost Christian faith. The fad was known as the “restorationist” movement. One of the leaders of this movement was named Alexander Campell. Mr. Campbell came up with a list of points or requirements of what must be part of the truly restored Church and the name of Jesus in the title was one of the biggies.
It only made sense to Mr. Cambell. So then it made sense to Joseph Smith. If this is the case, why does the New Testament speak of
1Co 1:2 “the church of God which is at Corinth,”
“the church at Cenchrea”
Paul saluted the “churches of Asia” as they were known, and spoke of. He wrote to “the church of God which is at Corinth,” “the church of the Laodiceans” “the church of the Thessalonians” “the church of the living God”
Timotheus, was ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians
Titus was ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians.
And what about the seven Churches in Revelations? The Church of Ephesus? The Church at Thyaityra? NOWHERE does the Bible say the name of a Church needs to include the name of Jesus Christ.
Salvation and Church Memberships
Why?
Because salvation is not in Church memberships. Salvation is in a relationship with Jesus Christ directly.
Don’t get me wrong – church is a good thing. But don’t get me wrong – millions upon millions of people have come to receive saving faith through churches with names like
The Church of the Lamb
The Church of Living Water, or
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre Burning with the Shikinah Glory of God.
(801) 973-8820 (801) 973-TV20
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