Prosperity Teachings, Part 3

Heart of the Matter: Biblical Christianity and Evangelicalism

Live from the Mecca of Mormonism and the Factory in Salt Lake City, Utah, this is Heart of the Matter, where Biblical Christianity meets American Evangelicalism Face to Face. This is Show 10, Prosperity Teachings III, aired on May 7th, 2013. I’m Shawn McCraney, your host. We praise the True and Living God for allowing us to participate in this, His ministry. We pray His Spirit upon you – and us – tonight.

Okay, a quick reminder to all of you folks out there. Heart of the Matter Mormonism can still be seen on Friday Nights on Direct TV channel 378 – that’s the NRB Network – at 10pm Mountain Time. Then, you can of course watch Heart of the Matter Evangelical in two ways – through streaming video like some of you are right now OR by going to www.hotm.tv and watching it in our archives – they are being loaded up there AS WE SPEAK!

Heartfelt Interactions and Teachings

We receive this email from a brother in Australia. My name's Hayden, I'm from Melbourne Australia and I used to watch your 'heart of the matter.' I decided recently to look you up again and found some footage of you preaching at C.A.M.P.U.S. The way you define church is so good, I so love that you have set CAMPUS up on the biblical foundation of what church should be. I go to an A.O.G. church with my girlfriend on Sundays, to be honest, I can't stand the fashion trends, Hillsong worship music and charismatic preaches who I can tell love the attention! I've watched all of your clips from CAMPUS on the website but there are only three. I was wondering if you could put more up? I'd appreciate it if somehow I could keep up with what you're teaching.

Thank you for your interest and support, Hayden. We actually have over 110 hour-long verse by verse sermons we are working to get online – all the way through Matthew and Romans. We intend on putting them all on the site but we are a very small ministry with very big technical demands. Pray for us as we struggle to get all of it in sync. In the meanwhile, go to www.c-a-m-p-u-s.com and watch what we do have up there and our philosophy of doing church.

Faith and Assurance in Christianity

A Christian Friend writes in and says: Thank you for your show! It has convinced me to never become LDS despite the temptation. After visiting seminary with my friends I have noticed that what you say is true. I have been raised Christian my whole life. I have sincerely asked Jesus for salvation many times, but I have never had assurance. I've put up with not being sure and just kept "having faith" and continuing to go to church and do what I'm supposed to. But, now I'm tired of it. Pastors say that it must always be something I'm doing wrong, that I better tithe, and that I better get working to prove my salvation. Please let me know what your opinion is on this. Rae

Well Rae, we are commanded as Christians to walk by faith. Faith is so important that the Book of Hebrews tells us that “without it we cannot please God.” But Rae, faith is established in facts and evidence not on fantasy or myth. For this reason God came down to earth and actually lived – do you believe this, that God became incarnate in the man Jesus? And scripture tells us He lives without sin, was killed for the sins of the world, laid in the grave three days then rose from the dead? Do you believe this in your heart? Have you stated it with your mouth? If so, scripture says, “you will be saved.”

Now, you notice scripture doesn’t say, and you will have a miraculous feeling about it, or see lights, or experience what some people describe as a life-changing event. It says, “if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth you will be saved.” When you trust in this promise and walk by faith God is pleased. Now God is truly beyond amazing. And He KNOWS exactly what to give you and what to hold back and when. But you are a woman of faith. And you will walk waiting on Him to reveal His promises to you. He will. Not one second too soon nor one second too late – right when He knows it’s right. But in the meanwhile, you have done what scripture says to do for salvation.

Faith and Salvation

walk in and by and through faith, trusting He will fulfill all of His promises to you. And if you are reading His word keep reading it and if you are not start. Why? Because John the Beloved wrote in 1st John 5:13: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” One day He will reveal Himself to your heart, Rae, so keep walking and reading. You know, when a person comes to faith they CAN KNOW they have eternal life, as John said. Is there ever a time when the LDS can taste the liberty and grace of knowing they are unconditionally saved?

Most people who are familiar with Mormonism know they enter into their temples to receive sacred rites. What a lot of people don’t know (even active LDS people) is that certain, hand selected LDS members (the “cream” of the crop, so to speak) can be secretly called in and given what is titled their “calling an election made sure,” or “second anointing.” If elected to receive this special rite the LDS teach that the recipient’s salvation is guaranteed – no matter what they do (as long as it’s not blasphemy against the Holy Spirit). It used to be taught that if you were a recipient of this election Jesus Himself would appear to you to personally grant the guarantee of eternal life but from what I can tell it is really just a temple ritual with words spoken and blessings given. What makes the LDS calling and election different from any and every Born again Christian receiving the same when they come to faith is the LDS election is based on their merits of righteousness that gets them invited to receive the ordinance while it is the Christians recognition of their unworthiness that gets them theirs.

Prosperity Teachings

Well let’s wrap up our examination of Prosperity Teachings by examining what passages of scripture they use to justify their errant teachings (like the LDS, there are always pet-passages charlatans will use to promote themselves) and then we’ll wrap it up with a review of the word tithe and/or tithing. Here are some of the top “health and wealth” passages: Malachi 3:10, Matthew 25:11-30, John 10:10, Philippians 4:19, Ephesians 1:7, Mark 11:22-23, (and) 3rd John 1:2. So let’s talk about them.

Misinterpretations of Scripture

Malachi 3:10 (a biggie with Health and Wealth and the LDS). This is what God says through the prophet Malachi: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." To deal with it properly, we’d need another hour, but let me say this about applying Malachi 3:10 (and passages around it) to believers today: First, this was to the Children of Israel who operated under laws of obedience to law and blessing. Believers are not under such a law. Secondly, there is a tacit understanding implied here (as it is applied throughout the Old Testament) and that is all the other 612 commandments were also being kept for this blessing of heavenly windows opening to be enacted. In other words, this is not some mystical stand alone trick that if someone in the Old Covenant paid tithes there is a specific blessing that they enjoyed (even if they were an idol-worshippers!). The law (and obedience to it) comes as a whole, not broken down in parts, so when Prosperity Teachers use this passage as a stand alone message of “Give us ten percent and God will bless you” its a lie.” Finally, tithing is NOT part of the New Covenant no matter how often mislead people say it is. Since Christ, we are free to give or not – depending on how we are lead. For Name it and Claim it teachers to suggest otherwise is a con. Prosperity teachers also appeal to: The parable of the talents (which is found in Matthew 25:14–30). Long story short, this parable is NOT about money management or capitalism or getting the best ROI on your money. Remember, Jesus taught in parables – this is a parable. The key to it is when Jesus

The Kingdom of Heaven

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like . . . (or “is as “. . )”. This is something the Lord says with almost every parable He teaches relating to the Kingdom of Heaven . . . it is “like”. In this parable He is teaching about the gifts and responsibilities we are all given as members of the Kingdom. For some this may be materially based, but for others it may relate to their gifts, skills, or abilities. Again, to use it as a proof text to endorse prosperity teachings is foolishness plain and simple.

Abundant Life

Of course, there is John 10:10 (where Jesus says) "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." In fleshly terms, it is easy to believe this means luxury, opulence, or in wealth. But where is true abundance – in things of the flesh or things of the Spirit? What did Jesus promote, what did His teachings speak of – bread or bread of life, water or living waters, things of this world of the world to come? Abundant living, for the mature and wise, is always overflowing with spiritual blessings, peace, and hope. The abundant life is rife with faith, and love – not the things of this world, which Jesus was wholly indifferent toward. So again, their application is found wanting.

Three more. Philippians 4:19 (which reads): "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." This one is laughable because the passage interprets itself rather well. Notice it says "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Ephesians 1:7 talks about the “riches of his Grace.” Colossians talks about “the riches of His full assurance,” and Romans talks about “the riches of His Liberality,” and on and on and on. When Paul says, “His riches in glory” by Jesus Christ he is NOT talking about money or prosperity, He’s talking about the vast glory the Lord has for those who are his – glory in the heavens, light, love – His glory available in and through Christ Jesus – not filthy lucre or mammon.

Faith and Miracles

Mark 11:22-23. A good friend of mine, who dabbles in this stuff, gave me these passages as a proof text that we have the power to do miracles. The context of these passages is that the day before Jesus had cursed a barren fig tree. The next day when they came upon it Peter points out that the tree was withered even from the root. Verse 22-23 says: “And Jesus answering saith unto them, “Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

Jesus says similar things to the twelve as He prepared them to be witnesses of His resurrection as they established His church. Referring to this same situation in other places, Jesus also includes comments about the power to move mountains or to pluck up (the tree in question) and planting it in the sea.

Okay. A couple of things. First, in Hebrew, exaggerations are as commonplace as sands of the sea. They will say, “the whole world” when they just mean a lot of people. To move a mountain is a Hebraism for performing a difficult task. Secondly, how could Jesus say such things to the men He was training safely? To tell them that “whatever a person says and doesn’t doubt in their heart it will be” seems to really be a very aggressive promise. But Jesus knew that these men would be operating under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit – who would NOT incline them to command a mountain to move but would instead say what he prompted them to say.

Third, we always have to read scripture as a WHOLE, not as “a single verse” (unless we are presenting it in light of the whole) not as a single story, or a single chapter, or a single book of the sixty-six. Even when we take an Old or a New Testament book it must be viewed (when seeking its best meaning and application) in light of the whole Bible. These words were spoken by Jesus to His twelve. Listen to the passage again: “And Jesus answering saith unto them, “Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this…

Faith and Prosperity

“Mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And we see evidence of these promises in the Acts of the Apostles, don’t we? But we cannot forget that the Apostles were especially trained and equipped to do what they did. And it was by these miracles they convinced others they were who they claimed they were.

When we get to the Body of believers today, we have James telling us to ask God to give us wisdom, not abilities to move mountains in the literal sense. But listen to me – there is a spiritual gift of miracles. And there are good believers whom God has blessed with prosperity. But we take all of this in stride as it is according to His will and ways. I just do not believe believers ought to preach and teach and scream that they ought to be doing the same works that Jesus promised the twelve they would do.

Misinterpretation of Prosperity

Finally, prosperity teachers use 3rd John 1:2, which sort of serves, among all possible passages, as their theme. It reads: "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." Because John wrote that he wishes “above ALL things” that the reader may prosper and be in health,” prosperity teachers suggest that this is God’s ultimate ideal for all believers – prosperity and health. Those who use 3 John 2 to support the prosperity gospel are committing two crucial errors, the first is contextual and the second grammatical. First, contextually speaking, we have to see that the reason John wrote 3rd John was as a greeting and was not to teach doctrine. Do we want people we love to have health and well-being? Of course. But prosperity teachers use this passage to prove it is the primary hope of the apostle John’s hope for others. Not so. It was simply to open his letter with a greeting. I would suggest that the claim that 3 John 2 teaches the doctrine of prosperity ought to be regarded as suspect at best.

Second, we need to look at the meaning of the word “prosperity” as it occurs in this verse. The term translated “prosperity” is a form of the Greek word “euodoo.” It does not mean to prosper in the sense of “gaining material possessions,” but to grant someone “a good journey” guided in the most direct paths.” So again, prosperity teachers have twisted the scripture to suit their needs.

The Concept of Tithing

Before we open the phone lines, I want to cover another tool that not only do all prosperity teachers pull out and use but so do most pastors in America today . . . the word “tithe, tithes, or tithing.” Now, our ministry has literally lost supporters over our stance on the use of this word because some believers insist on calling their financial contributions “tithes.” Others will say things like the “tithe” is the beginning point or the “minimum amount” a true Christian ought to give. This is not only totally UN-BIBLICAL the use of the term introduces a number of very distasteful attitudes and actions in the body.

The tithe was a requirement of the law in which all Israelites were to give 10% of everything they earned (or grew) to the tabernacle/ temple. References are found in Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 14:24; and 2 Chronicles 31:5. Let me offer five main reasons why the word tithe and/or the request to pay tithes or collect tithes ought to be scratched from the vocabulary of every pastor's lips.

Reason #1: Making a percentage of a Christian’s income part of “mandatory minimal giving” flies completely in the face of the liberty all believers have in Christ. Our Lord accomplished all things on the cross. All of the law was fulfilled and completed in Him. Beneficiaries of His free gift are freed, or released, or given complete liberty from all aspects of religious legal demands. A day of the week for worship? Gone. Certain rites or rituals for cleansing? Gone. Specific prayers, holy day observances, clothing styles, forbidden foods? Gone, baby, gone. To re-incorporate a mandatory minimum for giving flies in the face of what it means to…

The Concept of Tithing in the New Testament

Be saved by grace. Why? Simply put, it’s a number. Numbers mean “law.” Law means death. A number introduces minimums or maximums and violates the concept of freely choosing according to conscience.

Reason #2: Tithing, in terms of it being a demand upon believers to obey, is nowhere mentioned in the New Testament. The word itself—whether it be tithe, tithes, or tithing—is found seven times in what we consider the New Testament—once in Matthew, twice in Luke, and four times in the book of Hebrews. Two of the references, Matthew and Luke, are of Jesus telling the scribes and Pharisees that they were hypocrites for the way they paid tithes; a second reference in Luke was made by a Pharisee, in a parable, in the midst of professing how good he was: Luke 18:12. I fast twice in the week and I give tithes of all that I possess.

Freewill Giving in the New Testament

And the four Hebrew references, found in consecutive verses in chapter seven, reference the fact that tithes were paid to the Levitical priests, not to teach that tithes ought to be paid now, but to illustrate a completely different point. Nothing in the New Testament instructs a believer to embrace tithing. If it was so important in the New Testament economy, the apostles from Peter to Paul would have surely written something about it. Now certainly, the New Testament talks about the importance and benefits of freewill giving. Paul states that believers should set aside a portion of their income in order to support the church (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) but this is according to how “God has prospered him,” and the 10% figure is not at all associated with these passages. Believers are to give as they are led and as they are able. This might mean giving nothing or far more than 10%. It all depends on the ability of the Christian, the needs of the church, and, most importantly, how they are led of God. One of the few New Testament passages regarding giving is found in 2 Corinthians: 9:7. “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Some people like to quote Malachi about bringing tithes into the storehouse but God said through the writers of Hebrews (7:22 and other places) that the New covenant God has for believers in His Son is a better covenant. A “better covenant” of grace, not of rules and percentages.

Abraham's Example and Tithing

Reason #3: The fact that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek cannot somehow mean that Christians ought to do the same. The very first time we read of the payment of a tithe in the Bible is in the book of Genesis, well before God incorporated it in the law. It is found in the telling of the narrative of Abraham. For this reason, many Christians believe that tithing remains part of the Christian church because the practice came before Moses and the Law. The fact that Abraham paid a “tithe” to Melchizedek, however, is NOT about making mandatory the giving of a tenth but simply relates to Abraham’s freewill offering in which he gave one tenth. The tenth or tithe Abraham gave was a portion of what he had obtained from his invasion, not a portion of everything that he owned. It was a one-time event and it pictured the import of the Christophany of Christ Melchizedek. More importantly, Abram was free to do basically whatever the local traditions allowed him. According to the King of Sodom (verse 21), it was within Abraham’s every right to keep all the goods and valuables for himself. So here’s a few things you need to consider about this example some pastors use to justify their use of the term:

1. Abraham’s gift to Melchizedek was a free will gift. There was no law in effect and there is no evidence that God whispered “you must pay a tenth” in his ear.
2. Abraham’s gift was clearly a one-time event. Abraham and Lot both were prosperous already and had not gained their prosperity from paying tithes nor is it recorded that they paid tithes of their largess prior. Abraham was prosperous because God had promised He would bless him back in chapter 12 (Genesis 12:1-3). Abraham did not have to pay a tenth (or any amount) to God to receive the blessings promised.
3. Abraham’s gift to Melchizedek did not come from money or resources that Abraham had claimed for himself. His personal valuables were safely at home.

Understanding Biblical Giving

To Abraham was that God had given gave him the victory. Now I would say that, yes, Abraham’s gift to Melchizedek is an example for believers to follow; but it is NOT an example of how we must give a tithe. Instead, it is an example of how to give free will gifts! Abraham was free to give anything he wanted and he decided to give a tenth. We, too, are free to decide, as God moves us.

The Tenth in the Bible

Reason #4: The fact that Jacob vowed to pay a tenth to the Lord in no way means Christians must do the same. The second incident involving tithing prior to the giving of the law is recorded in Genesis 28, where Jacob made a vow promising to give God “the tenth” of all he had if God will be with him, provide for him, watch over him on this journey, and bring him back safely to his father. Kind of typical of old Jacob (whose name means “supplanter”), eh?

The Widow's Mite

Finally, or Reason #5: The fact that a widow paid her mite (as found in the Gospels) cannot somehow mean that Christians must pay tithing. This might blow your minds: contrary to popular belief, the widow’s story is NOT an example for believers to follow. No widow ought to pay in her last mite – unless so directed by God.

Let’s read the story: Mark 12:41-44. And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Now the place to start to really understand what Jesus was saying is to first read what the scriptures taught about widows; in Exodus, for example: Exodus 22:22. Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. And Deuteronomy: Deuteronomy 14:28. At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied. Throughout scripture, God is always caring for the widows and the fatherless, not exacting from them. In God’s heart the disadvantaged deserve special treatment.

Knowing this now, let’s read the story of the widow's mite in context. We’ll do that by starting a few verses earlier, at verse 38 instead of 41: Mark 12:38-40. And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

Jesus is an excellent teacher. He first told the disciples what the teachers of the law were doing: they “devour widows’ houses.” Then to demonstrate how these teachers were doing it, Jesus goes and observes offerings being made. As if on cue, along comes a poor widow and puts everything she had to live on in the coffer. Why on earth would a poor widow do that? Jesus shows his disciples exactly how the teachers of the law were plundering the poor widows; God didn’t tell that woman to give that offering. That was what she has been taught to do by the leaders; believing them, she gave up all she had left. Rather than being an example of the type of giving that pleases God, this is really an example of the kind of exploitation the religious leaders were doing to the poor widows at that time!

Yes, Jesus did say that the poor widow put more into the treasury than all the others; but she is NOT the model for poor people to imitate. Jesus was not teaching that. As believers, we are NOT supposed to furtively try and out-do the rich folks. As believers we are to give freely so that widows, the fatherless, and the poor can have their needs met. When we understand what God wants us to do, we will notice several things: 1. No feelings of guilt about the amount given.

Tithing in Modern Faith

Feelings of guilt about the amount we are not able to give. No feeling more special to God because of the amount given. No feeling less special to God because of the amount given. No feeling the need to make up for not paying a full tithe by tithing your time: making knitted socks, singing in the choir, driving the church bus, shoveling snow, or anything else. People are incorrectly taught that it is a good thing to give up all they have to their local church institution, just like the widow in scripture did. Often this story of the widow and her mite is used to encourage believers to somehow prove that they too, “really love the Lord.” It does not show that at all. What it does is that millions of Mormons (and Christians, too) are victims of the same plunderers that the poor widow experienced in Jesus' time: those who falsely teach that the amount you give is a determinant of your love for God, or your salvation.

Jesus brings total freedom. Freedom to worship Him as you please, freedom to live, and the absolute total freedom to give whether it be nothing, a little, or a lot.

The Role of Tithing in Faith

Over the years I’ve been asked many times about the Law of Attraction and books like, The Secret. Since we’re talking about Prosperity Theology tonight, let me give you all some of the basics. The law of attraction is the belief that "like attracts like" and so if you focus on positive or negative thoughts, one can bring about positive or negative results. It’s all based on the word Energy and the idea that when people (who are pure energy) think specific thoughts (which are pure energy) these people and energies attract each other and produce like results.

This all sort of started when a guy named Thomas Troward (who was part of the New Thought Movement – a precursor to Word of Faith movement) claimed that thought precedes physical form and "the action of Mind plants a nucleus (seed) which, if allowed to grow undisturbed, will eventually attract to itself all the conditions necessary for its manifestation in outward visible form." From this time there were many players in the game who contributed to the idea through teachings and books. Napoleon Hill gave the world Think and Grow Rich in 1937 or so, 1954 gave us Three Magic Words, and in 2006 we received a follow-up called The Secret by Rhonda someone from Australia. In August 2008, Esther and Jerry Hicks' book Money and the Law of Attraction: Learning to Attract Health, Wealth & Happiness appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list.

Exploring Faith

We receive a number of emails and questions about faith –how to live by it, walk by it, increase it . . . Faith IS the substance of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not seen. It is a substance and it is evidence. Think of it this way. Suppose you have been told that there are these little flying honey-makers named bees flying around the world which serve to pollinate everything – but you’ve never seen one. In this case the bees represent God which you have never seen either. So you go out to the woods to see if you can actually see a bee. As you walk you pass glorious fields of blooming flowers. Evidence, science says, that bees exist. But you look and look and look and never see a bee. But what you do discover is honey. Listen, “Honey is the substance of bees hoped for, honey is the evidence of bees unseen.” Get it?

The Substance and Evidence of Faith

Faith is literally the substance of things hoped for, it is the evidence of things not seen. Twice in this definition of faith the writer of Hebrews uses the word things. Faith is the substance of THINGS hoped for, the evidence of THINGS not seen. What are these things? The promises of God. The presence of God. The power of God. Faith is the substance of the promises of God hoped for, faith is the evidence of the power of God not seen. Think on.

Reflections on Religious Freedom and Practices

Dear Shawn,

I have already commented on this topic of your last episode. Yet, while pondering the problem for a while, I am deeply troubled by something that has occurred. A show speaking out against the Mormons stands for seven years. One show speaking out against Evangelicals, boom, your show is gone. What group would you say practices freedom of speech and love more, the Mormons or the Evangelicals? What does this say to all the Mormons that are in their church but were thinking of coming out of the Mormon church? You know what, I think they will now stay if they were watching this. The thing to do would be for the Evangelicals to come on your show, when it returns, with the great love of Jesus Christ and show the world who they are by letting their light shine before men that they seeing their goods works might glorify God and praise him for all his goodness. But that did not happen. Did the Mormons take you off the air in such a way that the Evangelicals would get blamed for it? Or was this strictly something the Evangelicals did? I left the Mormon church in 2002. I have attended an Evangelical Free Church and wondered the same things.

In regards to the Mormons having a biblical believing place of worship to attend, I believe, My church, is such a place. The truth needs to come out here for all the those searching and seeking souls involved. Being taken off the air, really really really comes across as the Mormons being the more Christian like of the two. Go forth prayerfully, my thoughts and prayers are with you, your sis in Christ Jesus,

Laura McDonough

Transition from Mormonism to Biblical Christianity

Shawn, God bless you, BROTHER, for your heart to present the Truth! I cannot fully express how your arguments in contending for the Faith once and for all given unto the saints have provided support in my life while deprogramming from mormonism. Your tenacious point-by-point examinations of mormonism’s doctrines of man vs Biblical Truth has had such a pivotal and fundamental influence in my walk with the TRUE Jesus Christ. Like many other ex-Mormons who have left the pseudo ”security” of the mormon cult, I found myself saying to my Christian elders, ”I feel as if I am swimming in a sea of sharks” when trying to find a ”good home church”. I was saying this because of all the strange fire, misguided methods and deceptions I was seeing in these christian churches. I was excited to finally know the true Jesus and eager go find true fellowhip and 3.5 yrs later, I’m STILL searching for that church fellowship. I have come to understand that fellowship in home groups of like-minded believers (focused on truth) is the place for me.

I now find myself contending for the Faith once and for all given unto the saints with so-called “christian churches” and their ishtar bunnies that lay eggs, santa clause, Dec 25th birthdate of a pagan ruler, halloween, prosperity gospel, 501 (c) 3 corp status, etc. I recently listened to episode 5 where you touch on these things and I am so delighted that I will continue to have you as a resource in my transition from mormonism to Biblical Christianity!

Understanding Pagan Traditions in Christianity

I do have a question for you. You stated there is freedom in Christ and that there is nothing wrong with celebrating these pagan traditions as long as you understand the truth about them (paraphrasing). I need help understanding how this can be because I understood that God the Father said in Deut 12:4, 30; Judges 6:10; Lev 18:3, 20:23 that He does not want us to worship Him as the heathen (pagan / worldly) worship their gods. I believe and fear God, Shawn, so I don’t even participate in any of those silly false pagan god worship traditions but yet Christians claim there is freedom to do so. Just what exactly happened at the cross of Christ to make null God’s command to not worship Him as others worship their gods? What am I misunderstanding about Christ’s sacrifice that now allows us to participate in these religious traditions of how the world worships its idols?

Thanks Shawn and God bless you! I love you and I am praying for you, please pray for me.

Fab in New England, USA