Worship and Personal Beliefs
Live from Salt Lake City, Utah, this is Heart of the Matter ESPRESSO! where we do all we can to worship God in Spirit and in Truth. I’m Shawn McCraney, your host.
Show 23 552 Striking the Root – part III May 30th 2017 Prayer
Those of you who live in the Logan Utah area on up to Preston Idaho, this may of be of interest to you. On Wednesday, June 21st 7PM I am going to be speaking in a home outside of Preston about Mormonism, Christianity, and a relationship directly with the Lord. I will be bringing up all of our books for those who desire them and will have food and a Q and A afterward. ALL are welcome – of any stripe, shape or ilk. The address is
That’s Wednesday, June 21st 2017 from 7 to 9 PM – join us if you are from that area.
The Trinity Debate
Well last week we received a call from Troy who, quoting another fellow, said that anyone who does not accept the Trinity is not a Christian. Troy then made the case that said, “Shawn, you do not accept the Trinity so how do you respond to this?” I gave him my response – which was not acceptable to him. He maintained (here on the show) that he was able to explain the Trinity to me, using catch-words and phrases that simply do not resonate to my spirit no matter how emphatically they are repeated.
When I got home that night I received three emails from this same caller. One was titled, “Helping Shawn.” Another was titled, “Modalism” and the other was a link to an online message board where this same Troy has tried to stir up trouble on the topic of the Trinity toward my person. But this was not enough. More emails. To all of them I simply explained that while I accepted Trinitarians as brothers, I have my views and Troy was not going to be the one to bring me around.
I WOULD NOT have had this approach to Troy if I had never had my views challenged – but I have – and know the arguments fairly well, by others far more established in ontological apologetics. But the Spirit, in conjunction with the Word, tells me I am okay where I stand.
Challenges and Responses
A fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth email came in. All within five minutes of each other. I responded to none of them: Here are some of the highlights (and I share them with you for a reason).
Shawn, “your conscience in your spirit which remains dead to God that's why God doesn't grace you with the truth. He's hardening your heart. God is choosing a people for Himself, and I don't believe you are one of His whereas other ex-Mormons gave their lives to the Triune God. Yes, I am confident for the Holy Spirit told me so which I cannot deny.”
The first tactic Troy uses – He appeals to popular opinion – “all good people believe like me and all people who don’t are bad people.” Then the second tactic is to employ God into the mix as he says “God has not chosen you AND the SPIRIT tells ME SO.”
This is hard to hear when you seek God through Christ. I want God to be happy with me. I want to be a part of the few. But another believer comes to me, in the name of God Himself, and tells me that I am not. I share this with you to help you stand firm against such tactics. If you love and seek God through Christ, do NOT let anyone ever tell you that you are not His.
He goes on and says: “The Spirit of Truth shows you actually remain quite coy about what you believe and hostile to the Triune God.” You're like William Lane Craig, for example, because he never talks about the fact that he believes he could lose salvation tomorrow. Coy people are easy to expose because they are coy about some untruth in their heart. Coy people are hiding their true hearts.”
What our brother Troy has done here is he has myopically seen my refusal to engage with him as NOT of the Spirit of truth, labeling it COY, and then suggesting that I have something sinister to hide.
Articulating Personal Views
What our brother does NOT realize is:
- I have articulated my views openly, frequently, and publicly – just not to him.
- What he says is “coy” can be defended as wise in…
The Challenge of Accusation in Faith
Recall that on occasion Jesus too held his tongue. And the scripture supports such approaches, so to malign my refusal to engage on a subject so inflammatory is not necessarily outside the way the “Spirit of truth works.” This is important because there are believers who believe it is their job to relentlessly argue and debate and attack others who differ with them. And there is no end to it. Speaking of no end to it, Troy continues and says: “I think your true heart is not regenerated.” Ahhhh. The grand accusation – “you are not saved.” From the mouth of another human being. I have been in the fire for some time now and this statement still hurts my heart. It is founded in guilt making and fear mongering and there is something powerfully dark that comes with it when it is said – especially when it is said to a person who cares about and loves God. Don’t let it hurt you. Instead, look to God in faith, trusting the fact that you believe on His Son for your salvation – and do not believe it when ANYONE says otherwise.
The Accuser’s Tactics
For some reason, ardent accusers in the faith will always appeal to two things when they choose to accuse others: They will appeal to God, and say that God has told them such and such about you, that they have prayed and know you are this or that, AND their accusation is always aimed to bring you down. It is not to encourage but to discourage, not to support but to attack. They become accusers and they use the NAME of God to do it. Look to God, trust in how He leads, forget the accusation and forgive the accuser. And as typical with accusers, Troy begins to turn the heat up, saying . . . “The way you conduct yourself also is telling. We shall know you by your fruits.” Again, just more accusation. Now it’s my conduct. The LDS accused based on appearance. Somehow to this brother it’s my “conduct.” He doesn’t specify what conduct it is that troubles him but he says it is the fruits I am bearing.
Interestingly enough, in the descriptions of the fruits of the spirit, theological opinions and doctrine are NOT listed among them. Instead it is love, illustrated by: “joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.” My accuser says my fruits are failing inspection. Wonder what he means? But more to the point, does he really know the fruits of my life? Do any of us really know the fruits of another?
The Burden of Accusation
Then the death bomb, delivered in conclusion: “I know with 100% certainty as I pray on this that you are not a Christian, and statistically speaking, you have less than 1% chance of giving your life to Christ. I don't think you will ever repent of your modalism so you are going to Hell. I would take that bet any day." Having now come to 100% certainty that I am NOT a Christian he then explains a shift he has made in his mindset and says: “Perhaps the purpose of my posts is no longer to lead you to Christ, but to protect those so they would not be deceived by you. Praise the Lord . . . for this discernment.
Not responding to that email nor the fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth, he concludes the eighth with: “I think you are getting the point, you are severely lacking humility.” And I have officially gained a new self-appointed nemesis, one who will use online message boards and posts to malign me and my beliefs. Understand that I am not unique to this – it has happened to thousands of people before me and it will continue to happen to others – all in the name of God.
I am simply trying to let you know that YOU are not alone, that God knows your heart and fruit, and that no human being has the right to openly question you, your faith in Christ, or your views about God. Walk looking to Him, not at online junk. Walk trusting Him, not those who claim to represent Him. But most importantly refrain from attacking back, from returning evil with evil. It’s not easy, but it is what our Lord commanded.
That being said, nobody – trinitarians included – should ever back down from teaching what they are convinced.
Scriptural Interpretation
The way I see it is this – Troy reads the Bible and I read the Bible. We both seek truth but we both differ on its interpretation. Presumably we both have the Spirit and look to Jesus as the author and finisher of our respective faiths. Instead of fighting against flesh and blood, I choose to aim for peace AND to let Bible passages speak for themselves, allowing the Spirit to guide others.
So I thought it would be interesting tonight to just lay out a few passages of scripture that seem to support my views of God by reiterating several main points over and over and over again. These points are:
- There is one God
- That the one God IS the Father.
- That Jesus is the Lord.
- That Jesus is Never called “God the Son.”
- That the Holy Spirit is never called “God the Spirit” (quite frankly, the holy spirit isn’t even included with the Father and Son in most references to Deity)
- And that all of us have access to the One God by and through Jesus and Jesus alone.
You listen to these verses. You tell me what YOU hear by the Spirit.
Key Scriptural Passages
1st Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
1st Corinthian 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, (there is but ONE God, the Father, NOT the father and the Son and the Holy Spirit – there is BUT ONE GOD – THE FATHER) of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1st Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
In Acts 2:36 Peter says: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made (God has made? God has made?) that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Additional Passages to Consider
Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:7 Grace to you and peace from God (our Father) and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul says in Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Romans 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1st Corinthians 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
1st Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1st Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2nd Corinthians 1:2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
2nd Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2nd Corinthians 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
2nd Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.
Galatians 1:3 Grace be
Grace and Peace in Scripture
Ephesians 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Colossians 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.
Blessings in the Name of Jesus Christ
1st Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1st Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father. 1st Thessalonians 3:11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 1st Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. 1st Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2nd Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2nd Thessalonians 1:2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2nd Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2nd Thessalonians 1:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2nd Thessalonians 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.
Faith and Hope in Jesus Christ
1st Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope. 1st Timothy 1:2 Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 1st Timothy 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2nd Timothy 1:2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 2nd Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.
Titus 1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. Philemon 1:3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 1st Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2nd John 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Now, I believe what scripture says
Understanding the Nature of Jesus
Clearly says there is one God AND in One Lord, Jesus Christ, God’s only human Son. The scripture NEVER uses the term “God the Son” nor “God the Holy Spirit” but it does use God the Father AND calls Him the ONE GOD. That is my God. And His only begotten Son IS my Lord and Savior. I live by His Spirit – which scripture say is the Spirit of His Son. I do not believe the Man Jesus of Nazareth was fully man nor do I believe He was fully God when He walked the earth. I reject that man-made formula as I don’t understand how someone that is FULLY man could read the hearts and minds of others, multiply fishes and loaves, and roam the surface of the sea at night. But Jesus did.
But I also don’t see how a being who was called “fully God” can be tempted (as James says God cannot be tempted) or how God was flesh and blood, or how fully God would not know all things and would die. How does fully God cry out, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” But Jesus did. Whether agreed upon or not, I see Jesus as having overcome all things (by the power of BEING God’s only human Son). And then BECOMING the only human worthy to receive all glory, honor, praise, glory, power, and blessing – and therefore being the ONLY human to BECOME FULLY GOD. I would finally suggest that the fullness of God dwells in Jesus now and on high, and the One God continues, though Him our Lord and Savior, to reign and relate to us. Hope this helps . . . but I don’t think it will.
The Good News
So let’s wrap up our discussion about the Good News that we started last week when we said that the Good News was certainly good news for the House of Israel and that it is certainly Good News for the whole world. I mean, if God gives a gift to the world wouldn’t it have unbelievable and far reaching (even limitless) effects on all? Of course, it would. And this is the central point we ought to seek to make and share – God so LOVED the World that He sent His Only Human Son to save us – and save us He did. Perhaps we could summarize the Good News like this: “Christ paid for every single wrong.” And as a follow up to this simple fact we might add: “that through Him, all men are free to do every single right.” In other words, it is the Good News (that Christ paid for every single wrong once and for all and forevermore) that enables people – empowered by this knowledge – to then, from a liberated life, love others.
The Impact of Good News
Nothing but this good news could serve to freely bring such liberation to the soul of humanity and therefore no other system or means could more openly produce truer fruits of love. I mean if a person understands that they have been freely and totally forgiven, without cost, and without price, how could they withhold love and forgiveness from others! They can’t. Not when it is fully understood and presented without MAN-ipulation. And so we come back to what religion does to the Good News.
Religion and Its Effects
COMPARE RESULTS
HIM and HIS VICTORY
Encouragement unity, freedom, and ability to love others because WE have been unconditionally loved!
RELIGIOUS BONDAGE BY “THE FEW” upon “the Many”
Discouragement Bondage, Disunity
Seen through
(Described as . . .)
The result
(Described as . . .)
The Result
The Good News
All the World has been saved from Sin by Jesus Christ. Realizing THIS good news you will be empowered to then LOVE as Christ.
Gratitude Freedom Joy Hope Allegiance Love Desire to know Him
- Something that must be earned.
- Something that includes MORE.
- Something that is available on a limited basis.
- Something that becomes BAD if it is not received as desired.
- Something that must be maintained.
An inability to love effectively and from the heart. A burden where the Gospel was meant to set us free. Not Good News because it is limited showing that God is incapable of saving all of us. Legalism. Fear and weight.
In summary, if the Gospel is Good News come from God through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, then it is good to all people everywhere all the time, it blesses human-kind, and it is what enables us to break from our rusty cages – and run to love.
