Investigating Christian Truth-Claims

This program is being presented in an effort to investigate all Christian truth-claims by comparing them with a contextual understanding of the Bible and its original intent. We are not interested in supporting or promoting any tradition, person, practice, culture, or denomination that stands contrary to this reasonable and contextual approach to scripture.

Nothing is so sacred that it is exempt from scrutiny. Nothing so popular and accepted that it won’t be discarded if found wanting and unreasonable. This is Heart of the Matter… where we make every effort to worship God in Spirit and Truth.

“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 our aim is to help all people worship God in Spirit and in Truth.” I am your host, Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion..

Faith and Love

I want to begin tonight’s program with some reiterations. If you came to our Sunday gatherings here in Salt Lake City you would discover that our weekly focus is on the Word of God in its entirety and from the best contextual view we can muster. This approach is paramount in our lives and in this ministry to others. I do NOT want this fact to be lost amidst all the ancillary information that we discuss on this show. When I say “ancillary” I mean ANY disputable doctrine, teaching, or practice that is not “faith in Christ and love for God and man.”

To us these “other things” are absolute NON-essentials in the realm of true Christianity. Did you hear me? I do not believe anything truly matters between Christians but faith in Christ and love for God and Man. Faith and love. Faith and love. Faith and love.

If someone professes Jesus as their Lord and Savior and loves God and man I consider them and their professions acceptable and them as my brother, or sister, and they are welcome in my life. They may fail in their faith, they may fail in the love and they may profess all manner of crazy beliefs – they may be Calvinists, dogmatists, legalists, or Mormons. They could be Baptists, Methodists, humanists, or Seventh-day Adventists – but if they profess faith in Christ Jesus the king and love for God and man – they are my brother or sister in Him… whether they like it or not and whether they see me in the same way.

Doctrines divide friends. And none of have them all right. The only approach then – knowing we all see through a glass darkly – is to love. So those who hate, attack, and malign me and my ideas… and even call me names that besmirch my faith – I refuse to hold any animus for them but instead choose to follow the example of our Lord and to love them. I hope this is clearly understood as we move forward into this year of 2015.

And with that, let’s have a word of prayer.

Love for the Bible

A second thing I want to reiterate before we begin talking about the Bible is my absolute love for the Bible. This is not rhetorical and I think I have evidenced this love by the time I have spent (and continue to spend between its covers).

Why do I love the Bible – above all other books ever printed? I love it because it was composed in real time, by real people, reporting both real history and real events but written in conjunction with the Spirit of God. Its settings are not metaphorical nor the product of imaginary minds. All the contributing books are founded in real brick and mortar, real flesh and blood, real issues between a God who loves us and fallen Man who continues to fail.

I love the Bible because while I believe men wrote the Bible using their own minds to create the words I simultaneously believe God inspired their minds on what topics to discuss. I therefore find the narrative God breathed. Inspired. And as a result I am inspired when I read and hear it taught. And these inspirations help me overcome the flesh in which I reside. They help “wash” away the former, and regenerate dead concepts of flesh to living ones of the Spirit.

I believe there is power in the Word of God as the messages are applied by the Holy Spirit to the souls.

The Transformative Power of the Bible

I am certain that this type of transfiguring or transforming power can only be had by those who have the ability to consider the contents of the written word. I do not think there is any power in the ink and paper or in the printed words in or of themselves but by and through the Holy Spirit the Bible’s multiplicity of messages are full of life changing power to regenerate and change lives for the better. Therefore I view the Bible as beneficial to human-kind in all of its forms – that the words themselves – while begging for study and examination – do not have the capacity to redirect lives but when combined with the Holy Spirit serve a mighty purpose in God’s plan of redeeming humankind.

I accept the Bible as sufficient to teach all men what God wants us to understand about Him and about ourselves. I believe it is a perfect book in the sense that it is complete. My understanding of this may differ from others because I believe whatever a person happens to be reading at the time is complete for them at that moment – and therefore perfect. In other words whether a babe, or a mature believer, or the most spiritually elevated soul is reading the book, the words with the spirit work with them according to their ability to understand.

Such a view allows us to accept the babes position that nothing matters but faith in Jesus, the mature Christians view that nothing matters over submitting to God, and a Father of the faiths view that only love matters as all being viable, and good and right. So where we can debate on translations, and mss evidence, and word choice, and the books that have been included in the bible (as compared to those that were rejected) I believe God has provided us with a remarkable book of uncontested influence and power.

The Relevance of the Book of Revelation

Now, what would you think of me if I said something like: “I don’t think the book of RevelationA symbolic prophecy fulfilled in 70 A.D.—not a prediction of future global events. is really necessary?” Would it shock you? Make you angry? Cause you to never tune in again? Well, get moving cause that is my opinion. I accept Revelation and I read it and appeal to its contents but I am of the opinion that

• Because it was written to the seven churches specifically for that exact time and their circumstances, and
• Because it deals with events I believe related to Jesus coming in 70 AD and warnings to them,
• And because it has caused more people to get so wrapped up in trying to understand its obscure contents that its value is not as great as other books in the word.

I mean look at how much has gone on falsely due to the book of Revelation – from David Koresh at Waco to millions and millions of dollars spent on movies and books and teachings that are often so errant – why not just suggest it is not as great an influence in our lives as, say Romans, or Luke, or Galatians? Am I less of a Christian because I think this? Am I not to be trusted? Having heard this opinion do you automatically reject me as your brother? Many would. Many do.

Understanding the Bible's Authority

Here’s the point I’m trying to make or the question I am trying to get answered: While admitting that the Bible contains the Word of God, that it is sufficient to lead all men to truth, how emphatic are we to be about it’s contents? In other words are we SUPPOSED to take it and really try to enforce all of the tenets involved, are we supposed to dogmatically insist that what it says MUST be applied to our day and age and lives in the exact same way? Can we differ as to content – we certainly differ as to meaning? In other words is the Bible to be spiritually understood or physically applied too?

Was the founder of Mormonism Joseph Smith so wrong when he said: “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it’s translated correctly?” I used to think this was one of the worst things the man ever said – but if taken at face value (and not the way the

Perspectives on the Bible's Teachings

LDS have generally taken it) I can’t help but agree. I mean aren’t there Bible translations out there that are really, really bad that we might suggest people avoid? Sure. Maybe Smith was referring to these? So how are we to view, and use, and apply the contents of this wonderful, beautiful book into our lives? Literally? Exactly? Figuratively? As representative stories for our communal good? As a thousand pages of demands that must be kept to please God and live with him again? Is the book a collection of these demands and instructions to be observed and enforced or do they all merely point to principles of faith and love?

Some of you recoiled at my views on Revelation. Would it surprise you to learn that the founder of the Protestant revolution Martin Luther felt the same way? And not just about Revelation but Hebrews, II Peter, a couple of John’s epistles and especially Jude and James?

Martin Luther's Critique of Jude and James

This is what Luther said about Jude and James:

LUTHER SAYS: “Though this epistle of St. James was rejected by the ancients, I praise it and consider it a good book, because it sets up no doctrines of men but vigorously promulgates the law of God. However, to state my own opinion about it, though without prejudice to anyone, I do not regard it as the writing of an apostle, and my reasons follow.

In the first place it is flatly against St. Paul and all the rest of Scripture in ascribing justification to works (2:24). It says that Abraham was justified by his works when he offered his son Isaac (2:20); Though in Romans 4:22-22 St. Paul teaches to the contrary that Abraham was justified apart from works, by his faith alone, before he had offered his son, and proves it by Moses in Genesis 15:6. Although it would be possible to "save" the epistle by a gloss giving a correct explanation of justification here ascribed to works, it is impossible to deny that it does refer to Moses' words in Genesis 15 (which speaks not of Abraham's works but of his faith, just as Paul makes plain in Romans 4) to Abraham's works. This fault proves that this epistle is not the work of any apostle.

In the second place its purpose is to teach Christians, but in all this long teaching it does not once mention the Passion, the resurrection, or the Spirit of Christ. He names Christ several times; however he teaches nothing about him, but only speaks of general faith in God. Now it is the office of a true apostle to preach of the Passion and resurrection and office of Christ, and to lay the foundation for faith in him, as Christ himself says in John 15[:27], "You shall bear witness to me.?

Luther's Criteria for Apostolicity

All the genuine sacred books agree in this, that all of them preach and inculcate [treiben] Christ. And that is the true test by which to judge all books, when we see whether or not they inculcate Christ. For all the Scriptures show us Christ, Romans 3[:21]; and St. Paul will know nothing but Christ, I Corinthians 2[:2]. Whatever does not teach Christ is not yet apostolic, even though St. Peter or St. Paul does the teaching. Again, whatever preaches Christ would be apostolic, even if Judas, Annas, Pilate, and Herod were doing it." (ibid). But this James does nothing more than drive to the law and its works. Besides, he throws things together so chaotically that it seems to me he must have been some good, pious man, who took a few sayings from the disciples of the apostles and thus tossed them off on paper. Or it may perhaps have been written by someone on the basis of his preaching. He calls the law a "law of liberty" [1:25], though Paul calls it a law of slavery, of wrath, of deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God., and of sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace.. Moreover he cites the sayings of St. Peter [in 5:20]; Love covers a multitude of sins" [1 Pet. 4:8], and again [in 4:10], "Humble yourselves under he had of God" [1 Pet. 5:6] also the saying of St. Paul in Galatians 5[:17], "The Spirit lusteth against envy." And yet, in point of time, St. James was put to death by Herod [Acts 12:2] in Jerusalem, before St. Peter. So it seems that [this author] came long after St. Peter and St. Paul. In a word, he (James) wanted to guard against those who relied on faith without works, but was unequal to the task in spirit, thought, and words. He

Evaluating Biblical Canon

Mangles the Scriptures and thereby opposes Paul and all Scripture. (that last line was removed in the post 1530 translation) He tries to accomplish by harping on the law what the apostles accomplish by stimulating people to love. Therefore I cannot include him among the chief books, though I would not thereby prevent anyone from including or extolling him as he pleases, for there are otherwise many good sayings in him.

Therefore I will not have him in my Bible to be numbered among the true chief books, though I would not thereby prevent anyone from including or extolling him as he pleases, for there are otherwise many good sayings in him. One man is no man in worldly things; how then, should this single man alone avail against Paul and all Scripture.

Jude's Place in Scripture

Concerning the epistle of St. Jude, no one can deny that it is an extract or copy of St. Peter's second epistle, so very like it are all the words. He also speaks of the apostles like a disciple who comes long after them [Jude 17] and cites sayings and incidents that are found nowhere else in the Scriptures [Jude 9, 14]. This moved the ancient Fathers to exclude this epistle from the main body of the Scriptures. Moreover the Apostle Jude did not go to Greek-speaking lands, but to Persia, as it is said, so that he did not write Greek. Therefore, although I value this book, it is an epistle that need not be counted among the chief books which are supposed to lay the foundations of faith.”

If I said these things the self-appointed defenders of the faith, these apologists would have my head! Of course the reply would be, “You, Shawn McCraney, are not Martin Luther either.” To which I would remind them that there is not one bit of difference between what saved Luther and what saved me, not one bit of difference between Luther’s authority and mine, not one bit of difference between Luther as a fallen man and me was well. Or ANYONE else for that matter. We are ALL just members of the Body of Christ. Period.

He is our head. And for reasons unknown to me we have allowed ourselves to believe somehow that all free thought must be quelled, questioning and criticism of modern approaches to “Christianity” must be condemned, and that the contents of this book are not only concrete, they are to be used to kill and crush all who wonder out loud. Now, what would the reception be of me if tonight I admitted that there were some books NOT included in my Bible that I think should have been! “What!,” the EV fundies would cry, “first you want to take away from the Bible by removing Revelations and now you want to add to it?” I mean we can imagine the assassinations of my character that would follow right?

But again, did you know Luther, while removing certain books like James and Jude from his bible version actually included a bunch of books that ARE NOT found in our Bibles today? No????? Yes.

Luther's "Antilegomena" and Additional Books

So on the one hand Luther had what has come to be known as his “antilegomena” or books he believed had no business in the Bible (Hebrews, James, Jude and Revelation) and then he additionally INCLUDED what are called the Deuterocononical Books in his Bible translation. To put it simply these are books not contained in the Hebrew Old Testament – which are known as the Protocanonical standards. And these Deuterocanonical Books that Luther included in his bible are:

• The book of Tobit
• Judith
• Additions to Esther (VulgateEsther 10:4-16:24)[26]
• Wisdom (or Wisdom of Solomon)
• Wisdom of Jesus ben Sira (or Sirach or Ecclesiasticus)
• Baruch, including the Letter of Jeremiah (Additions to Jeremiah in the Septuagint)[27]
• Additions to Daniel:

Exploring Different Approaches to Biblical Understanding

Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Holy Children (Vulgate Daniel 3:24-90)

• Susanna (Vulgate Daniel 13, Septuagint prologue)
• Bel and the Dragon (Vulgate Daniel 14, Septuagint epilogue)
• 1 Maccabees
• 2 Maccabees

Encouraging Open Discussion

So now, what if I got up here today and petitioned our audience to really study the book Bel and the Dragon because it is so inspiring! What would attackers say then! We have an idea. I bring all this out as a means to pull back on the dogmatic positions we have taken in the body today. To relax a bit on the concrete stances we insist upon, and to try and understand some things about the Bible we love – which will go a long way in helping us to love each other better.

Just to clear the air, I’m not suggesting anything unreasonable to Christianity. I love the Lord Jesus and His word. I maintain the fact that He is God incarnate, put to death, resurrected on the third day, ascended into heaven, and reign over His kingdom. That we are saved by grace through faith, and that those who are saved will love. But I think we need to appeal to ALL reasonable approaches to the Bible as we push in toward a more reasonable and loving faith.

Demanded doctrines, dogmatism, and dictates arbitrarily stripped out of the book and posted on the walls of church manifestos only serve to divide and destroy. There is a better way and it will begin with examining the history, construction, and stated purposes of the Bible.

Personal Stories of Faith

Let’s open up the phone lines: (801) While the operators are clearing your calls consider the following: (SHOW SPOT HERE)

From: Denis

Subject: How your show helped me

Message Body:

My name is Denis I am 19 and go to a Russian Pentecostal church in Alaska. I stumbled upon your show on YouTube when I started looking into Mormonism. Now the reason I started looking into it was because one of my teammates from my high school hockey team is a Mormon and he invited me to come and talk to him about mine and his beliefs, and your show has really helped me understand and be able to talk about Mormonism and the evident flaws in it.

I drive three hours to work every day round trip and listen to your show the whole time off the internet, it has also helped me become a better Christian by constantly reminding me that my works are nothing and I am a sinner in need of God's grace every day, and your show has really helped me be able to talk to my Mormon friend and share my testimony with him.

I pray God uses your show to touch the lost people every day and that the revelation of grace comes to this lost nation and the world. May Christ be with you.

Shawn;

I have written you in the past, especially when you were concentrating on Mormonism. Your shows gave me strength and clarity I needed to leave the church and seek true Christianity. However, as I mentioned in the past, I am saddened because my wife and family are still deeply rooted in Mormonism.

The reason for this note is I wanted to tell you I am delighted that you are trying very hard to find the truth in understanding of the Word. I am attending a Christian church and am comfortable there. However, having been "Bit- once " by Mormonism deception, I also seek to know the truth. As such, I welcome questioning of Christian religions and feel this is the only way we will really know and understand the Word. Any truth will withstand the rigors of questioning.

Maybe because we came out of Mormonism, we want to make sure we are not deceived a second time. Many lifetime Christians probably have not experienced such an extreme deception, as we have, and as such aren't driven to question things.

I do not always agree with everything you do, but I highly respect your seeking truth and questioning the establishments.

Bob

From: Jay

Subject: God Bless you.

Message Body:

Hey Shawn..

I just wanted to write to give you some encouragement. I know that you are bombarded with hatred from all sides. I was praying and I felt led to email you to tell you that you are

Exposing Deceptive Practices

Doing God’s work. You are exposing satan and his use of RELIGION to trick the people. Through my prayers I was used by God to share the Word of God to several Mormons, including my wife. Through this fight my wife and 10 other Mormons have been freed from Mormonism. And I feel my mother-in-law is on the verge of accepting the true Christ. I know you know this but just know that though the world might hate you, the Lord is well pleased. Remember they hated Him first….

My only criticism about you and your show is that you need to figure out a better way to shut these people up and keep them on one subject at a time. LOL God bless you and I wish you the best… stay healthy.

Praise and Encouragement

From: Evan Marsh
Subject: Praise
Message Body:

Hey!, this is Evan Marsh from Washington USA. I absolutely love the show Shawn, you’re a very patient and logical man. Not many people on your show stop and see that. I realize how many hateful messages you get from Mormon viewers so I thought it would be encouraging to give a message of appreciation. Keep doing what you’re doing, you strengthen the faith of more Christians than you know and you’re probably saving many Mormon viewers too. Thank God for you and the show.

-Evan Marsh

(Comment of dear friend visiting me recently from LA and asking who is treating me worse – the LDS or the Christians?)

Segue into true story of local pastor who has presented a lot of public animus toward my person and the drivers pushing him to disdain and hate me?

Seeking Collaboration

From: Warren F. Rosenbaum
Subject: Great Presentation Tonight & Happy New Year
Message Body:

I endorse your approach 100% and the thinking, reasoning, and truth that you are declaring. I especially liked the examples you used to show how tradition and culture have influenced people's thinking and worship. I have on my agenda writing a book, working title, "Cultural Christianity (With Its Rules) Is NOT Real Christianity." I also have a rough draft of another book titled "Saving The Lost – Total Reconciliation." A third book and the one closest to completion is "The Real, One and Only God – Eternity's I AM Explained."

From these titles, maybe you can see the similarity, or parallel, in our thinking. I think we should talk about some collaboration on my writing and your presentations. Merging some or both may reach people who are thirsting for the truth. That is God’s purpose for my life and I must go as far as I can with these concepts in a timely fashion – I’m in my senior years.

My phone number is 801-368-7521 and email: wjogger@aol.com. I can meet you in SLC if you wish. I’m in Pleasant Grove, 32 miles south of SLC. Not available until after 12 noon on phone or responding to email.