Reflections on LDS Worship and Being Born Again
Live from the Mecca of Mormonism, Salt Lake City, Utah . . . It’s “Heart of the Matter!” Our final show of 2006!
I’m Shawn McCraney, your grateful host. Introduce
Shout out to – Micah and Becky – liver Lynda in Spanish Fork Dennis H in SLC My friend Marie who was so kind to send me a Jehovah’s Witness book. Marcia C for the book mark. All your letters and support we thank you.
In house special guests . . . Lucy and Corey Eakins Jonathan and Margaret from Tenne. Grandma Golden (guest)
Okay . . . Sunday was Christmas Eve.
My family attended the LDS ward in southern California. I was not with them as I had to work. Now we have had a lot of conversation about the LDS being Christian, about the place of Joseph Smith in the religion, etc. LDS defenders are always trying to show how much they worship Jesus – and they might. But there are a few things in this Church that have got to change! You’ve gotta see this to believe it.
Reflections on Christmas Celebrations
It’s the day before Christmas – a Sunday – and the Mormons in the Huntington Beach 1st Ward gather together. This was the program they handed out. (go through it) Well, here we are – the end of the year 2006. Yesterday was a day most people in the nation used as a time for celebration.
Some people used the day to contemplate – truly celebrate – the fact that Jesus, our salvation, literally came to this earth. Some people celebrated the fact that they were born, lavishing upon themselves Gucci and Prada and Mattel and Apple in honor of the great human trinity – me, myself and I. Some people gathered in beautiful homes warmed by a roaring hearth and adorned with the finer things of life. And some were on the streets, behind bars, or sharing a Grand Slam with their family of five at the local Denny’s. Regardless of where you were, how you celebrated, what you gave, or what you received, today is another day! And the most vital question you can ask yourself is “What does Jesus mean to you now?”
We have had a remarkable year here on Heart of the Matter. Praise God. We’ve covered a lot of ground. On the first show, I talked about the imperative Jesus gave to Nicodemus, that a person MUST be born again. That was forty three weeks ago. Have you been born-again since?
If you can’t say yes and know it, then in all probability you haven’t. It’s not a state you strive to attain. It’s not a condition you work maintain. It is an event granted to you by God where you are given a new heart, a new spirit, and new life in Yeshua. And whether you’re dressed in Prada or rags, new birth is undeniable, and “Christmas” is with you everyday of every year. I’ve met born-again Catholics, born-again Jews, born-again criminals, and born-again Communists. Homosexuals can be born again. Heroin addicts can be born again. Prostitutes can be born again. And Mormons can be born again. It’s not about your righteousness, it is about His. Do you get it?
The Nature of Genuine New Birth
Genuine new birth always leads to three conditions:
A personal and intimate relationship with God that religion cannot provide.
A knowledge of personal salvation.
An ability and a desire to change from the “old self of the flesh” to the “new self in the spirit.”
It’s been 43 weeks. Have you been born-again? If not, why not? What is holding you back? Unbelief? Pride? The world? Your religious convictions? You sin? Just remember, Jesus said, “You must be born again.”
I want you to know that the experience of being born again is an absolute reality available to all who are willing to honestly offer their entire will and life out to the Lord and live for Him.
Topics Discussed in 2006
On other shows, we’ve talked about
Praise and worship Sin The Bible (twice) The make-up of God Grace Polygamy The Cross Culture Freemasonry The temple The Book of Mormon Grace The Law Baptism A five-part series on Jesus Our ministry The Sabbath-day Prophets Hell LDS priesthood And Grace. Great stuff. We’ve had some good discussions.
But the question remains: “Where are you in your relationship to God?” Have you been born again? Have you given God a chance to take over all your sin and lead your life according to His ways and not your own?
We’ve recommended churches – a total of 18 or 19 along the Wasatch front and beyond. Have you taken the time to hear God speak in any of these Churches? Or are you bitter because of religion? Has the dominant faith of this state crushed God right out of your heart?
I want you to know that Jesus came to this earth for the broken toys of life. This is who He hung out with, this is who He
Ministry to the Fallen
I have always, always maintained that our ministry is not to the LDS faithful but to the fallout. The faithful have their minds made up. They believe they have the truth! We really don’t care to try and reach the stalwarts. But what about the hundreds of thousands of people in the state of Utah alone who have been broken by the constructs of this religion? What do you do with your sinners, Latter-day Saint Church? What do you do with those who could not and will not ever measure up? With the people who couldn’t play your game?
A Growing Community
There’s been . . .
Grace Baptist Church – Bountiful
Calv.Ch Mountain View – American Fork
Living Hope Church – Brigham City
Elevation Church – Layton
Christ Evangelical Church – Orem
Calvary Chapel – Park City
Faith Baptist – Layton
First Church of the Nazarene – SLC
The Rock – SLC
Good Shepherd Lutheran – Sandy
Grace Community Bible Church – Sandy
Mountain View Christian Assembly – Sandy
Calvary Chapel – SLC
The Valley Assembly Church – West Valley
Crossings Church SBC – Santaquin Utah
Sandy Ridge Community Church – Sandy, Pastor Travis Mitchell
Several weeks ago, after speaking at a church in SLC, I had the opportunity to sit down with a rather proud Latter-day Saint for a late-night dinner. He attended the meeting and made the following comment while we waited for our meal to arrive: “You know, when I looked around at the people there tonight, they reminded me of 'Santa’s broken toys.'” I replied, “We’re all broken toys.”
You dropped them is what you did. You said, “conform” or be cast out. You made them uncomfortable because they smelled like smoke, or had drink on their breath, or wore a skirt that was too short. You never gave them higher callings because they didn’t have the right job, or education, or marriage, or testimony. You forbade them from receiving your required endowments for salvation because they never paid you the mandatory ten percent. The shame is on you, LDS church, not on them. It’s on you.
Over the year we’ve met some of you out in your homes and in churches and in parks.
- Sugarhouse in July
- At the Rock Church in October
- In Brigham City in November
- In Miracle rock in SLC in Dec
- and in Orem a few weeks ago.
And we’ve watched many of you come to the Lord. If you have watched the show with any regularity you have heard them call in yourself. Regular people like you and me who have gone to God with honest and openness of heart, asked Him to forgive them of their sin and to give them new life, and they have been saved and regenerated in the glorious blood of Jesus. You’ve heard them call.
A Call to Trust
Maybe you’ve been looking for truth, for change, for certainty in uncertain times. Maybe you long to be free and have a relationship with Him but have not been able to let go of whatever it is that holds you back. Maybe you fear commitment? Your families reaction? Your boss? Your spouse or children? Maybe you fear losing the world and all you think it offers you?
You can NEVER go wrong trusting God too much. Ever. I promise you, with all my heart, that if you honestly give your all to Him – your whole life, and will, and heart, He will forgive you, He will make you his child, and He will lead and guide you forever more. Take the time – right now – to ask Him into your life. Right now, turn this show off, go to your knees, speak openly with God and become a born-again believer in Jesus Christ. It will make ALL the difference in your life and in the world.
Have you ever heard how they trap monkeys in Malasia? (EXPLAIN) Whatever you are gripping, let it go. Give it to God. And have Him take care of it. Whatever is holding you back, let it free – and ask God to rule your life. Whatever you are doubting, embracing, believing that is not of Him, let it go, and ask Him to guide you.
The other day I told my daughters that no matter what they think of religion or life there is something they can be sure of – They can be sure Jesus is the coolest friend ANYONE could ever have. That if He was on earth with them they would never want for a better friend, a better confidant, a better supporter. That He would be there for them always, He would love them like no other, and that He would
End of Year Reflections
Support them in all the gifts and talents they possess.
Okay, we’re going to open up the phone lines early tonight. Kind of an open line end of the year, say what you want (well, you do anyway so who am I kidding?)
(801) 973-TV20
(801) 973-8820
Criticism of Our Ministry
Lot’s of criticism of our ministry. I believe it is one of the best ever and here’s why
Suppose, just suppose, Mormonism is true. (Then we’re bringing people up from the lowest kingdom to the middle – from sin to Jesus – everyday!). Suppose Mormonism is false and Christianity is true (Then we’re pulling people from hell everyday).
Exploring Different Beliefs
Suppose all roads that even speak of Jesus lead to God. (Then because we speak of Him it won’t matter!). Suppose no roads lead to God – all a lie (Nothing matters)
CONCLUSION
Have family on for goodbye! 2007 – The History of the Church!
