Transparency and Accountability in Religious Practices

“It’s time for all the dark practices of religion to be exposed to the light. No more secret alliances, no more feigned conversations, no more stabbing other believers in the back. If there’s a problem bring it to light – deal with it openly – and then let’s move on in love, trusting that God will make all things right.”

“Hey, let me explain the forces that will ultimately shut the doors of most churches in America OR the reason why most churches will inevitably not be able to maintain their present trajectories.”

First, the Millennials will not put up with it. Second, Government Intervention. Third, what I call Corporate sway. Fourth, Societal problems at large. If you want the details go to www.hotm.tv and watch show number four titled, the Prescription.

HOTM 2.0
4th Show – The Prescription
November 14th, 2017

Addressing Interpersonal Conflicts

Let’s pray.

Before we get into our main content tonight, I have a few things to address under our policy of total transparency. Who has contacted us to talk and work things out – Dave Nelson of K2, Nate Taylor of Hidden Valley in Draper, Paul Robie of South Mountain in Draper, Terry Long of CCSLC, Dr. James White of Alpha and Omega Ministries.

Who continues to rail online without agreement to meet or speaks about being hurt by me without a real cause – Jason Wallace and Sandra Tanner. I’ve heard nothing out of Greg Johnson – which is his greatest modus operandi. He has his trusted advisors and works like Machiavelli on fire in that private circle.

Working in reverse, I texted Jason the following message early last week: “I know you watched the show last week or you will. My question to you is are you ready and willing to agree to leave each other out of our critics and presentations – you know, in the Spirit of peacemaking – or are you determined to continue to go after me in social media? I want peace, my brother, and will hold my tongue against your person if you are willing. Let me know.”

I am guessing that Jason is so stuck in his orthodoxy that such things will remain ineffective. I have not followed up with Sandra Tanner as she feels herself maligned by my “rant against her two weeks ago.” There is some talk going around from the modern Christian culture wondering if I will apologize to Sandra. Let me be clear – I meant and mean every word I said on air to her.

Public Confrontation in the Early Church

There is a question about my rightness as a Christian to name names – even among our group as I’ve had a number of Campus folk express concern. So I have had to think about it. Here are my thoughts:

We have no problem naming names on leaders of the LDS church. People loved it when I would call the senior management of that religion out on the air – feeling that their place in the public warranted using their names and names to describe their behaviors. Does that change when we look at ourselves?

Well, what happens in the Bible? How did the leaders and managers in the early church behave toward each other? I distinctly remember Jesus calling Peter Satan in front of others. Didn’t stop him. “Oh, but He’s the Lord we say.” Of course, we say to follow Him in every other way – just not in these practices, right?

Then I recall Paul saying that he called out Peter face to face and out in the open when Peter was failing to treat the gentiles equitably. No sacrosanct hidden bs. Straight-up, out-in-the-open talk. No problem with it.

For nearly five years I witnessed, in silence, people repeatedly saying things in the dark – and I waited to see if this would change – it only got worse. And continues to get worse with some of them. In order for some things to first change, they must be exposed to the light of day.

Remember what we read in the New Testament? Paul to the believers at Romans (in 13:12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Ephesians 5:1 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

1st Timothy 5:20 Them that sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Sometimes the greatest love requires the most bitter actions – like calling Peter Satan or confronting him in public face.

Errors and Apologies

To face – as hard as it may seem in our age of “playing church.” I’ve sat back and waited for the church to self-correct and realized nothing will change unless people know specifics. So there we are.

That being said, mistakes and errors in judgment will occur on my part and have. First, I trusted a source who used to be on Terry Long’s team who told me that he has had multiple Harleys since becoming a Pastor in SLC – three to five. I chose to report the worst number, out of anger, and was told – by Terry himself – that he has always and only had one. I was wrong. I am sorry Terry. And I do seek your forgiveness and the forgiveness of our audience who I have misinformed. The idea is not that a Pastor cannot have Harleys. I was trying to paint a picture that he was using the tithes he collects to personally get material goods for himself. I am sorry for saying this. I trusted a false source.

Secondly, I was also told by one of our traveling congregates that K2 charges for their coffee.

Third, when talking about Sandra Tanner I used a term to describe her – Sacred Cow. I meant this relative to the meaning and history of the word with her being like the sacred cows of India that even starving people would not touch. Unfortunately I have been informed that to use the term cow in association with a woman is never apropos, and I am so very sorry if that was thought to be my purpose. I did NOT in any way mean that – but can see how it could be seen that way.

Meetings with Pastors

I heard from Terry Long of CCSLC and we’ve agreed to meet with him (and then Paul Robie of South Mountain) after Thanksgiving. I had a sit down lunch with Pastor Nathan Tyler which was enjoyable. He pastors Hidden Valley and is a highly educated five-point Calvinist but was easy to discuss things with. He will be on the show come 2018. And we are tentatively set to have the esteemed five-point Calvinist James White on the show in 2018 as well – which to which I really look forward.

Finally, Mary and I met with Pastor Dave Nelson and his wife Susie yesterday of K2. I was able to hear about their purpose in coming to Utah in the first place, who their target audience is, and how they have gone about reaching them. I found Pastor Dave and his wife affable and certainly lovers of Jesus and on a personal side relished in the light they brought to our lives over lunch. I was also able to speak with Dave about tithes and maturing people in the faith – things which he has long been thinking about. He was open to hearing me and our perspective of trying to make all churches in Utah ex-Mormon ready. You will note that we have taken the segment out of me lighting a fire in front of K2. We have done that because I had jumped the gun on them and their purpose in the valley. I am sorry. We are out to build bridges – we are out to invoke change, not harm. The opener is a way to get the attention of the churches to talk with us – and they are. Hat’s off to Dave and Susie Nelson and K2 in their hearts' desires to serve the King.

Roles and Responsibilities

I’ll keep you updated as updates occur. I want you to know that I will work diligently with pastors to set the people of Utah free with the Truth of the Word and by eliminating religious bondages in their lives.

I wear very different hats in my life – which is why there are differing perspectives of my person bantered around out there.

• I wear a hat as a believer and follower of God through Christ. This is who people meet on the street.
• As a husband and father, I wear a hat that is certainly influenced by the first hat, but does not always include the exact same language and approach when I’m with my family.
• I wear the hat of a pastor/teacher – which is the only way some people know me – and they have their views of me in that position too, and then
• I wear the hat of a former television now online streaming show host which presents a number of controversial variables.

• There are people

Traditional Views on Integrity

who believe we ought to approach all things from the same position. That is a very traditional view of what it means to be a man of integrity and I don’t agree with it. When people do that they are like hammers trying to make the entire world a nail.

• The result can be disastrous, like when pastors kids become Mormon or atheist – it's because the Pastor has believed that hat should be worn 24/7.
• I am of the opinion that while there is certainly overflow and influence present from one position to the other, each hat requires specific “response-abilities.”
• Here on HOTM 2.0 my responsibility is to have a no holds barred engagement with the religious world out there as a means to help it serve the people the best it can.
• I hope this is understood.

Challenges in Leadership

Alright . . .

I said some things last week that I know fell on some very stony/thorny ground. That’s part of pushing for change – saying things that will be taken wrongly, will upset supporters, and cause people to turn on you. Specifically, I named myself as one of the four true leaders in the state for reaching LDS, ex-LDS and seekers. This was hard and uncomfortable for some to hear. That’s okay – it was hard for me to say. But I believe it’s true – and if I am anything in my life I want to be someone who can be at least trusted to always say what I believe is true.

You cannot rely on managers for that – only genuine leaders. And if or when any leader says something that they don’t believe is true – it’s time to run. Understand, what I say and do here on HOTM 2.0 is not without a direct price to me and even to CAMPUS the place where I teach. Many of you might not realize that we have congregates who are Trinitarians, who insist on giving money that they label tithes, and we probably have more gun-toting people here than most churches in the state.

So when I step out and am critical of the Reverend Greg Johnson’s training churches on how to “shoot people in the head” many in our own gatherings could not disagree with me more – and have the guns to prove it. So don’t allow yourselves to think that we are all united here on social or even theological issues – we’re not. But what we ARE united in is allowing each other to freely believe and live how we choose and to love each other despite our differences. This is the goal.

A Bold Prognostication

Last week I also read the anonymous letter I sent out to a number of churches in the Valley. In that letter I wrote something that really got under the skin of some – it said:

“If the churches don’t repent of demanding money of their congregates, and placing them under false authority, and frightening them with the second comingChrist’s return, fulfilled in 70 A.D., ending the old covenant—not the world. of Christ,” then “I guaranteed that their doors would close for good.”

On air I even said this “in the name of God.” I was not using God’s name to “cause it” (as in “thus sayeth the Lord,”) I don’t do that. I was simply saying that with God as my witness what I said would occur. This was a secular prognostication, similar to those made by stock market economists on which way the market will go. In other words, based on everything I have seen around me, IF the churches in the State do not listen to me they will go out of business – because that is what they are – businesses; businesses that errantly believe that they are more popular or have more money or power over people the more effective or successful that they are and the more sustainable they remain.

Indicators of Predictions

What would lead me to write such a prognostication?

Let’s go to our board of Instruction and count the indicators:

HUB AND SPOKE OF MY PREDICTION

HUB “Churches will close their doors if they don’t change.”

SPOKES

• First, the church will inevitably be unable to maintain their trajectory.
• Our histories of civilizations prove this as do studies in business models – there must be an steady INCREASE in performance and production.
• Doors/Jim Morrison example.
• For the churches this will not be possible if they also seek try to remain His.
• People who cut their teeth on religious show will grow tired – so there must be appeals to newer bigger things. It will end.
• Second, the Millennials
• Not gonna put up

Challenges Facing Modern Churches

They want “value” in their lives. They are suspect and therefore disturbed by biblical tenants, so hollow biblical tenets will not sustain them. World wide flood/ark/modern miracles. Third, Government Intervention. Marriages of homosexuals. Hate speech against any group. Elimination of tax-exempt donations. Which will cause budgets to fail – which will cause doors to close. Corporate sway. Volunteerism and fundraising is going to drain resources from the churches. Corporations are becoming the new church of social engineering. They do it better and more honestly. Giving and donations are happening everywhere and unless churches provide added value people will give somewhere else. Society. Dangers of large gatherings. Un-curable communicable diseases. And again, the Millennial influence of non-BS demanded.

To me this leaves the churches with three main choices in terms of Direction:

1. To try and “retain power and influence” by adaptation

2. To try and remain as they are without any modification, OR

3. To begin to implement immediate change.

Retaining Power and Influence

First, to try and retain power and influence. To do this, they will have to cut down on Jesus and the Bible all together – which will confirm more than ever what they are really all about – social clubs. There will be a correlation seen in churches of the future – the more Bible taught, the less income derived; the less Bible the more income received. Therefore, churches will have to openly embrace and accommodate all that is in the world – without exception – to survive. They will have to constantly give the people what they want (rather than what they need to know). And they will need to use their resources to “protect” the flock from physical harm of all types. The costs of this will force them to turn up the heat for money, which will cause them to have to please the people more – with even less Bible. Bottom line: Churches in the future will have to sell their souls (more than you already have) to just maintain, and the “church” that now is will cease to exist.

Spiritual Mediocrity

Second, if they try and just stay the course of spiritual mediocrity, they will look like the churches in Europe look today – empty.

Implementing Change

Finally, if they are, in the name and cause of Christ, willing to change, they will make the decision to use their every meeting to fill people with the Word of God – teaching them its principles in an in-depth, fruitful lasting manner. This will cause their attendance to fall, and you will be forced to watch those who try and remain in power grow temporarily in number. As your attendance falls, you will downsize on your present material approaches to playing church. You will begin to cut back on your overhead, eliminate staff and rethink what you are actually feeding your flocks. You will announce that you will no longer pass a plate, use the word tithes, or tie worship of God into giving you money. All giving must be freewill and from the heart of every individual. You will encourage all people to remain in the Word, and to have complete liberty in Him. And you will send them out into the world to be Christians and not try and occupy their lives with activities. In this, you will downplay your position as an authority figure – and make yourself a truly humble servant who is equal to your lowest congregate. In time, you will be forced to move your operation to a humble location stripped of modern Christian culture. You may even go to the house church model, or some semblance of it, as a means to truly feed and serve the people. You will teach the Bible for what it actually is and what it is purposed to be – an individual map for a Christian’s spiritual journey and not a manual of musts. And in humility, and difficulty, you will week in and week out feed the sheep with the Word. Finally, you will allow all people to believe what they want to believe once you have taught it – (because they do anyway). Your job is to teach the Word by the Spirit and let God work on the individual’s minds and hearts.

Whatever path the pastors choose, they will lead to pain – if not today, then in the very near future. Perhaps within ten years. And one way or another, in some fashion – your doors will be shut.

END OF BOARD OF DIRECTION

So is this is it on our part? Just a letter to the churches? A show a provocative intro and shows with a host that.

Church Reformation and Transformation

Hardly.

We are working feverishly to help prepare the churches in the state to not only receive exiting Latter day Saints responsibly but to wash them with the Word and fill them with His Spirit of complete Liberty. As part B of this general direction we are preparing an approach that will greatly lend to all churches changing their ways as described on the board.

Like a good surgeon seeking to save the life of a person filled with cancer, the remedy and treatment will be brutal, invasive, and eviscerating—but done in an effort to heal and fix a corrupted system and get it whole and healthy enough to thrive. I believe that Utah will serve as a model for the rest of the nation and perhaps some of the world, to embrace.

A New Approach for Churches

Over the course of the year, we will reveal this approach which will eventually bring either terror or joy to the hearts of those involved in the faith. Like it or not we are here to lead where Johnson and Wallace (and others) have failed and continue to fail.

Let’s open up the phone lines –

(801) 590-8413

Got a number of emails to consider.

Phone Calls / Emails

I received the following email with a message I do not want to get lost in our shows.

It’s from Kev and his wife and says:

Shawn, the first time you really grabbed my attention is when you were going after Evangelicalism back in 2012. I was wanting more and was disappointed when I didn't get more. I was raised inside this machine and understand how it works and the damage they are causing. My father was a pastor for 38 years. Every sermon was scripture by scripture that ended in the freedom that salvation brings. In all that time he never, I mean never, taught, spoke, or preached from the pulpit on tithing, giving money, or the Trinity.

The denomination he was a part of had many teachings he did not support. He never went against the Bible in order to please those that were coming down on him from the state or national leadership. He simply refused to perpetuate these mistaken, or too complex, interpretations or beliefs.

Finally, after 30 years, a new State Bishop (a Zealot) that really didn't know my father, without warning, came into his church on a Sunday morning, took over the service, and while making false allegations about my father, tried removing him from his position in front of the congregation. This was a mistake because the congregation knew my father.

Another man that had only attended after my father took this Church (even though all his family and extended family had attended for years), stood up and approached the pulpit and began to beat the shyte out of that state Bishop while others stood up and helped… LOL!

I understand that's not a good thing, but as his son, I didn't help stop the beating. I'm sure your children can relate! But, my father put a stop to the beating, got the Bishop medical care, and within the week, stepped down from that denomination.

True Christlike Love

My father remains to be the most loving man I have ever known. He showed me that everyone should be loved. The prostitute, the homosexual, the bum, the addicted, the hated, that everyone was welcomed in his congregation. He wasn't in it for riches but to serve others … and serve he did. He held weekly services in old folks' homes on Thursdays, prisons on Tuesdays, in-home Bible studies on Mondays and/or Fridays, visitation on Saturdays to shut-ins first and then anyone else.

We would give up our bedrooms on a regular to strangers, the homeless, and even drunkards. My father saw only the soul of the person. From the most degenerate to the most highly praised. I witnessed true Christlike love for others! My father didn't deserve this kind of an exit … but that didn't stop those scared of questioning their so-called truth from trying to shut him up.

As you take the ministry in a new direction, remember that there are other pastors, ministers, etc. that are swallowed up by the machine and at some point in their life agreed with you. Yes, most pastors “go along to get along so they can move up and attain worldly aspirations and standing” … but not all, I hope. Some are

Challenges Facing Christianity

Scared because of what it would mean for their families, friends, financially, etc.

This may not justify their cowardliness but an appeal to these men may eventually yield some allies. If Christianity does not change, Christianity will be replaced, in time, and die the deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. of a thousand cuts.

I’ve been on the churches so much that I forget to praise God for men like Pastor Lane in our present and our past. And I realize there are such pastors in Utah – men of God who put me to absolute shame in their dedication, faith and love. So thank you Kev and Sandra for reminding me of this.

Perspectives on Church and Belief

Hi Shawn,

I tried a few Christian churches, but finally stopped going when I realized that church is a business, and what they really wanted was my money (which there isn't much of).

Brother Johnson.
Idaho

Rachel wrote and I will respond to her as I read what she wrote:

I guess I just miss your former, more ecumenical attitude in Christiandom when you first came out. You wanted Mormons to know Jesus is, and was, God, not their big bro, whether they had a trinitarian, moralist, or whatever else concept is out there.

RESPONSE

Sandra's Approach

So Sandra took a Calvinistic path you disagree with. She still helped me realize that the Mormon version of Jesus is not the real Jesus. So did you.

RESPONSE

And she's been in the trenches a long time, without the benefit of internet, but doing research way before google existed. I have benefited, you have too, and countless others. I guess I'm giving her a "sacred cow" status in the exmo world. I think she deserves it. I don't agree with her Calvinism views either, but I don't see her pounding that from her utlm.org pulpit.

RESPONSE

Exposing Mormonism

Mormonism is so pernicious, that I can hardly be against anyone that dedicates a ministry to exposing it for what it is, whether the pastor makes a little profit or not. It better than following the LDS prophet/profit to hell.

RESPONSE

God bless you Shawn. But I wish the main focus is showing Mormons that Jesus is God. Because believing He's not is the great blasphemy. At least trinitarians or modalists can agree about that.

RESPONSE