Beginning Reflections on Faith and Inquiry

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, ‘Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?” Ezekiel 34:1-2

Introduction to Heart of the Matter

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 Religion Meets the Bible Face to Face.

Show 1
January 1st 2013

And I’m your host, Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion.

GUESTS:
Matt Cody
Mitchell Jake
Tyler Will
Shaun Delaney
Torry Sarah
Matt

Personal Journey and Questions

It’s January 1st 2013. Nearly seven years ago we began writing, producing, and hosting this live television program where we compared Mormonism with what the Bible has to say.

I’ve been tenacious. Rude at times, belligerent and relentless in exposing modern-day Mormonism for what it is – a man-made religion. I’m really not sure the best way to go about what we are about to do so please try and be patient.

For clarity's sake, travel back with me for a minute – waaaaaay back – to the year 1974. I was a twelve-year-old kid but even then, as an active LDS boy . . . “passing the sacrament,” “attending all my Mormon meetings,” and “trying my best to fit in with Mormonism and the world around me,” I possessed a natural penchant for seeing life and living from a very different perspective than most of my peers – LDS or not.

I suppose the best way to explain my odd perceptions would be to say I was an artist. Though only twelve years old and of very average intelligence, I was, without trying, someone who questioned everything . . . and in the face of inferior answers I became a cynic of sorts, a scoffer, a kid highly suspect of everything that was going on around me.

Sitting in Mormon Sunday school and priesthood meetings I remember what I thought were strange observations passing through my brain: “How come the Bible describes Jesus as an open, free, loving man but my teachers were describing and depicting Him . . . like He was a Mormon?” OR “Why didn’t the angel Moroni tell Joseph Smith not to tell ANYONE about the plates he was given since his telling them only caused him a great deal of personal trouble? I mean, the angel did take the time to tell Joseph not to show the plates to anyone – why not add in that he shouldn’t even tell anyone too?” OR “How come people say the same schnit over and over and over again when they pray? And who made up the line ‘that this food may nourish and strengthen our bodies’ anyway?”

At the time I was completely unaware that this type of questioning and thinking was indicative of how I would forever examine EVERYTHING presented to me over the course of my life . . . whether it be in areas of education, entertainment, athletics or the arts . . . But this was especially true in areas related to God and religion.

Looking back I can now see that these propensities were merely a nascent desire to know truth – to come to terms with unadulterated, no BS, straight-up truth.

The Pursuit of Truth

So after serving a full-time Mormon mission, marrying in an LDS temple, attending an LDS-owned university, accepting and fulfilling numerous LDS callings, and actively raising our three daughters to believe things I had actually wondered long and hard about, I decided that I was going to pursue authentic living and God (if He even existed) no matter what the cost, and no matter how controversial, no matter how painful or out of sorts I might be with the rest of the accepted religious world.

After YEARS of ENDLESS searching, I came to know the Truth . . . first-hand. On a relational basis. That was the summer of 1997. There and then I discovered that Truth was not by any means “relative” nor did it arrive by, in, or through ANY organized religion, ANY religious demand, ANY religious denomination, or ANY system Man said was necessary for me to.

Discovering Truth

The Truth I discovered (not this truth, not a truth, not my version of truth but The Truth I discovered) was “simple yet eternally complex,” completely liberating (but made me a slave), was unconditionally accepting, arrived without price, was open and inviting to all, and was untouched by the grimy hands and minds of men. This way, this truth, this life was my introduction to the promised Messiah Yeshua, prophesied of in ancient scripture, and coming to me as the being we call Jesus.

I did not have to be good or holy or clean to know or receive Him. And on my own I have not been good or clean or holy since finding Him (neither have any other of His followers). He reached me then as I was. He continues to do the same today. He is without fail. He is unconditional. He is faithful when I am not. And His promise, “Come unto me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest” was “as true for me in 1997 as it is for me this very moment in time.”

Inclusivity of the Message

Being that I was an active Mormon when I received Him in 1997, I personally learned (from first-hand experience) some very important things:

God's Unfailing Reach

First, I learned that God reaches in and touches any and all who authentically seek Him . . . regardless of what church they attend. He reaches atheists, humanists, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Baptists, Catholics, and even Mormons . . . like I was at the time He reached me. He touches people who are sexually depraved, straight edge, violent, puritanical, and addicted. From sore-covered meth addicts to soccer moms dripping in bling – he reaches any and all types according to His will and ways, and not man's.

When I realized that He does the converting, I also saw very early on that more often than not, organized religion and “so-called organized religious people” often do more to get in the way of Him and His purposes . . . than to assist Him. Because I was LDS and was able to see how much that man-made religious organization got in the way of Truth . . . and I decided to do something about it. And most of you know the story.

Wrote a book. Was offered this television program. Started a Bible study which became a church. Yada, yada, yada. To say the least the result has been interesting. Millions, as a result of God blessing the ministry, now have new insights into the man-made religion called Mormonism. Hundreds of thousands of people have armed themselves with valid, truthful, accurate information to use when proselytizing Mormon missionaries and members darken their doors. And hundreds (maybe even thousands at this point) have actually pulled up stakes and abandoned Mormonism, exchanging the religious philosophies and practices of Man for a relationship with the eternal Truth – Yeshua. We thank and praise God Almighty for allowing us to be part of this effort.

(GO TO BOARD FOR ILLUSTRATION)

Naturally, and in response to our relentless attacks on Mormonism, members of the faith frequently contact us and ask:

“Why . . .?” “Why do you only pick on Mormonism?”

Our standard replies have always included all or some of the following reasons:

Looking at these reasons, we can see why I don’t pick on, critique, or “go after” other organized religions because none of them meet these criteria for criticism. For example, I don’t go after Catholicism because I don’t understand Catholicism like I understand Mormonism. And we haven’t attacked Islam or Buddhism because they don’t claim to be Christian the way Mormonism has. And I don’t go after Scientology because I don’t have any family or friends subject to their deceptions. Again, we have attacked Mormonism because it meets these criteria. And we have not held back.

At times I’ve been rude. Acerbic. Angry, even unfairly critical. My passion for truth has been embarrassingly evident, and we have, without excuse or apology, shown no quarter in terms of compromise, shown no mercy in our assessment of LDS leadership, and have subjected their evil religious idiocy to a relentless barrage of unassailable information. We’ve compiled over 370 hour-long televised programs on our website and provide them at no cost to anyone interested in reviewing their content, and we will continue to work with this material (on your behalf) sorting and categorizing it for better accessibility and user-friendliness . . .BUT . . .

for the time being – at least for the year of 2013 – we are leaving Mormonism alone.

Why?

The reasons

Focus on Evangelical Christianity

First, seven years is a long time, and the most convicting material has been presented in the Mormon/Christian debate. Sure, as things pop up, we’ll touch on them, but we are turning our focus on a target, based on numbers alone, that is a far more worthy recipient of just as much intense scrutiny, public criticism, and biblical comparatives.

In terms of qualifying, this new target meets all the very same criteria Mormonism held for being attacked:

1. First, I know it – having been part of it since 1997 I know from first-hand experience its doctrine, culture, and practices.

2. Second, it claims to represent the Truth. It claims to represent Christ. Having somewhat learned the Bible over the years I am in a position to determine if their claims and doctrine and practices are authentic, genuine, and correct . . . or not.

3. Third, it presents what it calls truth to unsuspecting (and often naïve) people who really want and need to have biblical truths given them in a clear, unadulterated fashion. And finally . . .

I personally have an abundance of family and friends who are part of this group – along with approximately one billion others – who are subject to lies, deceptions, falsehoods presented to them.

The group? Modern (primarily American) Evangelical Christianity

An Unexpected Journey in Faith

Many of you know that our ministry took the month of December off. It was the first vacation we have taken in seven years and it was much needed. I had all sorts of plans in place on things I wanted to accomplish during this time. But God was going to work on me according to His will and once again not allow me to have mine.

One thing I did not plan on doing was visiting some of the more popular and established Christian churches here in Utah. We went in unannounced, watched, listened, and took copious notes on what we experienced . . . what we heard, what people were being subjected to, what they were being fed, what they were being taught. We saw Modern American Evangelical Christianity first hand.

Additionally, instead of reading the thirty books I had scheduled out to read and finish over the break I was led to set most of them aside and to dive headlong into the Word of God more arduously than ever before. This opened me up to more of Him and His will than to more of the will of Man and in light of all of this I realized that the Modern American Christian church not only meets all of the same criterion that Mormonism met for being attacked and criticized by our ministry for seven years, modern Christianity lays claim to over a billion adherents where Mormonism has only 14 million!

Reflection on Mormonism

1. First, I know Mormonism. Having been active in the Church for forty years plus, I know from first-hand experience its doctrine, culture, and practices.

2. Second, Mormonism claims to represent the Truth. To give it a name, they claim to be Christian. Having somewhat learned the Bible over the years I was in a position to determine if their claims and doctrine and practices were True (with a Capital T) . . . or not.

3. Third, Mormonism heaps what it calls truth upon unsuspecting, often naïve, people who really want (and need) to receive it in a clear, unadulterated fashion. Finally . . .

I personally have family and friends who remain LDS – along with 14 million others – and are subject to the lies, deceptions, falsehoods presented in the name of Truth.

Main Topic: Matter from 1 to 2

the Matter from 1 to 2.

Check AM 820 Out

Check AM 820 out.