Heart of the Matter Show Recap
LIVE! From the Mecca of Mormonism — SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH! – This is Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology. . . . Show 2: The Word, January 8th 2008. . . . and I’m Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host.
Last night we had our monthly TRAVELING PASTOR! Right here in downtown Salt Lake City at Denny’s on 5th South and 250 West. The turnout was rather small compared to other traveling pastor meetings, but we had a wonderful baptism experience following at the Adventure Church right across the street from Liberty park. We had a slight miscommunication on the font so long story short, the water was freezing – I mean winter river freezing. Enjoy this.
Congrats to Jed and Dean who publicly proclaimed their faith in the Lord last night and nearly froze to deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. in the process. We love you.
Remember, coming up in February, on Sunday evening February 3rd and Monday Evening February 4th, we’re going to be in BOISE, IDAHO, meeting our fans and foes who tune into the show on KLCP TV 19! On February 3rd, from 3pm to 5pm, we are going to be holding an open house at their local station KCLP in Nampa and then on Monday the 4th we’ll be meeting at the Denny’s from 6 to 8 pm for our Traveling Pastor in the Pub. Stay tuned for more information. Go to www.bornagainmormon.com for more info like the location and times of planned events.
Conversations on Religion
You know, as I travel about I have a unique opportunity to observe lots of people. I listen to their conversations and hear their lips convey what’s on their hearts. I watch body language, facial expressions, and am able to dialogue with a variety of people on the subject of religion, God, and Jesus – especially LDS people.
At the Long Beach airport last week three young LDS men came up and asked if they could speak with me as we waited for a plane. So often in these impromptu meetings and emails, members of the Church think they have a perspective that I’ve never considered in my forty years as an active faithful teaching high priest. That they have questions I’ve never heard as a Christian, or possess an angle I missed in my years hosting the show.
Praise and Concerns
Usually, their intentions are good. Usually, they are considerate people. I like the Mormons. But you have to understand something: Your questions and delivery are pretty much cookie cutter and very much from the same hymnal. You may not even realize it, but the arguments you use have been spoon-fed to you since you were an attentive member.
I see many LDS people who are dedicated to family – parents and grandparents headed to Disneyland, generations wishing a missionary off or welcoming them home. They have a strong culture, a culture based on happiness, a culture based on family, food, and fun. But Jesus most often than not a sub-topic, not the theme. An branch, not the trunk. A chapter, not the book. This is the central message of our ministry – for you as a Latter-day Saint to have Him on your lips, in your every step, and by your side at Disneyland. Not “the prophet.” Not “the Church.” Jesus Christ.
Listen, if in the past six months you have come to see the light relative to Mormonism and have come to find the Lord, we really need to hear from you. Your communication will be private. Email me at Shawn@bornagainmormon.com as I will get in touch with you thereafter for a private conversation.
Reflections on Joseph Smith
What Joseph Smith was everything history paints him to be, what do you suppose was the greatest crime he committed against biblical Christianity and the members of the LDS Church? Was it his stating that God was once a man or that men may become God’s? Was it that the teaching that Jesus was a created being, or his claims he translated God’s Word from golden plates buried in a hill by his house? Maybe it was polygamy, temple rites and rituals, or his suggesting he had more to boast of than even Jesus Christ? You pick.
But from page 210 of “I was a Born-Again Mormon,” allow me to answer my own question by quoting from . . . my own book (sorry – I usually don’t do this)
The greatest disservice Joseph Smith did to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – past, present, and future – was not claiming that he saw God, not in publishing the Book of Mormon, and not erecting temples influenced by Freemasonry.
Perspectives on the Bible
Right or wrong, all of those acts can be written off as a young man’s attempts to draw people closer to God, to save them from a Christian faith he deemed corrupt, and to help unify the community and family around him. Rather, his most damaging act was his subtle attack on the authority and authenticity of the Bible. This act has led hundreds of thousands of innocent people to distrust and even mock the holy Word of God. In spite of Joseph Smith’s best intentions, I see him as having committed a grave spiritual and ecclesiastical crime.
Evaluating Scriptural Integrity
There seems to be three main perspectives a person can have relative to the Bible. The first is that it is full of errant doctrines, mistranslations, purposeful deceptions, and the philosophies of Man. A second perspective could be that the Bible is erroneous, but it is a good piece of literature and won’t do too much damage if taken with a grain of salt and not viewed with too much devotion.
If either of these perspectives are the case, then Mormonism, Islam, and every self-proclaimed prophet to ever come down the pike has the right to question it, add to it, take from it, and challenge it. If this is the case, then extra-biblical books like the Koran, the D&C, the Book of Mormon, and the New World Translation are just great! The more “revelations” the better. If this is the case we could all agree or disagree that Jesus was a good teacher, the Jewish prophets had some good advice for living, and the people who follow it are often better citizens.
But there is a third perspective I want to address tonight – that is that the Bible is in fact trustworthy and reliable as the Word of God. And if this is the case, then no extra books are needed, continued revelation no matter how charismatic the prophet is unnecessary, and the Word is sufficient to lead all men and women to salvation.
The Bible's Self-Defense
Tonight, I hope to help you choose to embrace the Bible as reliable, and to help teach you a few things you can use when Latter-day Saints claim it is not enough. Last week, I said a general rule for the Gospel of Jesus Christ was that the liberals tend to take away from it with the “Jesus was a good guy argument” and the cults tend to add to it with the “Jesus was good, but you also need what I’m selling.” Let me add an addendum to this thought: When it comes to the Bible both liberals and cultists tend to both diminish its import, AND rewrite its meanings.
The Bible defends itself against such attack. Let’s take a minute and examine what it says about itself: (And I hope you will take some notes as to the references here and mark your Bible for use against those who insist on demeaning it).
First of all, the Word of the Lord has been around a long, long time and it says that it will last forever.
Psalm 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Jesus said in Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Peter, one of the Lord’s Apostle’s wrote in 1st Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Do you know what God Himself said about His Words? He said that they are held in higher esteem than even . . . His name.
Listen:
Psalm 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
Attributes of the Scripture
What does the Bible say the Word of God is and what does it promise that it will do? It says it is “Inspired”
2nd Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2nd Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
That it “Furnishes Light”
Jeremiah 23:29 says that the Word of God is a crushing hammer.
Ephesians 6:17 says “the sword of the Spirit is the word of God”
And Hebrews 4:12 says
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to
The Authority of the Bible
The dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Interestingly, the Bible says that the Word of God “Purifies Life”
Psalm 199:9
John 15:3
John 17:17
Ephesians 5:26
And “authenticate the Divinity of Jesus”
John 20:31
Now I am going to make a statement here which is more and more being debated from the Mormon defenders of the faith but within the general ranks of the LDS, the Bible is not considered an equal to their other three books of canon. Listen to a few quotes that have come from LDS leaders' mouths regarding the Bible. The Bible has always been considered an unreliable source for all of God’s truth. We have time and time again read on this show very demeaning quotes past LDS leaders have made regarding the Bible, and all you need to do if you think I am wrong and the LDS embrace the Bible like you do is to invite the missionaries over to your home and start quoting the Bible in refutation to their Mormon doctrines. You’ll hear the general LDS attitude toward the Bible first hand.
The Trustworthiness of Scripture
So, in light of what the Bible says of God’s word, and what predominant LDS view of the Bible, I have some questions:
Ready:
Why did Jesus quote from a Bible (the O.T.) which was older to Him in many respects than the N.T is to us? Why would He trust the “translations” as reliable enough, but Mormons can’t? Huh? Huh? Huh? Every time Satan asks Him a question when He was being tempted, Jesus said, It is written . . . and then He quoted scripture. He didn’t say, “It is written, but the translation might be wrong, Satan!” He said IT IS WRITTEN.
And this brings me to my second question:
Why did God have men write if He wasn’t able to bring their writings forth in a reliable and trustworthy way?
Romans 15:4
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
And in 1st John 5:13, John the Beloved wrote this
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
Consequences of Distrusting the Word
Which brings me to another question. Is the God of all things, the being who controls and balances and creates the universes, the being who manages the sub-atomic levels of life, the being who was, and is, and is to come – could not bring forth His Word in a form that is trustworthy to us today? To deny, alter, question and demean His Word is to demean Him!
Which brings me to a final question:
What does the Bible say about the Words Jesus spoke?
John 6:63
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
If the WORDS that He spoke are life, how were WE supposed to hear them?
John 14:23-24
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
AGAIN, How can we keep His words – HIS WORDS GIVEN THERE IN HIS LIFE – if they couldn’t, wouldn’t didn’t come to us in a reliable form?
1st John 2:3
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
How can we keep His commandments if we don’t know them?
The Importance of Preaching
And finally,
Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Why would a person or group want you to mistrust or question the Bible?
Why?
Because if they can get a searching person to mistrust
Mormonism and the Bible
God’s word, they can step in and get them to trust their words. And the warnings for the beguiling words or men and women are all throughout the Bible. Joseph used several approaches to get people to mistrust the Bible. He had the Book of Mormon writers discount its validity. He said he received revelation straight from Heaven, which supplants the Bible in Mormon doctrine. Add in two more books he called scripture and you have got a people who never come to a saving knowledge of the truth. And then you can tie them all up in doing things YOU want them to do.
Parable of the Sower
Mormonism faces a paradoxical situation when it comes to the Bible. On the one hand, they have long thrown its trustworthiness into question, causing most of their members to instead rely more on the words of Joseph Smith, and yet at the same time they use some of the most esoteric passages in the Bible to support some of their most insane doctrines. It’s sort of like walking into a reputable doctors office and calling him a fraud and then asking him his advice on a medical condition. Typical.
Almost everyone who has ever heard more than just a few Bible teachings is familiar with a parable Jesus tells which is known as the Parable of the Sower. It’s a simple but power packed tale of a Sower – or planter, who tosses seed onto various types of ground. Stony ground. Shallow ground. Ground that is quickly engulfed in thorns, and on good soil. After hearing this parable, the disciples ask the Lord to explain it. And the Lord begins to do so by stating matter of fact:
“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.”
Event Information
There will be no – I repeat, no Pastor in the Pub tonight due to our in-town event last night at the downtown Denny’s.
And listen, we hope – if you have not found a church you feel comfortable attending – we truly hope you’ll drag yourself down to either The Gateway Theaters at 9:15 in the morning OR to the University of Utah by 7:00 in the evening and join us at LORD’SWORD. It’s one hour. It’s simple. It’s open to all. And I promise, you’ll learn.
See you next week . . . here on Heart of the Matter.
