Transparency All Over the Place

Hey, tonight's show is called, “Transparency all over da place.” I’m your host Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion.. Let’s pray.

Show 7

Transparency All Over the Place
December 12th 2018

Hey, 2018 is going to be a year in guests and I am really trying to get professionals in the faith – Pastors, Bishops, Reverends, Priests, vicars – to come on the show and dialogue with me. If you attend a local church please invite your pastor to contact me directly and set up a date next year where he or she can come on the show and explain why their approach to the faith is best. No debates. No arguing. Just discussion. Thus far I have commitments from the three Presbyterians of different shapes and sizes, a Roman Catholic, an Anabaptist, and a noted apologist. There is lots of room left. Spread the Word. We’ve emailed 15 of the more prominent churches in the state two weeks ago – got nothing – not even a no way back. This is their right, but I think they will regret it in the future.

Hey relative to last week's discussion of when Jesus said that if your right eye offends you, pluck it out, Wendy forwarded me this article by one Pamela Geller. Its subject? A Muslim man in Australia, somehow offended by his wife’s behavior, took her eye out and then slayed her in front of her children. He told police his behavior was normal in the Middle East. My point? We have a related point in scripture from the mouth of Jesus. But today the fruit of the Spirit would prevent someone taking such measures – and again – this is what moves us, not words in ink. Words guide, and the Spirit moves all to actions that are of Spirit bearing fruit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering temperance, etc.

Discussing Money in Ministry

Had a meeting with a man last week – long meeting, almost four hours. It really wasn’t so much a meeting as it was a monologue – but I learned a lot. Anyway, there were a few points that came out – even by accident, perhaps – that gave me pause. I want to share and respond to three of them – as they all had to do with the subtle reference to “money” in this ministry. One thing this brother said was there was some speculation “out there” that K2 the Church paid me off and as a result we removed their church from the initial introduction of the show. I’m not sure people understand this, but I cannot be bought – no matter how much money. Someone could offer me a billion dollars to stop doing what I do and I would laugh them in the face. If money was my ambition I would have worked really hard to make myself and our programs “acceptable” to the masses and got our original shows on more and more networks and cashed in. Easy to do.

Before I made the decision to go after the Christian churches in 2013 our annual donations were nearing 400,000.00 a year. Before January 1st of that year I took my wife aside and said, “You know what this is going to mean, right?” (meaning my going public with my views on the faith) She thought she did but told me to go forward. Which we did. The second thing he mentioned was that there was some speculation that I am always harping on tithes because I want people to send me their money. Look – plain and simple – I preach and teach against tithes because they are not applicable in the New Covenant and are a flat out abuse in the churches today that places believers in bondage. Pure and simple. Got that?

I DO want people to come to CAMPUS because here they will be free – but that’s the end of my ambitions. Again, if my ambitions were on getting more to CAMPUS as a means to get more money we would have built a church that people love attending – rock concerts and all. But more importantly, if tithes were contextually real and supported without a bunch of “game playing” necessary to make them work in scripture, I would teach them – and I would get right down people’s necks if it was what God commanded – like I do about love and faith and fruit bearing walks – because that would be right and therefore good. But this is not the case and so it won’t happen.

We trust that God

Financial Transparency in Ministry

will provide. Period. And He always has.

Finally, as we were leaving, my brother said something about finances. Or I did – I don’t remember. I decided to tell him what we take in through CAMPUS on average today. And I mentioned that I was just sharing those facts with him.

He said, “so you are not transparent in your finances.” I said that people “can ask anything and we will tell them,” then he repeated himself saying, “but you are not transparent like some other churches,” referring, I think, to weekly posting of how much money is taken in and what it is used for in programs that are handed out. I said, “no, we’re not. Bottom line, once all the bills are paid whatever is left goes to me at the end of each month.”

As I drove away, the financial items in the monologue bugged me a bit. They were not the purpose of our meeting but they came up. For some reason the subject of money has always been on the minds of people relative to me and this ministry. I think it's because we started out on TV and the fact that I have a certain style and/or look that sort of says money to some people. Part of that is because of where I came from and what I was all about in my former life. It has to do with art and fashion and personal preferences on design.

But it has NOTHING to do with money.

Financial Summary for the Ministry

So in the spirit of on-air transparency let me give you numbers for this year that Derrick (who solely handles our finances) gave me.

As of the first of December 2018 our combined annual donations from our online ministry and from our two CAMPUS services was . . . (drumroll please) $82,874.00. That money has been used to do everything that we do and all the expenses that go with being in ministry. Shipping books (free all over the place), payments for services rendered, rent for the building, utilities, insurances, repairs, benevolence to people in need, food and drinks for events, honorariums for guests, equipment, improvements, reimbursements for meals, mileage and gas, and then my monthly fluctuating salary.

Which according to Derrick’s accounts, I have made in taxable income for 2018 $23,400.00. I spend no less than 65 hours a week in ministry. That works out to under 7.00 an hour. We have zero savings. Zero in investments. But I can say, in terms of “bang for the buck” that we have offered more to our viewers and congregates than most churches do bringing in $82,000 a month!

How a pastor justifies a $100,000.00 income (let alone any income) who does not even read and teach the word to the people is beyond me – but they do.

So is that clear enough? We are not in it for the money and quite frankly in terms of the ministry Mary and I have put hundreds of thousands of dollars of our own money to keep it alive and subsidized at times. We are in it for the Lord and for the sake of people seeking an unencumbered relationship with Jesus directly.

Support and Sustenance

How many shows have we hit you up for money? And in our church services we have NEVER EVER asked for donations of ANY kind. And never ever taught tithes. Now, I’ve learned from experience that even this transparency is not enough for most of you “dripping jaws” out there so let me go further to quench your bloodthirst by answering the question all want to hear. How do we (me and Mary) make ends meet? I am going to tell you for one reason – to encourage all Pastors everywhere to change and know that God will provide for them if they let Him.

First,

We do have supporters who have supplied us with the generous donations I just mentioned over $82,000.00 of them this year alone. That’s a lot of money and we are so very grateful to them. You know, we do not typically attract the wealthy, so 82,000 is A LOT of money coming from people who make an average wage.

Secondly, we have also worked different jobs – and saved, and spent, and gone into debt – for decades. But God has always saved our bacon one way or another.

In the last couple of years, both of Mary’s parents passed and left her (and her

God's Provision and Financial Freedom

siblings) a nice chunk of change which allowed us to pay off all of our accumulated debts, which then lowered our personal monthly overhead for good. We had enough to put a down on a place in Utah. That place is 700 square foot downtown loft and we love it – grateful for it – but it cost less than the average one bedroom house in the Valley. Additionally, Mary has started working several jobs that helps subsidize our income needs.

The big picture, however, is that God has ALWAYS taken care of us – in and through all these means and without fail – and when it seems like we were at the end – He comes through. So, there you go, ye suspicious ones. Having over 20 years under our belt of trusting God with our day-to-day existence I have zero scruples being critical of the way pastors and religion in general uses and abuses money and am free, having removed the beam from my eye, to tell them to remove the mote from theirs – that’s leadership needed in the body today.

Alright then…

A Letter from Lisa

We got a fantastic letter from Lisa. Perfect to what we are doing these days. She says:

“I officially left mormonism a little over two years ago and very soon after moved out here to West Jordan. It's because of you I didn't give up on the concept of God back then. I believe there is a God, I'm just not entirely sure who he is yet. I started attending the local South Mountain community here and enjoyed it. I did notice that they taught about tithing more often than the mormons did which is why I couldn't stop laughing when I saw the new introduction to your show. Eventually I felt like I needed to go try out the other local church, Lifeline community, and I did. I found here at this church the only other non-mormon family I have; so that has been good for me.

Challenges with Local Churches

The pastor at lifeline teaches verse by verseTGNN’s Bible teaching series—book-by-book, through the lens of fulfillment and spiritual liberty. more often than SMCC did, but after almost a whole year of being here we have covered the book of Ruth and a few chapters of Acts, which isn't a ton. I feel like more often we have random history lessons about Christianity than we do read verse by verse. This is kind of annoying because as a seeker, I really need to only hear what the Bible has to say because I'm still trying to figure out if I believe in it or not. I left mormonism mainly because I discovered that the BOM and the book of Abraham were complete frauds and now I'm trying to put the bible to the test.

Lifeline doesn't preach an excessive amount on tithes like SMCC but they still follow the money in other kinds of ways. If you take the official Lifeline tour that they do every couple of months, the pastor talks about how he listens to people who sign up as "partners" more than he will listen to people who don't become "partners/members". (Which is basically saying commit to paying your tithing or I won't get to know you) And it's true, I've been there almost a year and he has said hi to me exactly once. (To be fair, maybe this is just his personality and he does have a lot of people to get to know.) At least the pastor at SMCC really made an effort to get to know me whether or not I paid my tithes.

Seeking Answers in a New Environment

I'm reading the bible all the way through for the first time in my life and I'm almost done. I have a lot of questions that need to be answered and I don't feel like I could ask the pastor at Lifeline because he's not very approachable. I feel like he would belittle me because I don't think very traditionally and I'm not as book smart as he is. Luckily though his assistant pastors seem more approachable.

The churches around here aren't at all prepared for the mormon culture. Both SMCC and Lifeline have held events such as church picnics and sporting events on Sundays and they're always like, "invite your friends and family!" Well guess what churches?? My friends, neighbors, and family are all mormons!! There is absolutely no way I'm going to get them to come to a church activity on a Sunday. Besides, I usually have to go to my mormon family baptism/homecoming/farewell/baby blessing luncheons after I go to church frequently.

Exploring Religious Perspectives

because my mormon family is enormous. Plus my mormon husband still looks down at the Christian community for "breaking the Sabbath" and it just further propels him into the idea that the Christian denominations are an abomination to God. Another thing that is bothering me with the evangelical/non-denominational religions is that they talk about and quote the apostle Paul WAY more than they quote Jesus. I feel like these churches should call themselves Paulians instead of Christians.

So far my biggest problem with the Bible is the Matthew 24:34 controversy. How could Jesus say nobody knows when he will return, and then say I will return before this generation passes….I was hoping you could tell me what this theory of "Him having already returned" is called so I can research into it. Anyways, I like your new show. Feel free to share any part or all of this email with whoever you like.

Thanks, Lisa

Authenticity in Faith

After having several sit downs with a number of pastors and people in ministries that I honestly have a hard time relating to what people are all about in the faith today. I relate from the heart to sold out believers, and men and women of otherworldly faith, but when people start talking “Corporate Christianese,” with all of its rhetoric I feel like an alien. So I decided to continue to try and be transparent tonight and let you in on what I am honestly about and what I am trying to accomplish.

I know I said that we would be examining the online sheet about which Jesus I preach that was sent me last week but we are going to move that to next week. So let’s go to the White Board

1. Need to be totally authentic even if it means moments of embarrassment or regret.

As a former religious person, both LDS and Evangelical, I found there was a great unspoken push to feign while strategizing for success. I was never comfortable with it and yet it is constantly demanded – in the church, among men, in the public eye. I am a punk at heart. I say what I think no matter the cost. As a Christian I will repent of errors and wrong’s but I typically mean what I say – and am not going to operate in any other way. I do NOT take sides and have no allegiances when it comes to God and His truth. If you are my own child or my worst enemy, whoever is right is right – no preferences. That said when people are wrong it doesn’t mean all that much to me. So where I openly address wrongs I typically do not hold any real animus toward individuals. Typically. I love people. Truly adore God’s human creations when they are genuine. Hate their facades. In my loving them I feel I owe them real interactions. If I don’t start with the principle of authenticity I will lose myself in strategy, feigning, and before you know it I will be a heroin addict teaching Jesus because I can’t live in the inauthentic. Of late, there are people saying that I have “lost it” and the antics of the opening of 2.0 is too much for them. They are no different then the antics of HOTM when I was on TV – they’re just aimed at a new target – a target that plays by a different set of rules. I have no rules. And I can’t be bought. My allegiance is to Him and His ways.

Understanding the Word Contextually

2. I love to teach and share the Word so people understand it contextually.

When a person is truly committed to this approach to the Bible they begin to see the Bible for what it is and what it is not. Evangelicals and the like want to take the contents and make material laws for people to live by today. I call it playing church. It is wholly unfortunate and unfair. And all it makes is more religion. I can hardly believe it has gone on for this many years without the mass of believers rising up and saying, “Wait a minute. What the fuck is this you are telling me? That what Jesus said to either to his brethren the Jews or to His twelve apostles is directly materially applicable to me? Where do you read this? Where is this stated?”

Let me

Contextual Understanding of Biblical Scripture

Just give you one example. Let’s read Luke 12:12 where Jesus says:

“For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.”

This is a passage I hear Christians assign to themselves all the time. So ask, “Are these words to us as believers today?”

And believers will say, “oh yes.” Some will even tell other Christians that that is how they should do things. Don’t even prepare. God will tell you in the hour what you shall say. So then we ask: “who did Jesus say this to?” If they are wise they will look at the context of this passage and read where it says Jesus is talking to his apostles. And that before he said it He says:

“And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.”

So the context is when “they” bring you into the synagogues and unto magistrates and powers . . . take no thought.” Then we have to ask, “So where do we get off saying that this passage – or any other, applies to believers today? Where does it say this?”

New Testament Context

If they know their scriptures they will say, well it does say in

2nd Timothy 3:16 that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

And then all you have to ask is, Who did Paul say this to? And then if we read the verse before it we read that Paul was writing a letter to Timothy, which said:

“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Which he then follows up with, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

And then if we go to the salutation of the letter Paul wrote to Timothy we read Paul say:

2nd Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I’m not doing this to disparage the value of the Word of God in the lives of individuals today. I’m doing it to show that the Word is a supporting witness to the Spirit, it was never intended to become a law unto itself or a manual on how to do church but is a support product for believers to read and study and hear so as to grow in the faith.

In the 16th century men took the Word and lifted it to a place it was never intended to be – and they have zero internal evidence from God in the New Testament that suggests that they had any authority to do this – or to tell others to do it.

None.

Additionally, a true reading of the content of the Word reveals that all of its contents are complete and that believers today are in an entirely new age where God writes His laws on the hearts and minds of those who are His by the Spirit. Which is another contextual fact that is constantly overlooked.

Reflection on Religious Practices

And because it is overlooked men and women continue to play church, exhibit pretend authority, collect unauthorized tithes, and with humble countenance actually believe that they are leading the faith when in reality all they have done is get in God’s way.

I can only relate to others in their love for God and Christ – but when they start talking church, religion, this thing or that program – ughh. I die inside. Those things are not written on my heart by God. They are just notions men try to impose upon my life.

3. A driving desire to set all people free from all religious bondage and toward personal authenticity in their lives through Christ.

Understanding this contextuality of the Bible I am then in a position to help others see the word for what it is – a wonderful, one-of-a-kind, God breathed book of religious history and eternal truth wherein God reconciled the whole world to

Emancipation from Religious Bondage

Under the auspices of total fulfillment – and I mean total – my personal ambition has come to be the emancipation of all people who want to be free from religious bondage found in modern Christian practices, demands, theology, and traditions.

The necessity of working openly to destroy all religious traditions of Man

Because all they do is serve to trap and hold individuals to inferior approaches to God. (How could they be superior if they fail to meet the standard of all men having God write His laws upon their hearts and minds and having them individually responsible before Him as a result?) The more religious dogma, practice, and traditions removed from the life of a seeker of God in spirit and truth the greater the liberty and joy a person can have in their spiritual life. This being said, this fact does not mean that there will be more happiness in this life. And because of this, most people strive to retain some form of religious tradition in their lives – whether it be membership in a brick and mortar, serving in a church, singing in a choir, or going on missions trips, people use religion to fortify their lives. I can’t judge them – and all people are free to pursue activity in whatever religious affectations they may desire. But if there are seekers of God wanting to actually be free to pursue him in spirit and in truth with zero man-made ideas in place, we are here for them. This approach is greatly misunderstood because people who want to “get it” have to balance my attacks on religious traditions and practices going on around us today with the fact that I also maintain everyone's right to pursue such traditions if they want. That tension leads to some real anger and misunderstanding of both my person and my intentions.

Subjective Christianity

For example, I believe all people have the right to pursue and believe in God and His purposes and plans according to their own inspirations. This is inalienable and a foundational part of subjective ChristianityA direct, personal relationship with God—free from institutional authority, guided by personal relationship, faith and agape love.. That being said, I have a seething distain for five-point Calvinism and do not hesitate in sharing these heated feelings about the Reformed views about God. To some, this seems contradictory, but it's not. I will love and embrace a Calvinist, but I will malign and attack Calvinism. This is how I have always approached ministry – even to the LDS – allow individuals to be and remain Mormon – and tell them so – but attack the crap out of the institutions. That is the only viable means by which to make a difference while keeping Christian love at the helm.

Storing Treasures in Heaven

A motivation to help people to store up treasures in heaven and not here on earth. There is no middle ground with me and God. In my estimation, followers of Christ do better being sold-out to Him and His ways than to try and serve God and Mammon. My personality is either hot or cold and, in my estimation, that is what people ought to be if they are claiming Jesus as Lord. Write Him off or attempt to live Jesus day in and day out. Naturally, this will lead to people having an eternal view of life while slowly letting loose of the things of this world. I am not promoting asceticism. I am trying to promote an extreme reprioritization of our life focus. To reiterate to all that they might choose to seek first the Kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future. because all things will be added unto them. To really seek Him with all of one's heart, and mind, and soul, automatically not allowing the things of this world to enter in and take precedence – ever. That includes when choosing between a sold-out allegiance to God and job, family, church, vocation, avocation, but especially in the way we treat other individuals. It’s a fine balance because at times other individuals may need straight talk – doesn’t mean we don’t love them or aren’t grateful to them – they just might need a straight-up dialogue. And if they refuse, perhaps more advanced measures – like public scrutiny. Again, we are seeking the Kingdom of God, not to protect established Kingdoms here. Who cares about the Kingdoms of this world? Not me. In any

Authentic Living and Heavenly Treasures

The more I can convince individuals to give it all up for the treasures in heaven, the more I feel my life is authentically lived and that I have actually contributed to the betterment of humankind in the highest levels possible. When I was a stockbroker I hated the business because it fell short of both helping people focus on what is most important in human existence and it was not the best way to me to spend my life’s energies. To make an earthly comparison it's like someone who earns and spends all their money on fast food versus another person who works and spends all of their money on buying platinum, silver, diamonds, gold and bitcoin.

Bearing Fruit of Love

There is nothing more rewarding in my own life, or to see in the life of my family, or in the lives of those I am surrounded by, than the evidence of God’s love at work. When the pure loves the prostitute, when the poor are welcomed in the presence of the rich, when the healthy strive to help the sick, and when all people of faith are, as individuals, received with love and acceptance. This currency will be the only currency allowed in heaven – not prejudice, not hatred, not meanness, not ten thousand bits of doctrine or the things of this earth. Godly love, made possible and more abundant by and through our intimate understanding of Jesus Christ.

Embracing True Authenticity

To bring it all full circle, unless there is freedom and liberty, real Christian love cannot actually exist. And in order for freedom and liberty to exist, we have to remove religious demands and myths that hold people captive to tradition and myth. This can only occur once the Bible is viewed contextually and in and effort to read the Bible this way, a person must ardently strive to be wholly authentic before the true and loving God. All religious pretense will ONLY serve to get in the way of all of this, and therefore must be called out, challenged, and utterly destroyed.

Let’s open up the phone lines: 801 954-8413

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