The Best Church Model, Part 2

Shawn McCraney emphasizes the importance of seeking churches that adhere to biblical models rather than those developed by human traditions, inviting individuals in Salt Lake City to explore their unique church community, CAMPUS, for meaningful spiritual guidance. Through a personal testimony, he illustrates a journey from dissatisfaction in religious experiences to a renewed relationship with Jesus, underscoring the need for authentic spiritual connection and understanding church dynamics according to biblical teachings.

Shawn clarifies that there is no direct evidence supporting the claim that John Calvin viewed the belief in the human circulatory system as heresy, despite Michael Servetus being executed for heresy on separate theological grounds. He also asserts that fighting societal issues such as abortion is not a Christian duty, emphasizing that while individuals may feel personally led to address these issues, they are not collective Christian battles.

Sharing the Gospel of Jesus and praying for others is the core mission for Christians, rather than trying to solve worldly sins like abortion, which is beyond human capability to eradicate completely. It's essential to focus on Jesus' sacrifice and salvation, acknowledging that Christian love and grace should prevail over differing opinions on religious, political, or social issues, ensuring faith remains rooted in God's teachings rather than man's interpretations.

Shawn acknowledges the efficient organizational model of Mormonism without denying its issues, stressing the importance of recognizing truths in other systems without compromising one's faith. Salvation, he affirms, is through faith alone, as noted in Ephesians 2:8-9, emphasizing eternal life as a gift that cannot be lost, even amidst theological or social disagreements within the church.

To foster a biblical church model, prioritize first the vertical relationship between individuals and God through Christ, emphasizing salvation by grace and continual focus on Jesus, and then establish the horizontal beam, which involves expressing faith through love of neighbor, often better achieved by institutional churches than large, non-denominational megachurches. Effective church models depict the church as a "flock" or "body," where leaders are deeply involved with their congregants, fostering genuine membership and mutual care, ensuring active participation and compassionate service, rather than being part of episodic, impersonal gatherings.

Water baptism symbolizes a believer's public identification with Christ, representing death to the old self and rebirth into a new spiritual family, but it holds no salvific power; salvation is attained and maintained solely by grace through faith, independent of personal deeds or failures. Salvation is a permanent gift from God, which cannot be lost through actions, as it is secured by faith and not by human effort, although one can choose to abandon their faith, underscoring the necessity of active church community participation for spiritual growth.

Shawn emphasizes the importance of maintaining faith and avoiding unbelief, arguing that salvation is not guaranteed unconditionally but must be sustained through continued faith and grace. Citing Hebrews chapter 3, Shawn explains that believers are part of Christ's house if they "hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end," warning against the hardness of heart caused by unbelief and urging believers to support each other to remain faithful.

In Shawn's teaching, he emphasizes that salvation is achieved through grace and faith, and suggests that this principle should guide how churches operate, viewing the church as a flock, body, and family entered through baptism. Additionally, Shawn encourages viewers to spread the word about his teachings, offer prayers, explore his ministry's online store, and consider financial support if able.