Intro to Christian Subjectivism

"Shawn McCraney challenges traditional Christian structures by advocating for a personal relationship with Jesus independent of organized religious institutions, arguing that the era of institutional church guidance ended with the Apostolic church and Jesus' return in 70 AD. He proposes a deconstruction of Christian institutions, suggesting that if Jesus has already returned, Christianity should refocus on nurturing individual spiritual growth and fostering personal faith."

Shawn contends that the traditional churches in America are on the decline due to their unsustainable nature, involvement in politics, and lack of genuine spiritual nourishment, advocating for a more profound, subjective relationship with God over religious institutions. By promoting the Word of God through mediums like CDs, he emphasizes the importance of deconstructing outdated practices and ideologies, encouraging believers to focus on building and planting authentic spiritual foundations.

Believers today should focus on spiritual warfare by utilizing divine guidance to dismantle mental and ideological strongholds, aligning all thoughts with Christ's teachings, as described in Second Corinthians 10:3-5 and First Corinthians 2:5. This teaching emphasizes the pursuit of truth, encouraging individuals to challenge and reconstruct their beliefs, regardless of existing religious affiliations, to foster a deeper relationship with God.

Shawn emphasizes the need for subjective understanding and personal freedom in Christ, urging believers to question and possibly uproot established doctrines to build a deeper, contextual view of the Bible. He critiques conventional religious institutions, likening them to a "Gorgeously Ornate Church Building" that fails to address core issues, and encourages followers to test and hold fast to what is good, reshaping their beliefs through critical examination and openness to change.

Shawn argues for a fundamental deconstruction of modern Christianity, highlighting six areas for re-evaluation, including a subjective spiritual understanding of the Bible, redefining Christianity as living through suffering like Christ, removing distorted perceptions of Church and God's will, and recognizing that Jesus returned in 70 AD. By addressing these issues, he believes Christianity can resolve doctrinal divides, withstand institutional challenges, and clarify distinctions with Mormonism, emphasizing the Bible as a spiritual guide rather than a physical rulebook.

Shawn emphasizes the need to deconstruct institutionalized notions of religion for subjective spiritual growth, specifically challenging Mormonism with biblical truths over its universalist teachings. By questioning LDS teachings about Jesus' return, he highlights the disparity between LDS beliefs and biblical perspectives, prompting further exploration of scriptural evidence regarding the second coming of Jesus.