Ontology of God, Part 7

Shawn McCraney emphasizes the importance of hope as a foundational Christian principle, highlighting that true hope should be based on the promises and teachings of God rather than false expectations promoted by religion. He critiques modern Christianity for fostering misplaced hopes through eschatology, faith healings, and unbiblical claims, advocating for a focus on truth to understand where to place hope, ultimately grounded in Jesus Christ and not human promises.

The teaching focuses on contrasting views of God, emphasizing that while Christians commonly understand God as a Trinity, perspectives like Modalism and Unitarianism also exist, and LDS views, seeing God the Father as having a physical form and a human-like progression, are notably different and widely rejected by traditional Christianity. Shawn advocates for humility and open-mindedness in theological discussions, suggesting that understanding God is a complex, imperfect journey driven by faith and love rather than absolute knowledge, and encourages a spirit-led exploration of God's nature beyond dogma and division.

The teachings highlight that while God is described in absolute terms in the Old Testament, early New Testament believers recognized a distinction between God and Jesus, reflecting their relationship with God as the Father and Jesus as the anointed one. Central to Judaism, Islam, and Christianity is the concept of one God, though each faith interprets this differently, and the New Testament often portrays God and Jesus separately, illustrating their distinct roles in the faith narrative.

Shawn highlights the difference between Jesus as a human and His spiritual unity with God, emphasizing that Mormonism initially aligned with Christian beliefs about God being perfect, infinite, and unchanging. However, Shawn critiques how later teachings by Joseph Smith diverged from these foundational beliefs, suggesting a return to the original views could reconcile Mormonism with broader Christian doctrine.

Shawn critiques Joseph Smith's reinterpretation of biblical passages, which suggests that God was once a man like Jesus, thereby elevating humanity’s potentiality and undermining traditional beliefs about God's eternality and holiness. By emphasizing an eternal regression of divine beings and a more abstract view of God, Smith’s teachings diverge significantly from mainstream Christian doctrine, creating theological complexities and leading to the development of distinct Mormon beliefs.

God's immeasurable love manifested through giving His Son, born of the Holy Spirit and a human mother, to save the world, illustrates the unity sought through belief in Him, as described in John 17:20-26. The teaching discusses baptism, emphasizing both water and spirit as essential components, evidenced by biblical accounts in Acts, while also promoting understanding and non-judgment as advised in Romans 14.

Shawn's teaching emphasizes recognizing the emptiness that can exist in religious affiliations void of a true connection with Jesus, urging individuals to seek fulfillment through the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament rather than manmade doctrines. Shawn encourages viewers to prioritize a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, challenging them to seek spiritual truth beyond traditional religious frameworks, fostering an understanding of Christianity grounded in the teachings and life of Jesus over the historical narratives of figures like Joseph Smith.