Atonement, Part 2

Shawn McCraney discusses the tension between religious authorities and individual ministries by questioning who truly holds authority in religious matters, emphasizing that only God, through the Holy Spirit, possesses ultimate authority. He critiques both aggressive evangelical approaches, like street preaching at LDS temple dedications, and the controlling tendencies of institutional religious leaders, urging for a balanced approach rooted in understanding and genuine dialogue.

In his teaching, Shawn emphasizes the importance of selflessness and the Christian principle of love guiding decisions, even when personal feelings of irritation may arise. He discusses portraying Jesus as a “man approved by God,” highlighting the scriptural accounts where Peter and Paul introduce Jesus in various contexts, focusing on His human attributes and divine mission, without delving into complex theological debates.

Shawn emphasizes the transformative role of Jesus as being primarily about His miraculous works, God’s anointing, and the resurrection, while traditional titles and doctrines are secondary. The teaching explores symbolic interpretations of the relationship between God and humanity, using the "X" form to represent interconnectedness, initially united but later broken due to the Fall, and suggests that God adapted to relate to humanity effectively.

Man must transition from being self-centered to acknowledging God and integrating with His essence, a transformation achieved through spiritual rebirth. This contrasts with differing views on atonement, where Christians trust in a benevolent King's servant to provide unconditionally, while some others believe they must earn this grace through additional acts, illustrating the contrast between faith-based and works-based approaches to divine favor.

In Shawn's teaching, the LDS interpretation of the atonement through Jesus Christ is seen as a dual process: it unconditionally grants all people physical immortality, while the opportunity for exaltation or eternal life is conditional upon personal righteousness, obedience, and LDS ordinances. This contrasts with the Biblical Christian view, which emphasizes salvation through grace alone, suggesting LDS beliefs integrate both faith and works, diverging from traditional scripture that asserts salvation is by grace through faith alone.

Shawn teaches that the process of applying atonement to our sins is not reliant on religious rituals or approval by religious authorities; instead, it is through faith in Jesus Christ and His completed work on the cross that we receive eternal justification and righteousness, independent of human actions or adherence to religious laws. He critiques the belief that salvation requires obedience to specific laws and ordinances, emphasizing that justification comes freely by God's grace through faith alone, as supported by Romans 3:20-28.