Glory to Glory Q&A

Shawn McCraney encourages Christians to embrace their flaws and use the acronym FLAWED—FAITH, LOVE, ART, WORK, EDUCATION, DIMENSION—as a guide, urging believers to walk by the Spirit rather than by flesh, and to value and express creative artistry, which has often been sidelined by more legalistic interpretations of faith. He shares a personal story of facing criticism from a fellow believer about his creative work, which led him to question the place of art in Christianity, highlighting the need for greater acceptance and encouragement of artistic expression among Christians.

To confront Evangelical cultural and legalistic influences, Shawn encourages artists to embrace their God-given creativity and express it through their work, emphasizing that creativity glorifies Jesus Christ. He highlights the importance of maintaining purity and holiness for Christ's return, as taught in biblical scriptures, drawing a parallel between the early church's challenges and today's Christian community.

Shawn discusses the applicability of biblical teachings on holiness and purity, originally aimed at the early churches in Asia Minor, to modern believers. He argues that the strict standards set by Jesus and the apostles for a spotless and blameless church were possible due to the superabundance of the Holy Spirit in their time, whereas today, faith is more subjective and lacks a collective church or bride meeting those demands.

Shawn advises that Christians are free to express their faith through politics, art, or any medium, as long as the motivation comes from agape love, but he highlights the risk of faith being distorted in the political realm due to its divisive nature. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a clear distinction between personal faith and political agendas, citing Jesus' approach as a model and suggesting a separation between church and state to prevent faith from becoming an idol.

Shawn discusses how individuals create narratives to align with their perceptions, often leading them to craft stories that seem accurate but aren't always true, suggesting that people become their own biggest deceivers through these stories. He encourages mastering these narratives by recognizing them for what they are: just stories, which can lead to greater self-awareness and truth.