Manufactured Love: Problems with Playing Church Today

Attaining genuine faith independent of organized religion is proposed to be the best expression, challenging the traditional constructs of church leadership that often claim a closer connection to God, and presenting issues such as manufactured love within church environments. While some organized religions create environments of fellowship and belonging, they often rely on shared beliefs rather than fostering the authentic love taught by Yeshua, with newcomers often experiencing a decline in the initial warm welcome as they settle into the congregation.

Two-Stage Christianity explains the transition new members undergo as they initially experience unconditional acceptance in a church but later face pressures to conform to its specific ecclesiology, theology, and culture. Failure to conform can lead to diminished acceptance and potential alienation, illustrating the conditional nature of love in institutionalized religion, which contrasts with the unconditional nature of God's love as described in the Bible.

Shawn explains the essence of Christian commandments as belief in Jesus and loving others, emphasizing that faith involves accepting evidence supporting God's existence while love is about loving others as Christ did, selflessly and sacrificially. Agape love, which is unconditional and deontologically driven, often challenges group unity due to its focus on accepting differences, contrasting with the more conditionally driven Philos love that thrives on similarities.

Agape love, as taught by Yeshua, contrasts with conditional love often found in religious organizations, requiring personal sacrifice and selflessness to support others amid differences, beyond aligning with institutional orders or cultural directives. This unconditional love exercises patience, kindness, and endurance, emphasizing liberty and choice, and it thrives when loving those who challenge or oppose rather than remaining within comfortable, like-minded groups.

Shawn emphasizes the importance of unconditional agape love, urging Christians and people of all faiths to employ a love that transcends cultural and religious barriers, focusing instead on the Spirit's role to achieve personal transformation. This teaching introduces the concept of being 'Yeshuans,' which advocates for a direct, personal faith-based relationship with God, free from doctrinal constraints and traditional church influences, thereby embracing diverse views and practices.

The teaching highlights Shawn's involvement in establishing Yeshuans, focusing on engaging with spiritual communities and encouraging discussions on faith through accessible platforms like YouTube. It also emphasizes interactive engagement by welcoming live audience participation via calls, while an upcoming session will introduce Sarah Young, another important figure in the faith community.