Who Is Jesus?, Part 2

Shawn McCraney discusses his advocacy for those within the LDS community who feel marginalized or disconnected from traditional beliefs, emphasizing a personal relationship with Jesus as the path to true spiritual fulfillment. He challenges the narratives of Mormonism and highlights his book, "Born Again Mormon," which is commended for its balanced insights into the LDS faith and is intended to facilitate understanding and conversation between Mormons and non-Mormons alike.

LDS theology posits that all spirit children, including Jesus and Satan, were created by Heavenly Father and Mother and that these spirits were assigned earthly circumstances based on their pre-mortal valiance, leading to the belief that societal disparities mirror eternal justice. In contrast, the Christian perspective attributes life's injustices, such as wealth and poverty, to the consequences of sin entering the world through Adam, entailing death and suffering for all humanity.

The teaching by Shawn emphasizes that God, as characterized in the Bible, is inherently good and not responsible for death, suffering, or inequality, which are a result of sin and fallen humanity. Furthermore, it highlights the biblical view of angels as messengers of God, originating as heavenly beings, and disputes interpretations that diverge from this, such as those found in certain Mormon teachings.

Angels are superhuman beings created by God, possessing high intelligence and power, serving as His agents in various capacities, including aid in His work of redemption, delivering messages, and providing protection, but they are not to be worshipped. The Incarnation marked a significant era for angels, who ministered to Christ, celebrated the salvation of sinners, and now serve and protect God's people, with future roles in the final judgement.

Reflecting on Ezekiel 28, this teaching discusses how Satan fell from his position as a cherubim and how, since Jesus Christ's incarnation, angels have been deployed to minister and support believers in their spiritual journey. Emphasizing a community approach, the speaker encourages participation in spiritual discussions and praises the strength found in Jesus, highlighting the importance of sharing one's faith and engaging with ministry efforts.