Shawn McCraney after 40 years of life in the LDS church had an experience; what John Wesley referred to as a "warming of the heart" and Shawn knew that he had finally met Jesus Christ for the first time in his life, thus becoming a Born Again Mormon.
Now for those of you that know me, I for years have often ministered among Mormons; LDS, Community of Christ, among other sects looking for those who have had a call from the spirit to come out of Mormonism.
Many have thought it crazy of me; "How could someone be born again and a Mormon?" My United Methodist self would refer to something called "convincing grace". Grace that God has certainly poured out on humanity in hopes that spirit would woo us to God through Christ on the cross. Pentecostals may refer to a similar act that when a missionary would go out into the field and meet a tribe, the tribe had some prophecy of a messenger. In reality the tribe was convinced that it's sin needed something more than the tribes current "God". It's the same with Shawn, he knew within his soul that Mormonism could not meet his souls need for the sin in his life.
Shawn's book "I was a born-again Mormon" is a great example of God's grace to humanity; that grace in action to restore an individual to righteousness through Jesus Christ. Many folks ask me to explain what John Wesley meant when he said this or that; and truth be told I am not a scholar on John Wesley but I suggest this book to them. I suspect not many of them read it especially with our fast food Christianity we have today. We want an answer and we don't care if it's even close to the right one, a sad aspect.
Are there more Mormons like Shawn? I would think so, just like there are more Muslims, Buddhists, Wiccans and general plain ol sinners.
The question is this; Is the church ready to receive them?
Colossians 3:14-15 "Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful"
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
For those of US who WORK on Sundays
I tried to look up a percentage of Americans who must work on Sunday's however there were no numbers to work with, the only thing that came close was a LDS article on members of their denomination working on Sundays. Although the article did not say an exact number, I'm certain that today in America many families miss out on the "traditional" trek to Sunday worship services.
In fact about 3 or 4 church members on the roll of the congregation I pastor can't attend worship on Sundays because of work. Many churches even pastors see this becoming more and more of an issue and I wonder if it's for all the right reasons.
Prior to my pastoral appointment I use to work a secular job on Sundays; not every Sunday but every other Sunday. Our church we attended at that time had a Saturday evening service which would supplement my Sundays I would have to work. I was just as blessed to be apart of that service in worship and was still able to fellowship like it was Sunday. We grew our circle of friends by at least 50% because we had two services to draw from.
I think the body of Christ must ask itself if the "Sunday only" theology is what God would really have us to do as His Church. Does God only work on Sundays? Certainly not and believe it or not the King James Bible IS NOT THE ONLY BIBLE. Now I know that the scripture say's that we should keep the sabbath but which one? Who is it for? As a pastor I work on Sunday's; I know that is not what we pastors want to think of it as but that is really what it is. Due to that fact we MUST take a sabbath day other than Sunday. Jesus in Matthew 15:39 sends the crowd away after feeding them and even goes so far as to take a boat to Magdala.
What is one to do that works on Sunday and can't attend worship?
Gather others like yourself into the church on a day that nothing is going on and start opening, reading and praying the scriptures. If there is no one to lead it approach the the pastoral staff or a experienced lay person. The truth is churches will not simply start another service unless the needs of the community demand it.
I will leave you with this from Mark 2:27 "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath."
Pastor Jeff
In fact about 3 or 4 church members on the roll of the congregation I pastor can't attend worship on Sundays because of work. Many churches even pastors see this becoming more and more of an issue and I wonder if it's for all the right reasons.
Prior to my pastoral appointment I use to work a secular job on Sundays; not every Sunday but every other Sunday. Our church we attended at that time had a Saturday evening service which would supplement my Sundays I would have to work. I was just as blessed to be apart of that service in worship and was still able to fellowship like it was Sunday. We grew our circle of friends by at least 50% because we had two services to draw from.
I think the body of Christ must ask itself if the "Sunday only" theology is what God would really have us to do as His Church. Does God only work on Sundays? Certainly not and believe it or not the King James Bible IS NOT THE ONLY BIBLE. Now I know that the scripture say's that we should keep the sabbath but which one? Who is it for? As a pastor I work on Sunday's; I know that is not what we pastors want to think of it as but that is really what it is. Due to that fact we MUST take a sabbath day other than Sunday. Jesus in Matthew 15:39 sends the crowd away after feeding them and even goes so far as to take a boat to Magdala.
What is one to do that works on Sunday and can't attend worship?
Gather others like yourself into the church on a day that nothing is going on and start opening, reading and praying the scriptures. If there is no one to lead it approach the the pastoral staff or a experienced lay person. The truth is churches will not simply start another service unless the needs of the community demand it.
I will leave you with this from Mark 2:27 "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath."
Pastor Jeff
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