Comments from noted experts on Mormonism regarding Shawn McCready’s ministry:

Comments from those who minister to Mormons regarding Shawn McCraney’s ministry

October 17, 2006

I have exchanged emails with Shawn .. but be very very cautious.. When you claim to be a born again Mormon but still bow at the altar of a man/god who lives with his many wives on the planet near the great star kolob and your jesus is the brother of lucifer and was voted on to be the savior by a council of gods... and you make no public stand on these essential differences... God is NOT being served here.If he did make such a stand, he would not be a Mormon, He would be excommunicated..

He is there to be used as an example of the Mormons being just like Christians..someone who is born again and also a Mormon...

He may sound very much like a real born again person and I don't suggest he isn't but he is making perfect landings at the wrong airport.

On her website is also an excerpt from our Newsletter of Jan. 2006, where we delt with "bornagainmormon" controversy.

Our opinions have not changed, even though Shawn McCraney has eliminated some of his statements that were on his website earlier this year.

McCraney has created problems with Christians who have not understood well what the differences are between Mormonism and Christianity are, and many have commented to us that "divide (between Mormonism and Christianity) does not appear to be very wide", when it is huge. There are also Mormons who were questioning, but now think that they can have it both ways.

We are against this movement as it stands now. We hope and pray that Shawn would become a born again Christian rather than a Mormon. Please go to the website above and read it all.

If you want to talk to me about this, please feel free to write or call (801.943-5011).

Thank you for taking the time to email and call about Shawn McCraney's ministry. Several of us in ministry to Mormons are concerned with his approach because he consistently refuses to clearly define the differences between the heretical teachings of the Mormon Church and that of true Biblical Christianity. Despite our efforts in personally contacting Shawn and asking him to stop telling Mormons that they can be "born again" Christians while remaining in the Mormon Church and actively "supporting" its efforts, Shawn continues to affirm this on his website and in his Salt Lake TV program.

Long-time Christian missionaries to Mormons serving in the Salt Lake region (such as Bill McKeever of www.mrm.org and Dennis and Rauni Higley of www.hismin.com) have voiced concerns over the increase in the number of former Mormons, questioning their decision to leave the Mormon Church after listening to Shawn's program where he consistently calls active Mormons who claim to be "born again" "brothers" and "sisters" in Christ, with no questions asked concerning whether they still embrace the Mormon Jesus who is Lucifer's brother.

Regarding this, I personally emailed Shawn asking him if my LDS cousin (who also claims to be "born again") were to call in on his program if he would embrace my cousin as a "brother in Christ," even though he believes EVERYTHING Mormonism teaches, including the idea that he will become a "god" someday. Shawn never gave me a definitive response to this question. Given the fact that he consistently gives false assurance to Mormons calling on his program that if they claim to be "born again" and "believe in Jesus" they are saved, I have come to the conclusion that there is no reason he wouldn't tell my LDS cousin the same thing to if he were to call in and make the same claims these Mormons make on his program. Yet, nothing can be further from the truth for the Bible warns against those who embrace a false Jesus and a false Gospel. (2 Cor 11 and Gal 1)

For more information on our position concerning Shawn McCraney and specific details on problematic statements that he has made and continues to make on his website and in his book, see the following link on our website:

http://www.witforjesus.org/mormon/news/bornagainmormon.php

The four-part mission statement of the organization, Born-Again Mormons, is very troubling. Part four says that part of the mission of the organization is "To patiently help initiate an integration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints into the existing body of Christ."

I have recently conducted a two-year study of Mormonism with a mind open to see if anything within that system has been meaningfully changed in a way which would move Mormonism closer to the Evangelical Church. Nothing of significance, theologically, has changed. The most knowledgeable Mormon scholars hold the same heretical doctrinal positions as the founds of Mormonism, Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. These scholars still attest that men may be come Gods, and that man is co-eternal with God and not created by Him. In fact, they still affirm that God did not create the Universe from nothing, rather that it was organized by self-existent matter.

Further, no one can be fully connected to God unless he is baptized by someone holding the Mormon priesthood.

They do not, by their own confession, hold to the orthodox doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

A host of other distinctive differences continue to place Mormonism outside the boundaries of the Evangelical Church.

For those reasons, it is ludicrous to naively attempt to "integrate the Church of Jesus Christ into the Body of Christ."

Question: I found an organization on a website whose members call themselves “Born-Again Mormons.” They claim to be true Christians who reject most of the doctrines of Mormonism, and their Statement of Beliefs looks pretty good. But one of their main philosophies is that they must remain in the Mormon Church in order to evangelize the lost within that body. Is this possible? What do you know about them?

Answer: Some saved Catholics also say they want to remain in their Church to evangelize. It doesn’t make sense. One’s very presence at Mass or during the sacraments of the Mormon Church implies full agreement therewith. And how could one partake without endorsing the false doctrines underlying the sacraments? Impossible! A Catholic partaking of Mass is eating a “Christ” who is still suffering, is being immolated and offered for sin, did not pay the full price of our redemption on the Cross, and has been turned into billions of wafers to be ingested repeatedly into the stomachs of members to propitiate their sins.

Likewise, the Mormon partaking of the sacraments is agreeing with church teaching behind them and with the prayers and hymns; that Christ is a created being and half-brother of Lucifer (actually there is an unlimited number of “Christs” and “Lucifers” out there somewhere on an infinite number of other “earths”) who could not and did not pay the full penalty for sin through His death; that one must work for one’s salvation, which is exaltation to godhood, etc. Yet the head of this movement says he partakes of the Mormon sacraments while opposing the doctrines upon which they are founded. Furthermore, the sacraments are forbidden by official church doctrine to any non-member or even to a member not in good standing, but he has found a local church that winks at official rules.

Contradictions abound! The leader of the group was, at his request, excommunicated several years ago, but now is trying to get back in to “evangelize” from within, so he once rejected what he now wants us to accept. Obviously, to stay in the Mormon Church (or the Catholic Church, et al.) gives the appearance of approval. In fact, “Born-again Mormons” do approve of the church and its activities but not of its doctrines, and they imagine they can change the latter from within: “We believe that the doctrinal LDS Church is in error but that the physical organization remains beneficial. We are not out to destroy the physical church but seek to confront and help remove any doctrines which demand anything more than faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.”

Yet the church is founded upon and embodies its doctrines. Belonging to the church requires approval of its doctrines. One cannot oppose the foundation while supporting what is built upon it. Nor can one attend and participate without seeming to approve the doctrines upon which church services and activities are based. The website says, “We seek to overthrow any and all non-biblical LDS doctrine and replace it with Christian Truths from a position of activity inside the Church.” This is self-contradictory and self-defeating.

Furthermore, like the Watchtower (Jehovah’s Witnesses) the Mormon Church is a cult. Anyone who openly questions its false Christ, false salvation, and other false doctrines (much less opposes them) would be excommunicated just as one would be excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church for openly opposing its false gospel. A true Christian could only remain inside the Mormon Church dishonestly and in dishonor of his Lord.

The website, bornagainmormon.com, argues that just as “Jack-Mormon” is an accepted term to Mormons, so “Born-again Mormon may be applied in a similar way.” No, the two terms are not similar at all: “Jack Mormon” is a Mormon who doesn’t practice; “born-again Mormon” is one who isn’t a Mormon but pretends to be. The website goes on to explain: “we use the term Mormon the way a Jew uses the word Jew, a woman uses the term Woman, or a South African uses the title of South African.” But the analogy fails. One is born a Jew, woman, South African—a fact that has nothing to do with one’s beliefs. Though some Mormons say they were born Mormons, to be a Mormon is a matter of one’s beliefs, not birth.

These people seem to be sincere Christians, but they are very confused and are confusing Mormons and non-Mormons alike. Recently on TV the leader said: “I am not going to...try to discern whether you are talking about the real Jesus or the false Jesus. When you say you are talking about Jesus I believe that opens the door to the true Jesus Christ.” This could not be more irrational and unbiblical!

Paul said that believing in “another Jesus [and] another gospel” opens the door not to truth but to devilish error (2 Cor 11:2-4)! The same leader also said that he would “not use Bible verses or talk about doctrine...[but] just talk about Jesus.” So the Word of God is avoided because the truth might offend! But one cannot “talk about Jesus” except as defined by sound doctrine. Furthermore, Peter declares that we are “born again...by the Word of God...which by the gospel is preached” (1 Pt 1:23-25). This group claims to oppose the false doctrines of the Mormon Church—but how can Mormonism be effectively opposed without communicating that fact and presenting the truth from the Bible?! Confusion, confusion!

Here we have one more example of apparently well-meaning Christians hoping to get people saved with an inoffensive gospel that can’t save. We have given many examples, from Joel Osteen’s Sunday sermons to Rick Warren’s series of articles in The Ladies’ Home Journal. This delusion seems to be spreading, from President Bush’s politically correct whitewash that calls Islam a religion of peace, to the religiously correct omission within today’s church of anything offensive to unbelievers. We need to oppose this error and stand for the truth!

It is both sad and alarming that Born-Again Mormon Ministries is being endorsed by prominent Christian leaders such as Craig J. Hazen, Ph.D.(Professor of Comparative Religion and Christian ApologeticsBiola UniversityLa Mirada, California) and Carl Westerlund (Director, Calvary Chapel School of Ministry and Calvary Chapel Bible College Graduate SchoolCosta Mesa, California). These men may have good intentions, but they have no real experience as ex-cultists and don't seem to understand the thin ice they are walking on.

To a devoted Mormon this endorsement implies acceptance of Mormonism into mainstream Christianity. To a "born-again Mormon" (hereafter referred to a “BAM”) their endorsement is doctrinally confusing. For example, how can a person be born of the Holy Spirit and partake of a sacrament that mocks our Lord and His atonement? The Mormon Church has replaced the representative wine or juice from the vine with water. Jesus turned water into the wine and the LDS Church has turned wine into water!

These new believers in the biblical Christ, if truly born-again, need to adhere to Paul’s instruction, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? [...] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15, 17).

Naturally it is much easier to stay in the Mormon Church than to become estranged from devout LDS family, friends, and loved ones. There is heartache and an overwhelming sense of loss when a person leaves the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It must be realized, however, that belief in the authentic Jesus Christ causes division, even in families, yet we are commanded to “take up our cross and follow Him” (Matt. 16:24)!

Our Lord and Savior queried, “Do you think I came to give peace to the earth? No, I tell you, I came to divide it. From now on, a family with five people will be divided, three against two, and two against three. They will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:51-53).

A grievous disservice is being done to our new brothers and sisters in Christ (if indeed they are truly born again) if we encourage them to remain in a false religion. It is also a tremendous disservice to Christians in general when we endorse or approve of a movement that tries to yoke believers and unbelievers together in matters of worship. Above all else our declaration should be, “Choose you this day whom ye shall serve…as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

Remember who or what is being served when a person trusts the biblical Jesus for salvation but stays in the Mormon Church. The stated mission of Born Again Mormon Ministries, in part, is:

To help Born-Again Mormons appreciate and support positive aspects of Church membership while simultaneously (but politely) rejecting any doctrine or practice contrary to biblical truth and authentic Christian belief (www.bornagainmormon.com/pages/1/index.htm).

That would be like saying one could appreciate and support the positive aspects of membership in the ACLU while rejecting its radical agenda to destroy religious freedom and promote pornography as “free speech.” To maintain participation in an organization (such as the LDS Church) that leads people to hell through deception and indoctrination in damnable heresies dishonors God and courts spiritual disaster.