Last week I called into Shawn McCraneys program and asked him whether hes an ordained minister or not. Hes not. You can see that conversation here starting at around timestamp 43:15. Now that many of the major issues regarding Shawn McCraney and the sect of McCraneyism have been ironed out in another thread on this board (see https://facebook/groups/MormonInfo.org/permalink/10152871905042938/) I only think it’s fair to sum a few things up and I want get a few things off my chest. I hope that Shawn will reads this directly. If anyone of his followers sees this, please forward it to him. First, I’d like to address several things regarding what started this thread. Simply said, Shawn is a bully. On my most recent call to him on Veterans Day he called me a coward. The irony being that I served 8 years in the military protecting his right to do so. His lack of knowing that fact does not justify the behavior. Further, he mocked my occasional stuttering/stammering problem that I have struggled with my whole life. It’s funny, I had a bully in Junior High do the same thing that Shawn did to me on that call. At the end of the show, Shawn’s daughter, Cassidy, called upset about my call, Shawn instructed her not to listen to the bastard (referring to me). Frankly, I’d be embarrassed to have my daughter see me display such inappropriate and rude behavior. The straw that broke the camel’s back was when I invited Shawn for coffee to discuss the matter he stated that it would be a waste of his time. All of comments and behavior were inappropriate and I need to added to the long list of people that Shawn owes a public apology to. That said, my skin is pretty thick and I’m not losing any sleep over it, but the apology is still warranted. Shawn’s repeated (dead horse) false premise indicating that I was somehow outside of accountability by making the call without first checking with my pastor was exacerbating. Everyone could see this was a clear example of guilt manipulation and a straw man (an argumentative fallacy when a person ignores a person’s real position and replaces it with a distorted misrepresented version of that position). Shawn clearly does not understand biblical accountability. I am not only accountable to my pastor, I am actually accountable to the church as a whole. If I had behaved in a manner that required correction, or said something that was biblically inaccurate I would have been accountable for it. In fact, there was a member of my church that was intentionally listening to the show for that call. He most assuredly would have held me accountable by using the same Matthew 18 model that we have used with Shawn over this past year if needed. As I stated on the show if my pastor were to hear what I said on that call he would hold me accountable for it (and I would welcome it). Shawn accused me of being duplicitous by initially asking about ordination and authority. He stated that if I had just called and simply said “I disagree with you, Shawn” we could have gone out to lunch to talk about it. This is not true. Many people have attempted to do exactly what he said and were pushed away. The one person that I know that actually got a meeting was shamefully verbally attacked and cursed at by Shawn in public Regardless of Shawn’s doctrinal errors and heresies, his bullying behavior in and of itself disqualifies him from service as a pastor or a leader in his church. Does Shawn exhibit the following behaviors? A PASTOR MUST BE GENTLE, NOT VIOLENT OR QUICK TEMPERED, SUBORDINATE AND ABOVE REPROACH. Scriptural references: “For an overseer, as Gods steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,” Titus 1:7 “not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome…” 1 Timothy 3:3 “If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.” Titus 1:6 Shawn has consistently used bullying tactics and guilt manipulation. He made a scene in a public place, raising his voice and calling another respected local pastor a “F***ing money grubber. (check this) Then writing a letter to that pastor, intimidating and lying about what had transpired. Shawn threatened a soft spoken and respected local Presbyterian pastor. While glaring at him in an intimidating manner he stated, “You’re lucky I’m a Christian”. (add more quarrelsome references) As mentioned earlier, Shawn has repeatedly and forcefully stated that he is not accountable (subordinate) to any man and only to God with the exception with regards to finances. Though many scholarly and concerned men have reached out appropriately and privately to Shawn about his doctrinal errors, Shawn continues to rebuff them. A PASTOR MUST EXHIBIT HOSPITALITY AND SELF CONTROL Scriptural references: “but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.” Titus 1:8 “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,” 1 Timothy 3:2 In February of 2014, Shawn hosted a televised show which was originally advertised as an “Open Forum” to confront Shawn regarding his recent doctrinal inaccuracies. The “Open Forum” was actually an ambush. The show was labeled “Inquisition 2014” and those there to confront Shawn were labeled as his ‘accusers’. His “accusers” were told that they could only address issues regarding the trinity in this “Open Forum”. Shawn’s shameful display was far from hospitable. A PASTOR MUST BE SPIRITUALLY MATURE (not a new convert) Scriptural reference: “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:6 Shawn started his ministry shortly after his leaving the Mormon church. Though he mocked me for it, I mentioned this when I called his show. This scripture is clear if you are spiritually immature as a new convert you are susceptible to becoming conceited and prideful. Spiritual immaturity and lack of accountability is a recipe for disaster. In his review of the “Born Again Mormon” in 2008 Fred Anson expressed his concern about this as well by stating: “Personally, after reading this book (as well as seeing some of Shawn’s lack of self-control on the TV Show) my biggest concern is that the ministry and movement may eventually implode, dissipate or be marred by some type of scandal. Again, this is just an outsider’s perspective based on nothing but observing the ministry over time and reading this book. That’s why I regularly hope and pray that Shawn and his staff is accountable to older, wiser “battle proven” Morridor Christian Ministers and stays there! As it is, I consider the infant Born Again Mormon movement to be a rather fragile thing that could fracture at any time if it isn’t stewarded wisely and patiently.” A PASTOR MUST BE RESPECTED AND WELL THOUGHT OF BY OUTSIDERS. Scriptural reference: “Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:7 Over the past year Shawn has waged war against the evangelical church. Shawn stated he would go after the evangelical church with the same tenacity and rudeness that he did against Mormonism. This war systematically turned supporters into rivals. It’s no coincidence that so many believers, pastors and theologians simultaneously came out of the woodwork as critics of Shawn’s behavior and heresies. Something to consider: Recently Mars Hill megachurch pastor, Mark Driscoll was accused of an inflated ego and bullying behavior to his leaders and other believers. He was not charged with any heresy or acts of immorality, his bullying behavior alone was what ended his 18 years as pastor of Mars Hill. Like Mark Driscoll, Shawn does not work in isolation. His behavior is on display to every member of C.A.M.P.U.S. and everyone that tunes into his show both believers and unbelievers. Just like the rest of us, Shawn’s behavior it is susceptible to scrutiny. That is a good thing. Following the Mars Hills fiasco, several leaders and believers offered apologies for their part in church members being hurt. They may not have perpetuated the bullying behavior, but they were complicit in that they didn’t address the behavior long ago. What we are doing here for Shawn is what should have been done with Mark Driscoll, not only for his sake but for the sake of his church.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 02:25:48 +0000
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