In this talk, Dave Hasz spends the first 15 minutes counseling interns to be like the Bereans by studying the Word to find out if what he is teaching is truth. He encourages them to be critical thinkers instead of just trusting whatever he says with regards to theology. He also takes the time to clarify that his extra-Biblical teachings are his opinions and not necessarily Gospel truth. All of this is true and I’m glad he said it. However, the more I listen to Dave Hasz, the more he seems to be talking out of both sides of his mouth. (Whether he realizes it or not.) (2021 Update: Video has since been taken down)
On the one hand, at 7:05, he says this:
“There will be points of theology (which is our view of God) that will differ. What I’m looking for and what I’m encouraged about is when somebody differs, or is the same as me in my theology, as long as they have searched the Scriptures. I don’t want you to form your theology because I stood up here and said it. That would be a dangerous way for you to form your theology.”
Regarding his extra-Biblical teachings, he says this at 10:14:
Now when it comes to issues that are not theological or Scriptural, like maybe I come in and say, “Hey,as a leader it would serve you better to carry yourself a certain way.” Its not based on Scripture, its based on human understanding, its based on life experience. Those are the kinds of things you go, “I either trust this guy or I don’t trust this guy. If I trust this guy, I probably do what he says because I trust him. Cause he is probably right. If I don’t trust him…” then just don’t do what I say, cause you don’t trust me, that’s fine.
Notice that Dave does not ask the interns to critically think about his extra-Biblical teachings, but only to trust him. Why is that?
He clearly says that interns are free to disagree with him or not trust him, and “that’s fine.” Yet, when you actually do disagree with him, you are often labeled rebellious, bitter, back-slidden, disobedient, or immature.
So, you have the freedom to disagree with him – but only if you don’t mind taking on an unjust and unfair label.
That doesn’t really sound like freedom to me.
In addition, I’m not sure when interns really have the time to “be like the Bereans” as he suggested. Interns are kept busy from morning until night almost every day of the week. When are they supposed to study and critically think about the myriads of teachings they receive each week? They have little to no free time and no other outside influences. To suggest that they even have the ability to critically think about what they are hearing is disingenuous at best.
Perhaps a current or recent intern can post a sample daily schedule in the comments to illustrate my point.
10 comments:
Interesting… here’s a pulled-from-memory schedule of a Monday (as of a few years ago):
5:00-6:00am – Corporate
6:00-8:00am – Showering, Breakfast, getting ready for the day (most of us just skipped breakfast and slept :P)
8:00-11:00am – Class
11:00-12:00pm – Quiet Time
12:00-1:00pm – Lunch
1:00-6:00pm – Work
6:00-7:00pm – Dinner
7:00-10:00pm – Work (some jobs worked until 11:00pm)
Here’s a Wednesday, easily the “chill” day:
2:00-3:00pm – Quiet Time (first scheduled thing all day if you don’t count lunch!)
3:00-4:00pm – Class
4:00-6:00pm – Work
6:00-7:00pm – Dinner
7:00-8:00pm – Work
(Keep in mind that Wednesdays were also fasting days every other week. And CAs would send in complaints to their higher-ups if their cores slept in past 10:00am, calling them “lazy” and “not excellent”. Believe me- I saw the “anonymous” comments).
January 4, 2010 9:09 AM
Anonymous said…
For K Crew Breakfast crew (10 years ago) on a Hot Breakfast day:
3:45 – 4:15 am – shower, get ready
4:15 – 5:15 am – Quiet Time
5:15 – 5:30 am – prayer with Core
5:30 am – 2:30 pm – work (lunch break included)
2:30 – 3:00 pm – short break (do homework? change?)
3:00 – 5:00 pm – class
5:00 – 6:00 pm – Dinner
6:00 – 7:00 pm – homework? Core meeting? Advisor meeting?
7:00 – 8:00 pm – exercise (we were free to find our own time to exercise after Pike’s Peak)
8:00 – 9:30 pm – try to read or study or something without falling asleep
9:30 pm – try to fall asleep before my “B shift” roommates (who worked from 3-10) came back to the room – otherwise, I’d be awake all night
January 4, 2010 11:34 AM
Anonymous said…
I don’t know how you guys did that. I need at least 10 hours of sleep.
January 4, 2010 7:04 PM
Nunquam Honorablus said…
Ten hours?! What the Hell Week is wrong with you?! You lazy unexcellent sinner!
If you sleep for a long time, that means that you are in sin and unwilling to face a disciplined life. If Jesus can hang on a cross for twelve hours then you can stand to lose a LITTLE sleep (which accumulates into a larger overall sleep deprivation that will give you some sort of glandular disorder but for now I’m right so shhhh).
Now wake up every morning this next week at 5:00am and watch the sunrise with me. It’s pretty!
*based on a true story*
January 4, 2010 9:04 PM
MDSF said…
I might gently suggest that the generic notion of a “leader,” while very popular in conservative Christian circles today, isn’t really a New Testament concept. Apostles, preachers, teachers, deacons, and elders: yes. Leaders: no.
January 5, 2010 9:57 AM
MDSF said…
Does Dave Hasz have question and answer sessions after his talks?
January 5, 2010 10:01 AM
Recovering Alumni said…
Yes, he often does.
January 5, 2010 11:46 AM
recovered9798 said…
just wanted to drop a line to say thanks for the work you are putting into this. i have several friends here who also went to the HA, and all of us after finishing went through some sort of ‘recovery’ process- each different depending on their wounding and personal experience. its been years for me since i was there, and i’ve recovered as you have RA, and it’s great to see the resource you are building for others who need it. i would have loved to have this content to read over, say 12 years ago 🙂 and i’m glad it is here to help those who need it.
January 5, 2010 11:51 AM
Recovering Alumni said…
If you last two want to get in touch with each other without divulging your identity to the whole world, feel free to email me and I’ll get you guys connected.
January 5, 2010 9:23 PM
Anonymous said…
To Nunquam Honorablus: “what the hell week is wrong with you. You lazy unexcellent sinner”…that whole post was hilarious–I’ll have to use it on my dismissed relative…
January 20, 2010 8:32 PM