I once heard Dave Hasz say something along the lines of, “I’m not Calvinist, I’m not Arminian, I just believe the Bible.” As if neither of those camps believe, study and follow the Word of God as they interpret it. Unfortunately, a lot of Christians like to simplify their faith by saying “God said it, […]
God Said It, I Believe It, That Settles It Read More »
For someone who is so adamant that we pursue wisdom and good judgment, Dave sure does not seem to highly regard the rules of logic. In this video, instead of actually addressing the arguments I’ve put forth, he misdirects by casting suspicion on me, misquoting me and misrepresenting me. Let’s take a closer look at
The Emperor Has No Clothes Read More »
Fulfilling Biblical “requirements” does not make you extra Christian (just ask the Pharisees). You can’t be a “better” Christian than someone else. You might acknowledge your own poverty more and allow the Lord in your life more – but even that is a result of God’s mercy and grace and grants you no license to
Being Extra Christian Read More »
I’m slowly going through the book, The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. I hope the author won’t mind me excerpting a page here that really speaks to the idea that sometimes things are not always as they appear. I know many people, myself included, wonder how something that looks
Things Are Not Always What They Seem Read More »
In response to my posts this week critiquing Dave Hasz’s leadership and Ron Luce’s teaching, Teen Mania decided to take down all their videos. That seems like a really odd response to me. If Teen Mania stands behind their teachings and has nothing to hide, why did they take down the videos? They had several options: 1) They
Why Are the Videos Gone? Read More »
UPDATE: Teen Mania took down this video within hours of this post. Commenter Ben helped me get it back up via YouTube. Thanks, Ben! In this ESOAL facilitation training video, there is a very revealing exchange during the Q & A time. Because I have no doubt they will take this video down as soon
ESOAL, Judgement and the Sin of Personal Boundaries Read More »
There are some folks out there who would like to claim that this blog is slanderous. I take that claim seriously and would like to examine it here. The definition of slander is “a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report.” If you disagree with me, you might interpret this blog has spiteful, vicious or
Does Criticism = Slander? Read More »
One of the greatest objections to this blog is that I am not following the Bible’s prescription for confrontation as laid out in Matthew 18:5. “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone…” To address this important issue, I’d like to quote an extended passage from
The Myth of Matthew 18 Confrontation Read More »
Humiliation and shaming are two of the most popular tools for “growth” at the Honor Academy. In his talk “Aura of a Statesmen” (available on iTunes) Dave Hasz recounts this story. I’ve never used the word F-A-R-T in front of my wife or my daughter. Ladies, I don’t ever want to hear that word come
Humiliation at the Honor Academy Read More »
As I’ve mentioned here before, I like to believe that Dave Hasz and the rest of the Honor Academy staff have good intentions. Unfortunately, their sincerity does not negate the damage they have done. The book Soul Repair has this to say about spiritual abusers: Spiritual abusers usually are not conscious of what they
Grace for Spiritual Abusers Read More »
Spiritual abuse can happen in a variety of ways, but I’d like to highlight a great description of what I think is the most common way it occurs at Teen Mania’s Honor Academy. I’m returning to the excellent book, Soul Repair, that gives this description of how spiritual abuse happens: For some of us, our
How Spiritual Abuse Happens Read More »
If you need help leaving the Honor Academy, please get in contact with me. It doesn’t matter if you are quitting or being dismissed. If you need a place to stay, someone to pick you up, or just a couch to crash on for the weekend while you think things through – I have sympathetic
Leaving the Honor Academy Read More »
In the Honor Academy, you are taught to give absolute submission and obedience to your leaders there. You are told that the leadership are basically God’s representative to you. To disobey them is to disobey God. They actively promote the idea that you, as an intern, should submit to them in every way and take
Dangerous Leadership Read More »
In my research, I came across an interesting blog post by a man who had been to an ATF. The title of this post comes from him. Unfortunately, he has since deleted his blog. Luckily, google has a cache we have the Wayback Machine. He comments here on Ron’s preaching: Again, the cross was simply
Ron Luce – Well Meaning Wolf? Read More »
This quote has really been a blessing to me this week: (2021 Update: link now points to Wayback Machine) Sanctification is never advanced by self-focused grief or guilt. It is energized by joy and driven by love. This is the distinction that gospelized sanctification emphasizes. Only a remembrance of the gospel will free us from our
An anonymous commenter recently asked: Does the Honor Academy give the impression that in order to grow closer to God, one must suffer physically? I would answer emphatically, YES. But it goes far beyond just the forced exercise. In fact, by using this philosophy, the leadership at the Honor Academy had discovered what is possibly
Possibly the Best Control Technique Ever Devised Read More »
For those of you that may not know, David Hasz is the director of the Honor Academy at Teen Mania. He has a very visible leadership presence on campus – in fact, every part of the Honor Academy bears his fingerprints. Now, it’s normal for people to look up to their “hero” or to a
Nobody in a cult thinks they are in a cult…. People that are brainwashed don’t think they are brainwashed… That’s how it works… I’m just saying… 5 comments: Luna de Sorrow said… Yes. Exactly. Thank you. October 3, 2009 11:18 AM Anonymous said… You guys just like to blame all your problems on other people =] get over it November
What You Don’t Know…. Read More »
A mutual friend introduced me to Erin (not her real name). She has given me permission to reprint some of her emails which contain fabulous insights on how TM has affected her. My first reaction when XXXXX told me you’d started writing about spiritual abuse at Teen Mania was kind of funny and telling, so
Still Feeling it Years Later Read More »
We’ve been talking about why the impossibly high standards at Teen Mania are so unhealthy. But, I can already hear the objections. “Many people can and do live up to these standards!” you say. Many people live up to these standards for a while. I know I did. I can think of several reasons why people
Why Standards are Evil Read More »
Let’s talk some more about Dave’s post that I highlighted here. Take a quick read to refresh your memory. When it’s all said and done, this way of living is just more works, more flesh, more striving dressed up to look like Christian spirituality. And it results in more pride for the successful and more despair
Two Fruits of the HA: Pride and Despair Read More »
When I was an intern, the topics of legalism and performance came up quite a bit. In that environment, it was always a struggle to know where the line was. Now I see that although Ron Luce or Dave Hasz talk about grace and trust in Jesus, the overwhelming attitude presented to the interns is
The Pressure of Performance Read More »
One of the more cruel abuses of the Honor Academy is blaming the victim. If you are depressed, sick, can’t seem to feel God’s presence, or any other hard situation – it’s usually because you don’t have enough faith, aren’t seeking God enough or you are in sin. Head on over to itunes and check
Blame the Victim – Ron Luce Does! Read More »
The first sign of spiritual abuse is control-oriented leadership. Let’s talk about how this trait plays out at the Honor Academy. Here are some of Dave Hasz’s own comments to illustrate. Click on the statement to see the source link: Question from an Intern: “Should you absolutely submit to your superiors even if you disagree
Control Oriented Leadership Read More »
I also found this list of abusive symptoms rather intriguing: Signs of an abusive church (edited for length). 1) Abusive church leaders in abusive churches are into power and control. Enroth writes, “The spiritual autocrat, the religious dictator, attempts to compel subordination; the true Christian leader can legitimately only elicit fellowership.” Within a church context
What is Spiritual Abuse? Part 2 Read More »
