After the HA, I went home for 2 years. I worked really hard to save money for school, served at my youth group, and took some Jr. college. The second year I was home, I began to have an intense burden for the interns who are placed in Facilities, specifically Custodial, like I was, and […]
Teen Mania prepare an annual report to give to donors and potential donors in order to persuade them to open their wallets to Teen Mania Ministries. This annual report provides some interesting information, some sketchy information and some outright lies. For the latter, I’d like to direct your attention to the graphic comparing Honor Academy
Teen Mania’s Annual Report or “Let’s Just Make Stuff Up” Read More »
An intern in the current Honor Academy class wrote about her first experience meeting her brother core. Her brother core CA (core advisor) then gave these “words of wisdom:” He asked us not to go to the guys when he were upset or distressed about something…we were to go to one of our sisters in
Opposite Sex Friendships Read More »
I was recently reading through Teen Mania’s “R.I.O.T. Manual,” an evangelism guide published in the mid-90s. Ron Luce states, “This tactics section of your R.I.O.T. Manual is NOT a suggestion list. These aren’t just good ideas to read and forget. These are the steps you take to start your Righteous Invasion of Truth…We’d like you
Taste of Their Own Medicine? Read More »
On Being a Worldchanger: Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you. I Thess. 4:11 On Confrontation: Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. Those who sin are
Verses You Won’t Hear at Teen Mania Read More »
(Moderator’s Note: A Teen Mania alumnus recently posted his story. It’s quite long so I’ve summarized the main points. Everything in italics is a direct quote. Even though the following story is about a mission trip, it is very pertinent to the Honor Academy. Read all the way through and you will see why…This is
A few weeks ago, several alumni and I had the privilege of attending a cult recovery weekend led by internationally recognized cult experts Doug and Wendy Duncan. As former cult members, mental health professionals and Christians, the Duncans are uniquely poised to understand the dynamics of a Bible-based cult and offer assistance in recovery. The
What Mental Health Professionals Are Saying Read More »
This is a list of resources that I’ve found helpful on my journey to recovery. This isn’t a comprehensive list by any means but these are the ones that stick out most to me when I think about my recovery. Feel free to share anything in the comments that you’ve found healing. List of Nationwide
Recovery Resources Read More »
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard Christians chalk up their failed evangelistic efforts to the excuse, “Of course people are rejecting our message, the Gospel is offensive to the world!” It’s almost a source of pride for some Christians – the very rejection of their message by the world is seen as
Myth: The Gospel is Offensive Read More »
A few weeks ago, Doug and Wendy Duncan hosted a recovery workshop weekend exclusively for former Honor Academy participants. Since I feel like I’ve already done the majority of my recovery work, I went in large part to show support for my friends. I wasn’t expecting that the weekend would hold any particularly emotional insights
As we discussed last time, Teen Mania heavily promotes an us vs. them mentality. Instead of fostering love, grace and compassion, followers of this message wrongfully believe that being obnoxious = being a good Christian. Case in point, this story held up by Ron Luce as a model of Christian living at last weekend’s Battlecry:
Teen Mania’s Christianity: Radical or Obnoxious? Read More »
For as long as I can remember, creating a fear of a future America where Christians are persecuted has been a part of certain streams of Christianity and youth ministry. Having grown up under that kind of teaching, I can honestly say that it is completely irrelevant to the life of the American teenager and
Imaginary Persecution & Living in a Fantasy World Read More »
As we’ve discussed before, in the world of Teen Mania, women are often blamed for men’s lust problems. Unfortunately, this doesn’t stop in the world of dating. Ron also brings this issue into marriage. In a 2001 teaching on “God’s Idea of Intimacy in Marriage”, he said: And so what I’m saying is this –
Women Are Blamed for Men’s Lust Problems…Again Read More »
Each year, Ron Luce gives a sex teaching to the Honor Academy interns which includes the ideas that oral sex is wrong, lingerie is wrong, sex toys are wrong, and only certain sexual positions are allowed. In the past, Dave Hasz has responded to concerns about the unScriptural basis for these teachings by saying that
Let’s Talk About Sex Read More »
Before we look at the specifics of Ron Luce’s teachings on sex, I want to highlight this very disturbing and dangerous doctrine. In a 2001 teaching, Ron says: Sexual intimacy outside of marriage always breaks trust. If you have sex before marriage, you’ll never have full trust in your partner. You’ll be suspicious that they
Ron Luce’s Sex Teachings, Part 1 Read More »
Well, that’s what Teen Mania wants you to believe. In her talk to the intern women this past November, Katie Luce said the following: It’s not just whether we have intercourse or not, whether we are a virgin or not. But it goes deeper than that. It’s any kind of sexual immorality outside of
Pre-Marital Kissing is a Sin Read More »
Women at the Honor Academy are constantly taught that they should not wear anything that might cause their brother to “stumble” (i.e. – have lustful thoughts.) Unfortunately, once again, Teen Mania takes a seemingly good piece of advice and distorts it into an unhealthy burden that eventually destroys relationships between men and women. Allow me
Women Are to Blame for Men’s Lust Problems Read More »
Next week, I promise to get back to the dating/sex/marriage series. But in light of the story yesterday, I wanted to make a few points. First, if there has been any doubt in your mind about Ron Luce’s character and the stories on this website, yesterday’s story should fully convince you. The way he continues
How to Deal with an Unrepentant Abuser Like Ron Luce Read More »
I’m interrupting this series on dating for an important update… Short Version: Ron Luce is a sick, twisted and evil man. Long version: A few months ago, Ron Luce’s sister-in-law wrote in to share her story about how Ron lied about their family in his parenting book in order to boost his own reputation and
Breaking News: Ron Luce Is an Unrepentant, Habitual Liar Read More »
As part of their homework, Teen Mania interns are required to write their own “courtship constitution.” This constitution is supposed to define the set of procedures you will use during your courtship. The men and women’s classes are both shown a sample “Courtship Constitution.” Most of the suggested guidelines are normal, common sense stuff
Teen Mania’s “Courtship Constitution” Read More »
Shared with permission: A few months ago, an alumnus called me seeking advice about a potential romantic relationship. You see, there was a boy that she liked, but she was convinced that she had ruined the potential relationship. She felt enormously guilty for being “too forward” and afraid that she was not letting him lead.
Fear & Shame in Dating Read More »
The central tenet to Ron Luce’s courtship process seems to be that finding a spouse should be a process governed by our minds, not our hearts. We should make objective decisions NEVER clouded by emotions. To that end, Ron preaches strongly against the idea of “falling in love.” He speaks about it in a derogatory
Ron Luce Advocates Arranged Marriage? Read More »
As stated yesterday, the Bible does not provide a model for how to find a spouse. However, this does not stop Ron Luce and Teen Mania from putting words in God’s mouth and insisting that they teach a truly Biblical way of “courtship.” In today’s post, I’ll summarize two of Ron’s main points regarding
Ron Luce’s Courtship Teachings, pt. 2 Read More »
Every spring, Honor Academy interns get a series of relationship talks on dating vs. courtship, marriage and sex. While talking with recent interns, I have noticed a trend of many of them being totally unable to, afraid of, and/or ignorant of how to engage in a normal romantic relationship. While the Evangelical church at large
Ron Luce’s Courtship Teachings, pt 1 Read More »
How many Christian teens have suffocated under the weight of false guilt and condemnation for engaging in something that has never been explicitly condemned in the Bible? Yes, its time to talk about masturbation. Teen Mania tells interns that masturbation is a sinful act that should always be confessed and renounced. Interns are told that
