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
Since leaving the Honor Academy I’ve gone through a quagmire of emotionally stretching opportunities in my life. I started the internship ten years ago and of course the entire experience wasn’t all bad – there were positive moments and experiences, yet over the years I have been haunted by this feeling that I failed miserably
Andy’s Story, pt 6 Read More »
The first time I had to tell someone “I think I’m gay – was when I made it to college. For all those years at Jesus Camp, youth group, Acquire the Fire, and then the Honor Academy – I guess I had bought into the illusion that I liked girls and was somehow going to
Andy’s Story, pt 5 Read More »
I made my way up the Teen Mania leadership ladder and was finally being treated like a staff member. TMM would pay for my schooling at the University of Texas at Tyler and then give me a pretty small salary, around $600 a month (approximately $4.28 per hour before taxes). That $600 would have to
Andy’s Story, pt. 4 Read More »
My new core hit the ground running. My new CA Jeremy was loads better than John. I was an ACA now so in a way I had respect from Jeremy as a co-leader of the pack. I felt really responsible for my 5 guys. I really wanted to do things together and be great friends
Andy’s Story, pt 3 Read More »
I got to campus a day early. I moved into Morris Hall and got settled after a relative drove me out and dropped me off. That first night there I ended up out in the Back 40 (basically the acres of land behind the campus) with some August interns and I bonded with a few
Andy’s Story, pt. 2 Read More »
(Andy’s story is in 6 parts. Names of his peers have been changed while the names of staff members have not.) One of the earliest memories I have is of my brother’s funeral. I remember the flowers and the blue casket and the sullen tone as I sat seated in the front row of the
Andy’s Story, pt 1 Read More »
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 marriage
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
This past weekend, 20/20 aired a scathing expose on the widespread abuse happening within Independent Fundamentalist Baptist Churches (IFB). You can watch it here. (2021 Update: It seems ABC does not have this linked anymore. You can watch the first part on YouTube here.) The IFB is a loose association of churches that also have their
20/20 Exposes Church Abuses Read More »
