Control Freak Christianity

Joe & Rachel Tenney

Thousands of people have been taught forms of Christianity that led them into more bondage than freedom. Why do we feel like we have been enslaved by the truth when it’s supposed to set us free? Join your hosts, Joe and Rachel Tenney, as they discuss how to fight disillusionment, and move forward in the hope of Jesus Christ. This is the Control Freak Christianity podcast. read less

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7 Thoughts on Christmas Theology

7 Thoughts on Christmas Theology

Listen in as Joe and Rachel talk through seven devotional thoughts Rachel wrote for Advent after being disappointed by the advent devotionals she picked up this year. Whether you love or hate Christmas, we hope that digging a little deeper into the theology of Christmas encourages your heart this season. WARNING: May contain nerdy tangents and the bashing of Gnostic heresies. _____ LINKS: WATCH this episode as a video on YouTube! https://youtu.be/WVfGS8Rurh8 Watch Rachel's full advent video series here: bit.ly/advent-biz-devotionals Support Our Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/controlfreakc...

7 Thoughts on Christmas Theology

7 Thoughts on Christmas Theology

Listen in as Joe and Rachel talk through seven devotional thoughts Rachel wrote for Advent after being disappointed by the advent devotionals she picked up this year. Whether you love or hate Christmas, we hope that digging a little deeper into the theology of Christmas encourages your heart this season. WARNING: May contain nerdy tangents and the bashing of Gnostic heresies. _____ LINKS: WATCH this episode as a video on YouTube! https://youtu.be/WVfGS8Rurh8 Watch Rachel's full advent video series here: bit.ly/advent-biz-devotionals Support Our Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/controlfreakc...

Survivor Reacts to Doug Wilson's Letters to a Broken Girl

Survivor Reacts to Doug Wilson's Letters to a Broken Girl

In a series of letters to a fictional girl, Doug Wilson gives advice on how to handle being a victim of sexual abuse. Joe and Rachel are joined by Bethany Tenney, a real survivor, to discuss the quality of that advice in light of her experiences and the hope she has found in God and the Scriptures. Support Our Channel: https://www.patreon.com/controlfreakc... Original Source of "Letters to a Broken Girl" by Doug Wilson: https://dougwils.com/tag/letters-to-a...

This episode contains various accounts of abuse against women and children. John MacArthur is a well-known pastor of Grace Community Church, as well as an author and commonly heard voice on the radio. Recently, troubling details of a church discipline, carried out by John MacArthur in 2001, indicates poor judgment and improper use of church discipline. Joe and Rachel discuss how the legacy of John MacArthur has impacted their own lives and how they are thinking through the issues that arise from these allegations.

We are created in the Image of God. What does this mean, and how does it impact how we live? Join Joe and Rachel as they discuss ways we get Imago Dei right, and ways we can get it wrong.

Holiday Boundaries

Holiday Boundaries

The holidays can bring with them a lot of expectations, especially from family. Joe and Rachel talk about their different perspectives on holiday cheer, how to have healthy boundaries over the holidays, and examples of Jesus' boundaries in Scripture.

Our Hardest Episode Yet

Our Hardest Episode Yet

Joe and Rachel share news of recent spiritual abuse and how it's affecting them, their church, friends, and even the podcast.

Killing Productivity

Killing Productivity

Many raised in Authoritarian Fundamentalism struggle to be as productive as they believe they should. Have they been set up for failure with shame, fear, idealism, and perfectionism eating away at their abilities? Joe and Rachel discuss this along with their own struggles to work well.

Review: 'What are you doing?' by Vaughn Ohlman

Review: 'What are you doing?' by Vaughn Ohlman

Courtship led to some crazy stories, right? And yet, even more bizarre ideas are trying to take root out in the world of Authoritarian Fundamentalism. Joe and Rachel go through a book written to convince Christians of the virtues of betrothal and arranged marriages.

Putting the Cult in Culture

Putting the Cult in Culture

Cults can be wildly different in beliefs, organization, teachings, and operations. But the culture of cults can be in things that seem innocuous on the surface. Inside Christianity, whether in churches, movements, families, or organizations, cult-like practices can cause incredible damage. Join Joe and Rachel as they discuss twelve things that can demonstrate cult-like behavior in a community.

Some Thoughts on Sex

Some Thoughts on Sex

Already we live in a world that mishandles sex. The Church can run the range of ignoring sex in embarrassment and shame, to glorifying it similarly to how the world does. Do men have a visual Rolodex? Should sex be pleasurable for both men and women? How does pornography and self-pity play a part in Christians' understanding of sex? Joe and Rachel talk about some of the ways they understood sex to how they understand it now.

Mind of an Abuser in Courtship

Mind of an Abuser in Courtship

A letter, written to Rachel's father, demanding her hand in marriage is a perfect example of spiritual abuse in a Christian courtship. Rachel relives her past anguish in this episode as she, along with Joe, read and comment on a real-life letter as an example of manipulation and narcissism.

Most people caught in abusive relationships have trouble navigating the many tactics that abusive people use to control, manipulate, and confuse. Joe and Rachel cover a list of tactics they've observed, and how those tactics work.

The Dursley Effect

The Dursley Effect

Why do abusers who have hatred for those whom they abuse, try to hang on to them and keep them around? This effect is exemplified in the popular 'Harry Potter' books. Rachel nerds out on Harry Potter while Joe hangs on for the ride as they discuss how this dynamic is common in abusive situations.

The Way We Dated

The Way We Dated

What happens when dealing with abusive people and a friendship that started on the internet blend together? Romance of course! Well, at least it did for Joe and Rachel. Join them in this lighthearted episode as they recount their dating story and what they learned along the way.

The popular book series for girls by Martha Finley written over a century ago continues to be a phenomenon for many in fundamentalist and home-educated circles. They are beloved by many and hated by many more. Joe and Rachel discuss different excerpts from the books and give their own evaluations.

Ba'al in Israel Part 3: How it Ends

Ba'al in Israel Part 3: How it Ends

Elijah fought against Israel's slide into Ba'al worship, but there didn't seem to be any impact from his work. God tells him the three men who will bring an end to Ba'al worship but the consequences are staggering. Join Joe and Rachel as they discuss this dark part of Scripture, and how we still see glimmers of hope.

Ba'al in Israel Part 2: Elijah Runs

Ba'al in Israel Part 2: Elijah Runs

Elijah, who had been so faithful was on the run because Jezabel wants him dead. He runs and has a conversation with God. We can see how Elijah's wrestling can help us when our faithfulness leads us to suffer. Join Joe and Rachel as they discuss Elijah, God, and how we can heal well in our darkest moments.

Ba'al in Israel Part 1: Elijah's Triumph and Despair

Ba'al in Israel Part 1: Elijah's Triumph and Despair

How can we change massive societal evils? What can we do to face unfaithfulness in God's people. We are not the first to face these challenges. We have heard a lot about Elijah the prophet. He mocked false gods, prayed and God sent fire from heaven. But Elijah was attempting to end the practices of Ba'al worship that plagued Israel. Join Joe and Rachel as we look at his struggle, what it cost him, and what we can learn from how God worked through Elijah.

When Victims Turn on Victims

When Victims Turn on Victims

You might think that people who've endured terrible abuse would be kind and understanding to others who face similar abuse, but this is often not the case. Joe and Rachel talk through some of the reasons some victims are obstacles for healing for others, and why it's hard to help others with their trauma when you haven't dealt with your own.

Abuser's Favorite Bible Passages: Matthew 18

Abuser's Favorite Bible Passages: Matthew 18

Using the Bible for wrong purposes is common, and perhaps no passage has been misused more than Matthew 18:15-20. Joe and Rachel give a few thoughts that shed light on this important section of Scripture and show how abusers misuse this passage.