Control Freak Christianity

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.

Why Are We Called Control Freak Christianity? 09/03/2023

Why Are We Called Control Freak Christianity? Why are we called Control Freak Christianity and why are we here? We recognize the reality that there are control freaks who love to use the name of Jesus and His church for their own selfish purposes. It's all over the Bible, though it's rarely talked about in churches. Joe and Rachel introduce this topic and why we need to address control freaks in Christianity, today. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/27926373

7 Thoughts on Christmas Theology 12/22/2022

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! Watch Rachel's full advent video series here: Support Our Podcast: /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/25411629

Survivor Reacts to Doug Wilson's Letters to a Broken Girl 10/18/2022

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: Original Source of "Letters to a Broken Girl" by Doug Wilson: /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/24728856

John MacArthur 03/12/2022

John MacArthur 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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/22425038

Imago Dei 02/26/2022

Imago Dei 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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/22263089

Holiday Boundaries 12/25/2021

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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/21597044

Our Hardest Episode Yet 12/04/2021

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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/21376415

Killing Productivity 11/13/2021

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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/21150851

Review: 'What are you doing?' by Vaughn Ohlman 10/30/2021

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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/20990462

Putting the Cult in Culture 10/16/2021

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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/20836454

Some Thoughts on Sex 10/02/2021

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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/20682158

Mind of an Abuser in Courtship 09/25/2021

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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/20595374

Toxic Tactics 09/11/2021

Toxic Tactics 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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/20440646

The Dursley Effect 08/21/2021

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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/20214977

The Way We Dated 08/14/2021

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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/20139824

Elsie Dinsmore 07/31/2021

Elsie Dinsmore 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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/19987844

Ba'al in Israel Part 3: How it Ends 07/24/2021

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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/19914719

Ba'al in Israel Part 2: Elijah Runs 07/17/2021

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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/19839341

Ba'al in Israel Part 1: Elijah's Triumph and Despair 07/03/2021

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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/19693697

When Victims Turn on Victims 06/26/2021

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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/19612397

Abuser's Favorite Bible Passages: Matthew 18 06/12/2021

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. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/19449497

Russell Moore's Letter 06/05/2021

Russell Moore's Letter A letter, written over a year ago by Dr. Russell Moore, has been leaked. The letter includes some very troubling allegations that, if true, would demonstrate corruption in the heart of the largest conservative denomination in America, the SBC. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/19362437

The Things We Wore 05/22/2021

The Things We Wore Joe and Rachel are completely unscripted as they spill the tea about their past fashion faux pas while growing up in homeschooling sub-cultures. Have you ever wondered why you can spot a homeschooler in a crowd? This episode is a light-hearted conversation about some of the reasoning behind why homeschoolers dress the way they do. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/19197929

Bad Counsel in the Book of Job 05/15/2021

Bad Counsel in the Book of Job Job received bad counsel from his friends in the midst of his suffering. What are some of the bad things that Job's friends told him and does it sound like advice we give today? Join Joe and Rachel for this episode to explore what kind of advice makes God angry, and what we can say instead. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/19113284

Cleanse the Temple 05/08/2021

Cleanse the Temple Jesus will cleanse His bride. How does this truth affect how we should see the church and address evils inside the church? In this episode, Joe and Rachel talk of how to take part in the work of Jesus, while relying on Jesus' promises for His church. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/19028027

Josh Duggar 05/01/2021

Josh Duggar Former TLC star from "19 Kids and Counting," Josh Duggar has been charged in Federal court with possessing Child Pornography. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/18934625

Spiritual Warfare 04/17/2021

Spiritual Warfare Spiritual Warfare is often either over-emphasized or ignored. Joe and Rachel discuss their own experiences, Jesus' dealing with temptation, and the confidence Christians can have against the enemy. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/18757199

Racist Doctrine and Neo-Confederacy in the Church 04/10/2021

Racist Doctrine and Neo-Confederacy in the Church For centuries, teachings of Kinism (and similar doctrines) have infiltrated the church justifying many evils. Joe and Rachel talk of their own upbringings and exposures to racist ideologies, along with some of their own thoughts on how to begin to think of racial issues. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/18672752

Christian Politics 04/03/2021

Christian Politics Politics have been crazy and Christians are all over the map when it comes to political involvement and positions. Joe and Rachel discuss their own political experiences and talk about what a healthy understanding of politics in the life of the Christian can look like. /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/18592439

Fantasy and Escapism 03/27/2021

Fantasy and Escapism Joe and Rachel have a raw and unscripted conversation about a rarely addressed topic - that people have fantasies, imaginative worlds, and daydreams. Is that even ok? Join us for the discussion! /episode/index/show/controlfreakchristianity/id/18487787

Control Freak Christianity

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