Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 3, No. 2, 1986 Page 45
The staff response had been more than just a reaction to hearing a girl scream. The next
day this girl was told that if she wanted anymore help with her problem she would have to
speak with staff counselors and should not seek assistance from a student.
The DTS counselors were trained exclusively by YWAM, and by any other standards were
sorely unqualified for the job. They felt that they had all the answers, often only by virtue of
Intercession and their positions of authority. One even ―felt‖ that God had used the attacks
on the girl as a way of punishing her perhaps she had deserved it. ―God anoints those over
us to bless us in many ways.‖
It may seem that Intercession gives a student his own authority because he need only say
to a leader, ―God told me that it was the right thing to do and I ‗got scripture‘ in
Intercession.‖ But it didn‘t work that way. Intercession is unique and generally new to the
students, who are told that they will improve with practice. Therefore, each student was
obliged to agree with what the staff said, and if one tried saying, ―God told me,‖ the staff
would contradict the student and, referring to the student‘s inexperience, say, ―Don‘t worry,
everyone is bound to make a mistake.‖ Basically, YWAM believes that the students are not
capable of making independent decisions, or of ―hearing God,‖ until they have completed a
DTS, and by that time YWAM has introduced another style of authority, discussed below,
that allows the organization to maintain control.
Stopping Rational Thought
...the thrust of the new religious groups --whether Eastern mystical, occult, or
aberrational Christian --[emphasizes] experience over doctrine, feeling rather than
rationality. Truth ...is not attained by traditional modes of learning, but by mystical
insight.12
I was taught to think of my mind as the enemy.13
YWAM teachings during Intercession played a central role in undermining intellectual
reasoning. Step 3 of Intercession instructs ―Die to your imaginations, desires, and burdens
for what you feel you should pray.‖ The lecturer reasoned that there are three kinds of
thought: Yours, Satan‘s, and God‘s. If you die to your thoughts and blind Satan, then
anything left in your mind must be God‘s thoughts. Foolproof.
A staff member explained to me: ―One thing I realized when I went through DTS was that I
was a very rational, analytical person. I‘m coming to see that God‘s ways are often rational
(in the sense that I can use my reasoning to understand them), but sometimes they are
supra-rational (in the sense that the reasoning is far above mine -Isaiah 55: 18), not
irrational (without reasoning, nonsensical). If God was limited to my understanding, He
wouldn‘t be big enough for my problems!‖ I myself don‘t think that I need always to
understand why God works as He does, but I do feel that there are times when I need to
analyze and understand man‘s reasoning. Of course, the DTS staff would claim that it was
God‘s decision – ―We received a word from the Lord in Intercession‖ -not their own.
The same staff member commented on another occasion: ―A weakness that might be
present is an overly critical spirit. A liberal arts education has many benefits, but it caused
me to be skeptical of everything, to break everything down in my mind into rational
components and compartments and sequences. I came to the point where my faith became
watered down.‖ I will agree that it is not necessary to have logical or scientific proof
concerning all things biblical. ‗Mere is a need for faith. And we can speak with certainty
regarding those aspects of God‘s character which are clearly defined. The problem comes
when differentiating between what the Bible claims clearly and someone‘s interpretation,
inspiration, or revelation.
The staff response had been more than just a reaction to hearing a girl scream. The next
day this girl was told that if she wanted anymore help with her problem she would have to
speak with staff counselors and should not seek assistance from a student.
The DTS counselors were trained exclusively by YWAM, and by any other standards were
sorely unqualified for the job. They felt that they had all the answers, often only by virtue of
Intercession and their positions of authority. One even ―felt‖ that God had used the attacks
on the girl as a way of punishing her perhaps she had deserved it. ―God anoints those over
us to bless us in many ways.‖
It may seem that Intercession gives a student his own authority because he need only say
to a leader, ―God told me that it was the right thing to do and I ‗got scripture‘ in
Intercession.‖ But it didn‘t work that way. Intercession is unique and generally new to the
students, who are told that they will improve with practice. Therefore, each student was
obliged to agree with what the staff said, and if one tried saying, ―God told me,‖ the staff
would contradict the student and, referring to the student‘s inexperience, say, ―Don‘t worry,
everyone is bound to make a mistake.‖ Basically, YWAM believes that the students are not
capable of making independent decisions, or of ―hearing God,‖ until they have completed a
DTS, and by that time YWAM has introduced another style of authority, discussed below,
that allows the organization to maintain control.
Stopping Rational Thought
...the thrust of the new religious groups --whether Eastern mystical, occult, or
aberrational Christian --[emphasizes] experience over doctrine, feeling rather than
rationality. Truth ...is not attained by traditional modes of learning, but by mystical
insight.12
I was taught to think of my mind as the enemy.13
YWAM teachings during Intercession played a central role in undermining intellectual
reasoning. Step 3 of Intercession instructs ―Die to your imaginations, desires, and burdens
for what you feel you should pray.‖ The lecturer reasoned that there are three kinds of
thought: Yours, Satan‘s, and God‘s. If you die to your thoughts and blind Satan, then
anything left in your mind must be God‘s thoughts. Foolproof.
A staff member explained to me: ―One thing I realized when I went through DTS was that I
was a very rational, analytical person. I‘m coming to see that God‘s ways are often rational
(in the sense that I can use my reasoning to understand them), but sometimes they are
supra-rational (in the sense that the reasoning is far above mine -Isaiah 55: 18), not
irrational (without reasoning, nonsensical). If God was limited to my understanding, He
wouldn‘t be big enough for my problems!‖ I myself don‘t think that I need always to
understand why God works as He does, but I do feel that there are times when I need to
analyze and understand man‘s reasoning. Of course, the DTS staff would claim that it was
God‘s decision – ―We received a word from the Lord in Intercession‖ -not their own.
The same staff member commented on another occasion: ―A weakness that might be
present is an overly critical spirit. A liberal arts education has many benefits, but it caused
me to be skeptical of everything, to break everything down in my mind into rational
components and compartments and sequences. I came to the point where my faith became
watered down.‖ I will agree that it is not necessary to have logical or scientific proof
concerning all things biblical. ‗Mere is a need for faith. And we can speak with certainty
regarding those aspects of God‘s character which are clearly defined. The problem comes
when differentiating between what the Bible claims clearly and someone‘s interpretation,
inspiration, or revelation.
