Acquire The Fire
Battle Cry
Teen Mania
Ron Luce
Lead To Hell
Last edited 3-31-10

Ron is a sought-after speaker who has traveled to more than 50 countries and has made numerous media appearances, such as Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family radio broadcast and The 700 Club. He is also a frequent host and guest on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. (from www.teenmania.org, hard copy on file)

Ron Luce's ministry holds youth conventions called "Acquire The Fire" (ATF) and "Battle Cry." Sadly, those who follow Luce will indeed acquire the fire (Revelation 21:8).

I. A "Christianity" That Includes Demons

In his book, Battle Cry For My Generation, Ron Luce reveals that his idea of "Christianity" includes those who have departed from the faith, and give heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1-3). He writes,

In the late 1200s, the uncle and father of the famous explorer, Marco Polo, were visiting what we know today as China (and some of it's surrounding regions). The Polo brothers met with the ruler of the region, Kublai Khan, who was the grandson of the famous ruler Genghis Khan. During their visit they told him many things about the western world, including Christianity. Kublai expressed so much interest in the claims of Christ that he sent letters back with the Polo brothers asking the pope to send 100 missionaries who could tell him and his people more about the Christian faith. He went on to say that if they could simply show him why the Christian faith was truer than all other religions of the world, then he and all his followers would commit their lives to Christ. When the Polo brothers eventually delivered the letters to the pope, he had other more pressing matters on his mind. Instead of sending the 100 missionaries, he sent only 2 Dominican monks - who unfortunately turned back in fear for their lives.

When you look at the territory that the Khan oversaw, it is much of what we know today as the 10/40 window. The 10/40 window refers to the least-evangelized area of the world. Since the time of Kublai Khan, billions of people have lived and died in that region without ever even hearing the name of Jesus. What would have happened if those 100 missionaries had been sent? What if even one of them was able to lead Kublai to Christ and through him, his entire nation came to know the Lord? Perhaps the 10/40 would today would be known as one of the most evangelized regions in the world. How many hundreds of millions, if not billions of people would be in heaven today if that opportunity had been handled differently? We will never know, but it will go down as one of the greatest missed opportunities for the advancement of the Gospel in the history of the world. (p. 120-121, copyright 2005)

When Luce here writes, "Christianity" he writes in the context of Roman Catholic "Christianity," as should be evident by his references to the pope. When Luce here says, "missionaries," he speaks in the context of Roman Catholic missionaries. When Luce here writes, "evangelized," he writes in the context of Roman Catholic evangelization. When Luce here says, "Christ," he speaks in the context of the Roman Catholic Christ. When Luce here writes, "Jesus," he writes in the context of the Roman Catholic Jesus. When Luce here says, "Christian faith," he speaks in the context of the Roman Catholic faith. When Luce here writes, "Gospel," he writes in the context of the Roman Catholic gospel. All of this is demonic.

Roman Catholics are those who have given "heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1-3). Please see our report on both Catholicism and the Early Church Fathers for more information.

Moreover, the Bible identifies false religion, idolatry, as demonic. See Leviticus 17:1-7; Deuteronomy 32:16-17; 2 Chronicles 11:15; Psalm 106:34-37; 1 Corinthians 10:19-20; Revelation 9:20. Besides forbidding priests and nuns to marry and the command to abstain from certain foods at certain times (1 Timothy 4:3), Catholicism has a whole host of other false doctrine that clearly places it in the category of a false religion, idolatry, which makes it demonic.

This false Christianity, Roman Catholic Christianity, Ron Luce believes is real. He, no doubt, is deceived and he is deceiving others (2 Timothy 3:13). In the quote above, Luce speaks of the possibility of people responding to this Roman Catholic false religion and coming to "know the Lord" and being "in heaven." This is a damning lie (2 Peter 2:1). People who respond to Roman Catholic evangelization and believe in the Roman Catholic Christ go to hell (Revelation 21:8). But, not according to Ron Luce. According to him, they go to heaven. This alone, besides other factors, proves Luce himself is involved with demons, because his "Christianity" is false Christianity, which makes it false religion, which makes it idolatry, which makes it demonic.

With the above in view, it is no wonder Sean Hannity, who is a Catholic, endorses Ron Luce. Sean's name is posted on the front top of the dust jacket to Ron's book, Battle Cry For My Generation, and Hannity's endorsement can also be found on the very first page. No doubt, they are of the same spirit (John 8:44; Ephesians 2:2).

II. Money Hungry

Scripture forewarns that false teachers are covetous people. Their hearts are trained in covetous practices (2 Peter 2:14). They believe that godliness is a means of gain (1 Timothy 6:5). And, it is,

By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words. (2 Peter 2:3)

False teacher Ron Luce is no exception.

A. He Teaches Others To Covet

In his book, Battle Cry For A Generation, Luce encourages others to covet and desire to be rich. He writes,

It can be fun. Make as much money as you can, and give it to the sources that can make the biggest impact. Think about how mad you would make the devil. Seizing the American dream of making lots of money, and using that very money to perpetuate an America that honors God above money? This is the lifestyle of a man who will die happy. (p. 178-179, copyright 2005)

This is such hypocrisy. He speaks of "an America that honors God above money," yet he himself honors money above God. He whitewashes (Matthew 23:27) it all with the idea of giving, but it nonetheless is the wicked desire to be rich.

1 Timothy 6:9 warns:

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

God does not qualify this "desire to be rich" with any bad or good motive. He simply says, "those who desire to be rich." It does not matter one iota if someone desires to be rich so that they can give. Such a desire is wanting to be rich and live like the rich who have such an excess they can give.

The Lord says, "those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition." In other words, those who desire to be rich go to hell. Perdition equals hell (see e.g. Philippians 1:28; Hebrews 10:39; 2 Peter 3:7; Revelation 17:8). You cannot desire to be rich, for whatever reason, and be on your way to heaven.

Instead of teaching people to flee these things (1 Timothy 6:11), Luce encourages people to seize "the American dream of making lots of money." In other words, seize "the desire to be rich and go after money."

God reveals this desire to be rich is loving money, because in the very next verse He says,

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10)

People who desire to be rich love money. That's why they desire it. The godly are content with or without riches (1 Timothy 6:8; Hebrews 13:5), but the ungodly are not. That's why,

B. Luce Himself Covets

Hebrews 13:5 says,

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.

Luce is a covetous man (2 Peter 2:14) and he is not content with what he has. He wants (covets) more. This is well illustrated in his book, Battle Cry For A Generation. Immediately after the above quote in which he encourages others to covet money, Luce writes,

I recently met with a businessman regarding a fundraising project. I told him of our $30 million goal and asked if he would consider giving $1 million over the next three years. I had explained to him the vision and strategy, told him why we thought it would make a lasting impact on youth. (I really went to share the vision, not just to ask for money.)

After I asked, he paused for about four seconds and then said, "Okay, I'll do that, but on one condition." I became a little anxious at this point, not knowing what he would ask. "I want you to pray for my business ventures. Pray for my companies, that all the business deals go right, and that God blesses. As soon as He blesses the company, I will pay my commitment." You can be sure I was regularly pleading to God on his behalf. Only six weeks later, he called to tell me the good news and wanted me to come by so he could give me the first third of his million-dollar commitment. I like that kind of business partner. (p. 179)

He likes that kind of business partner because he likes money. Luce's lewd love for lucre makes him so bold he will ask someone for a million dollars and pray for the man's business, so that he can get that million dollars! Luce serves mammon, not God (Matthew 6:24).

III. Lewdness (Jude 4)

Ron Luce is very loose with the grace of God. He has written a small book for teens entitled, extreme for Jesus promise book, in which he teaches,

Even though you did nothing to earn God's grace, He gives it to you unconditionally, and because you didn't earn it, there is nothing you can do to cause it to go away. (p. 149)

This is a classic case of what Jude warned about in Jude 4.

For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness. (Jude 4)

It is lewd; it is a license to sin, to say, "there is nothing you can do to cause it to go away." Paul said to the Christians in Galatia,

You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. (Galatians 5:4)

These believers fell from grace because they fell for a false gospel (Galatians 1:6). If they died in such a state, they went to hell. There is certainly plenty a believer can do to "cause it to go away." Paul warned the Romans,

Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. (Romans 11:22)

Jesus warned believers with these words:

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:6)

God's grace is not given unconditionally as Mr. Luce says. God's grace comes with a clear cut condition. It is the condition of faith, as Ephesians 2:8 says,

For by grace you have been saved through faith.

Paul wrote that "we have access by faith into this grace" (Romans 5:2). If we stop believing, we no longer have access into this grace. We must continue to believe (Acts 13:43; 14:22; Colossians 1:23; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 3:14). If we don't, we will be cut off (John 15:6; Romans 11:22).

Consistent with the above lewdness, Ron writes in this same book,

Unfortunately, some Christians are only skin-deep. They talk about their faith, but they still live in the same way they did before they knew Jesus. There is no evidence of change. (p. 115)

Ron lewdly calls these kind of people Christians and those who know Jesus ("before they knew Jesus"). This is absolutely disgusting! It is a gross perversion of God's grace to teach a person can know Christ and yet have absolutely no change in their life. Paul said,

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17; see also Galatians 6:15)

Anyone who supposedly comes to know Jesus but has no change in the way they live does not know Jesus. As it is written,

He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:4)

Another example of this lewdness can be found in this same book on page p. 155. Luce writes,

When your first priority is pleasing God instead of yourself or others, then you know that you have reached a deeper level of faith.

What Luce calls a "deeper level," the apostle Paul calls normal and essential.

For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. (Romans 14:7-8; see also 2 Corinthians 5:9, 15)

Paul says, "none of us lives to himself." Every single true believer's "first priority is pleasing God instead of " himself. If it is not, such a person is not saved (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Such a one is not a true Christian. "When your first priority is pleasing God instead of yourself," you are a genuine Christian. It is not a "deeper level." It is the one and only real Christianity.

IV. A False Gospel

In addition to the lewdness above, which reveals a false gospel, ATF further manifests their false gospel in an article entitled, "The Party Scene."

Why do we need to be fulfilled by alcohol, drugs, sex, friends or many other things that take place during the party scene? The answer is very simple; we have a need to feel loved, a need to feel special, challenged, or dangerous. God has created us with a hunger or void in our lives, but this void can only be fulfilled by Him and Him alone. Of course, we want danger and adventure, which is who God created us to be, but also know that this is the character of God as well. (www.atf.tv/index.cfm?fuseaction=home&page=2, link no longer available. Can be found @ http://web.archive.org/web/20031019035616/http://www.atf.tv/index.cfm?fuseaction=home&page=2)

First of all, nobody needs to be fulfilled by alcohol, drugs, etc.. Scripture does not teach this (Proverbs 30:5-6). Secondly, Scripture nowhere teaches anyone has a need to feel loved, or a need to feel special, challenged, or dangerous (Proverbs 30:5-6). Thirdly, the Bible is devoid of any void that is to be fulfilled (for more on the void, see www.atruechurch.info/laurie.html). Fourthly, holy writ does not indicate God created people to want danger and adventure (in any kind of good way). Finally, where does it say that wanting danger and adventure is the character of God? It doesn't. ATF just makes this stuff up (Matthew 15:8-9) or follows the deceit of others (2 Timothy 3:13).

Furthermore, this all speaks against the true gospel. The true gospel states that the reason people get drunk (alcohol), do drugs, etc. is because they have rejected God (Romans 1:16-32). It is not because they have a need to feel loved, etc.. It is because they are downright wicked (Psalm 10 & 14). They have no godly hunger whatsoever (Romans 3:10-18). They are indeed without God (Ephesians 2:12), but this does not create a void that "can only be fulfilled by Him." It creates people who are filled with all unrighteousness (Romans 1:29) and have an evil spirit working in them (Ephesians 2:2).

ATF's false gospel flatters sinners (Psalm 12:2; Proverbs 26:28; Romans 16:18; 1 Thessalonians 2:5; Jude 16). It tells them the reason they sin (do drugs, etc.) is because they are trying to fulfill a God given need. This is a lie. The reason they sin is because they hate the light (John 3:20). ATF's false gospel avoids the unflattering truth that the reason the ungodly sin is because they are evil, and they hate God (Romans 1:28f).

V. Ecumenism

The standard in Scripture is one narrow way (Matthew 7:13-14, 24-27; John 14:6; Acts 4:12), in which we "glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" with "one mind and one mouth" (Romans 15:5-6). We "speak the same thing," and are to "be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10), as we are in "one body," "one faith" (Ephesians 4:5), standing "fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27). Believers are to avoid those who teach contrary to the doctrine which they have learned (Romans 16:17-18), and are to withdraw from those who teach otherwise (1 Timothy 6:3-5); and are to contend earnestly for the faith (Jude 3). ATF does none of these things. They state that:

Teen Mania is not affiliated with one specific denomination, but works with all denominations. Each year, youth groups from over 50 denominations attend the Acquire the Fire youth events. We believe strongly in creating unity within the Body of Christ. To truly make a difference on this generation, the largest teenage generation in history, we must partner together.
(www.teenmania.org/corporate/index.cfm)

They also proclaim,

Teen Mania is proud to partner with denominations, churches and other organizations, such as Focus on the Family, Josh McDowell Ministry, Youthbuilders and Compassion International. (www.teenmania.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=aboutsource, link no longer available, links added. Can now be found @ http://web.archive.org/web/20030419172741/http://teenmania.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=aboutsource)

Here they admit that they are proud (2 Timothy 3:2, "proud"), as if it were a virtue (see Proverbs 16:5), and they boast of being in partnership with different denominations. This is condemning before the word of God.

Denominations denote particular faiths with specific doctrinal distinctions. In other words, the reason denominations exist is because they differ in doctrine, that is, they do not agree with other denominations in what the Bible says. When ATF maintains they are in partnership (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1) with denominations, working with all denominations, they promote a theologically broad way (Matthew 7:13). Instead of contending for the faith (i.e. the teaching of the word of God, Hebrews 4:12-13; Jude 3) and exposing the works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11), they, as hirelings (John 10:12-13), tolerate the host of lies that brew within the denominations. And, there is certainly a host of lies therein, because they all have different faiths, different beliefs. But, Scripture says there is only one faith (Ephesians 4:5), not many (Matthew 7:13-14; John 14:6; Acts 4:12). [For more on ecumenism, please see www.atruechurch.info/unity.html.]

VI. Worldly Wisdom (1 Corinthians 3:19)

In Ron's extreme for Jesus promise book he writes,

Sometimes, we know that God has forgiven us but we haven't forgiven ourselves. But the only way to deal with regret is to let go of your past, to forgive yourself. Think about it: If God - the Creator of the universe - has forgiven you and cleansed you, then surely you can forgive yourself. Let God's love and grace fill you as you except (sic) His forgiveness by forgiving yourself.

Lord Jesus, I'm so tired of dealing with this regret. Thank you for forgiving me. I choose to forgive myself and let go of the past. In your name. Amen. (p. 59)

This is not "Scripture-based advice" (p. 3 ibid.). Nowhere does Scripture ever teach self-forgiveness (Proverbs 30:5-6). This is the doctrine of men, not God (Matthew 15:8-9). The real issue here is not that people need to forgive themselves, but they need to trust in the mercy of God (Psalm 33:18). That will bring peace (Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:6-8; 1 John 1:9).

More worldly wisdom can be found on page 103 of this same book where Luce writes,

Today's teens face so many hurtful things. Some young people have been hurting for so long that they have forgotten what it feels like not to hurt. If that's you, you need to understand that no matter what hurt has come your way, God didn't cause it.

This is a lie. God causes all things (Romans 11:36; Hebrews 2:10), even hurt. As it is written,

Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal. (Deuteronomy 32:39)

Luce denies the Lord who bought him (Jude 4). For the Lord does cause it. He does wound. He does cause hurt, and He also causes healing (Psalm 103:3). Scripture teaches to turn to the very One who caused the pain (e.g. Psalm 50:15; 88).

VII. Unholy

Hebrews 12:14 says,

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

ATF is unholy, not only in their relations with many different denominations, but also in their leadership associations. For example, Jack Hayford is on the board of Directors, and he is a false teacher. He teaches the kind of loose lewdness Luce loves, and he also preaches a person can kill themselves and go to heaven (see www.atruechurch.info/hayford.html). Actually, Hayford fits in well with the false teachers of ATF.

VIII. Conclusion

These are just a few destructive heresies (2 Peter 2:1) we have found. We have not researched this group extensively. All the lies of this organization are not herein spelled out. But, this has been compiled so that people might be warned against these who "profess to know God, but in works they deny Him" (Titus 1:16). May the Lord save you from those who speak perverse things (Proverbs 2:1-12). For all who love and practice a lie are outside (Revelation 22:15) in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8).

a true church, P. O. Box 130, Moodys, OK 74444

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