About the author
More posts by Moderator
Former ATI Students Answer, “Who Is God to You?” (2 of 2)
Previously we introduced the topic: Who Is God to You? This week will continue with the responses we received from former students of the Advanced Training Institute (ATI).
Before we delve in, I’d like to reiterate that you may not agree with or understand some of the thoughts represented here. The responses we received seem to span much of the faith spectrum–including thoughts from those whose pursuit of truth has led them away from the Christian faith.
I do hope reading others’ thoughts about God help you in your own spiritual journey–whether opposing view points help to better define your own perspective, or perhaps some of the thoughts here resonate with your own soul or experiences. Let’s continue . . .
I don’t pretend to really understand God, but I know a few of his attributes. He is an amazing provider in time of need. He is a shelter in time of storm. He defends me from my enemies. He has given me forgiveness even though I shame him on an almost daily basis. He guides me, even though I feel so many times that I am lost; sometimes you have to be lost in order to be lead!” (Mike from Santa Cruz, Ca)
God is the ever-loving, ever-welcoming, ever-redeeming father to prodigal sons and their older brothers.
I have learned that God is love. It’s a love I can’t comprehend, but I get a glimpse of it in the faces of my precious children and husband. I’ve learned that God’s amazing attributes are unfathomable. One of my favorite quotes of all time: ‘The moment God is figured out with nice neat lines and definitions, we are no longer dealing with God. We are dealing with somebody we made up’ (Rob Bell in Velvet). I have learned that I will never understand who He truly is until I meet Him in heaven. I have learned that in my relationship with Him I don’t have to do anything to accept his Love other than believe in His Son. I do. Everything else is just gravy.”
I don't know what I believe; I know that the God that I want to believe in isn't scary and I hope I find that God someday.
God is greater than my imagination can grasp. He is greater than words can describe. He is all-knowing, all-powerful. He is the perfect balance of justice and mercy. He created this beautiful world for His glory and for us to enjoy. He has conquered death. He has made sin powerless. He is love. I have done nothing but spit on His glory and yet He sent His Son to die for my sinfulness. He loves me. He comforts me. He gives me strength. He gives me joy. He is my friend.”
I see as much evidence for God or any other supernatural phenomenon as I do for Santa, the Tooth Fairy, or any other fairy tale. Just more people believe in him. The Bible has been proven to be inaccurate in many instances. Therefore I see no reason to believe in the rest of the Bible.”
He is the father to me (fatherless), and He provides for me and loves me more then I can say. He shows me daily His covenant with me--His decision to be there for me and His grace every day!!!!!
Not sure who God is to me right now. I used to believe His love was conditional on my performance. I have a hard time understanding how I am suppose to show Him that I love Him without going back to the same old rules and regulations to get His approval/love. Discouraged but not giving up.”
In our initial conversation, someone had a good response to the above comment (it is relevant to so many of us who are trying to leave behind all the mistruths propagated by the Institute in Basic Life Principles): I remember going through that same stage that you’re in, the one that you feel that the only way to get close to God is by going back to the same old rules and regulations. That feeling does not last forever.
God is so much more real and caring than I ever realized growing up! He is compassionate when I’m struggling, forgiving when I fail, and ceaseless in His pursuit of me. I love Him more every day since I learned what His grace *truly* means.” (Julie T. from Chiapas, MEX)
I‘ve always seen God the way I saw my parents: distant, cruel, angry, quick to punish and slow to forgive, loves to see me in pain, demanding, etc. Now, I really don’t know. Intellectually, I believe the Bible, but experience makes anything more than that difficult at best.”
God is my safe place.
God is love. That is who He is, it is His very nature. He is incapable of acting toward me in a way other than loving. I found myself here after my worldview crumbled and almost everything I believed in, I found to be a lie.”
I just don't know what to think.
I love Peter’s answer in the Bible when Jesus asks his disciples why they did not leave to follow another leader…”Only you (Jesus) have the words of life.” That is who God is to me. Even in my darkest hour He is the Word I need to hear, my Savior from sin and all the garbage that comes with it, the hope I need to keep going, my safe place during life’s storms, and the Father who nurtures my wounded heart to grow to be the woman He has created me to be.”
As I was struck last week by the confidence some people have in their thoughts on God, I am now touched by the candor of those who admit to not being sure about Him. (I feel I can relate more with the latter.) Both types of responses seem to share common threads: Simple honesty; a surety not in what one “should” believe, but in where each one finds themselves at this moment.
And with that I’ll close. Where do you find yourself? Being perfectly honest with yourself, Who is God to you?
"I don’t know what I believe; I know that the God that I want to believe in isn’t scary and I hope I find that God someday."
~That statement breaks my heart, but I know this is so common among children who grew up in ATI.
This is a very good question you pose and one that I've myself pondered on. If you allow, I'd also add my two cents:
For me, God is perhaps foremost my Lord and Saviour, the King of Glory, but also my loving Father. In days of doubt I see Him also as a stern Judge, who will convict me if I ever abandon my faith. Sometimes I even think of Him as a general who commands and directs me, an humble soldier, in the war against the world and my own sin (of which the latter is harder and more dangerous). But in that battle He is also a faithful comrade in arms who guards my back when things get tough. This may, or may not, be an orthodox way of thinking but it appeals to me, especially when I remember the Bible verses about spiritual warfare.
I first started to vaguely believe in God through the fear of death and/or Hell, and as you can perhaps see I'm still struggling somewhat with the concept of grace and God as loving and tender to His children. But every time I read of Christ and think of His sacrifice, I learn a bit more and have less fear and more love for my God. In this regard, Martin Luther's writings have been a great help.
BTW, I've never been associated with ATI/IBLP with any way. In fact, I grew up in a secular family and began to believe in one God in the age of 12 after independently reading the Old Testament. It took two years before I first realized the full role of Jesus Christ and began to believe in Him.
I found this site when learning about the existence of IBLP from elsewhere and googling Bill Gothard. I have to thank you folks, since you have opened my eyes in many regards. I've toyed with the idea of joining similar, if much milder, organisations in my country but after reading the stories on this site I now see the dangers of legalism these IBLP-like people pose. So, thanks!
In your terms I may be a heretic (being a devout Lutheran with some Arminianism thrown into the mix), but I still appreciate the work you are doing here. People need to be warned about these kinds of wolves in sheeps' clothing.
God bless you all!
[...] (Click here for Part 2) Featured ArticlePerspectives Advanced Training Institute ATI Bill Gothard IBLP Institute in Basic Life Principles Recovering Grace RecoveringGrace.org [...]