Have a migraine? You may be struggling with guilt. Did you just develop a sinus infection? There is a good chance fear and anxiety are plaguing you. Does your grandfather have Osteoporosis? You may want to tell him that he is struggling with envy and jealousy.
It’s hard to believe, perhaps, but these kinds of diagnosis have come out of a long history of The Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) and the Advanced Training Institute (ATI), tracing back physical illnesses directly to specific sin problems. When I first encountered this teaching, I had just started my first semester with the International Ministerial Institute (IMI), and I was excited to prepare for the ministry under IBLP’s finest teachers. IMI started in its earliest days at the Indianapolis Training Center (ITC), and its purpose was to train ATI-reared men for the ministry. It was the closest thing that ATI had to Bible college or seminary, and since other Bible colleges and seminaries were thoroughly criticized by the Institute, the International Ministerial Institute seemed like a good fit for this young, aspiring pastor. I had recently entered the impressive, red-carpeted halls of the ITC and began my studies in topics like counseling, languages, and evangelistic ministry, when our studies were put to a dead halt by Bill Gothard himself. We were instructed to drop whatever pursuits we were currently working on and delve into this exciting new book that Bill Gothard was now recommending called “A More Excellent Way” by Henry Wright.
Henry Wright taught in his book that part of the benefits of a relationship with God was total health, and that every physical ailment could be traced back to a specific sin. In the book, he even includes an entire catalogue of diseases and their accompanying sins: Migraines are traced to guilt (pg. 142); sinus infections to fear and anxiety (pg 133); osteoporosis to envy and jealousy (pg 129); asthma can be traced to relational fear (pg 145); Crohn’s disease comes out of massive rejection, abandonment issues, and a lack of self-esteem (pg 109); Multiple Sclerosis comes from deep self-hatred and guilt (pg 111); Hodgkin’s disease and Leukemia are traced back to deep-rooted bitterness coming from unresolved rejection by a father (pg 126).
I initially approached this book with some hesitation, but I was young, and the author seemed to make a good case. He even used a few scriptures. These passages were stripped well out of their context of course, but it seemed convincing to me at the time. So I initially swallowed the teaching whole. I was hoping that soon I would be able to go back home and help some of my family and friends shake their health problems as they appropriately traced back their disease to their sin and simply confessed that sin.
We had divided the book up into sections of study and were to read, study, and report on the material. I was beginning to accept this teaching completely, until a major red flag came up while one of the other groups were doing their report on their designated section. I had not yet read page 97. However, when I heard their report, and read the words for myself, I was in for a shock. Here is what Henry Wright said in regards to root cause of Scoliosis:
"I’ll tell you, and I pray that you receive it, that Scoliosis, like Epilepsy, is the presence and the fruit of an evil spirit. You will not get Epilepsy healed, and you will not get Scoliosis healed unless you cast out an evil spirit.” (pg 97, emphasis his)
Upon reading and hearing these words in that classroom, I became visibly angry, and for the first time in my life I verbally questioned the teaching I was being fed from ATI. My brother has major Scoliosis, and I have a minor case of Scoliosis. I simply couldn’t stomach the ludicrous notion that my brother and I were demonized, simply because this self-appointed medical expert said so–with no medical, biblical, or even logical backing to his statements.
While Henry Wright’s book took this spiritual diagnosis of disease to a whole new level, tracing disease back to spiritual causes was not new in ATI upon my arrival to the Ministerial Institute.
One former ATI student said,
I was told the whole time I was in ATI by my parents that I must be full of bitterness. I ground my teeth, I had scoliosis, and many other health issues. There were things in my life that I could have been bitter over, but I have chosen to let them go and move on. Yet I was continually told how I must have bitterness in my heart that I didn't even know. Do you have any idea what it is like to think that something like bitterness is hiding in you, causing you physical pain, but no matter how hard you try, you can't find it to deal with it?!
Another student said that she kept herself from finding traditional medical attention because of her fear that her real problem was spiritual.
When I was at Sound Foundations at the Indianapolis Training Center in 2008, I could feel the vibes from some of my fellow students that I should be repenting of bitterness because I had major digestive issues and was trying to be on a special diet while I was there. My team leader even claimed to have been healed from some digestive problem by "repenting" from bitterness. Thankfully, I have since started a stricter diet and it has gotten a lot better. But this whole "way of thinking" and diagnosing people scared me into denying I was sick at all for many years. All through my teen years I was very sick and getting sicker by the day. But I denied it to my parents because I was so scared that if I was REALLY sick than it must be my fault, either because of a spiritual problem on my part, or because I was physically inferior--kind of like eugenics.
A former ATI student remembers that her parents, in a sincere attempt to discover the root cause of her multiple health issues, destroyed some of her favorite toys. It was a popular ATI teaching back in the ‘80s that certain toys can have demonic influence in your home, which then can be tied to health problems.
Another former ATI student, now herself a mother, shared the following:
When I found out that my 2-year-old daughter had cataracts, my mom told me to read “A More Excellent Way.” (She has been into that book for YEARS!) When she handed it to me, she said that she hoped I could find something that would help my daughter.
Apparently, these kinds of teachings are still going on in IBLP. You can find more information on this topic at IBLP’s website on total health: www.lifepurposehealth.com.
So what does the Bible have to say about disease? First let me say that Henry Wright and IBLP did get it partially right. They are right in saying that disease came into the world because of sin. It is part of the curse, something we wouldn’t have to deal with if sin never entered into the world. Sickness and death were a result of the rebellion of our first parents and will one day be forever taken away when sin is finally once and for all dealt with (Genesis 2:17; Romans 8:23; Revelation 21:4). The Bible also suggests that sin can indeed have an effect on our health (Psalm 28:3; James 5:14-16; Proverbs 7:22-23).
However, where Henry Wright and IBLP get it wrong, they endanger both physical and spiritual health. To say that specific sins result in specific diseases is well beyond our ability to judge. Take a look at how Jesus responded to a question from His disciples about sin and disease in John 9:1-3:
Now as
Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” (NKJV)
Many individuals in the Bible struggled with disease and physical ailments (even resulting in death), but no mention was made of the “sinful root cause” of their sin: Elisha in 2 Kings 13:14; Trophimus in Philippians 2:25-30; and Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 are just a few examples. In fact, to suggest that because a person has such and such a disease because they have such and such a sin can produce false guilt, mental anxiety, and spiritual doubt. It can also keep a person from seeking necessary medical attention.
Those of us who are struggling with disease need not try to trace it back to a specific sin problem. Are you dealing with sin? Of course you are. All of us are struggling with the problem of sin on one level or another. How do you find growing victory over a sin to which you are enslaved? Freedom from sin and peace with God can be found as you experience His grace by faith–and faith alone–in His finished work on the cross. The more we grow in faith and the more we understand grace, the more we experience the peace of God.
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2
So how should a Christian who is struggling with disease respond? Ask for prayer, seek out medical attention, and then remember the words of Paul, as he also struggled with physical ailment:
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Note: Jim Logan, after becoming the director of IMI in its second year, pulled “A More Excellent Way” from our class study schedule, personally claiming that it was “very unbiblical.” The International Ministerial Institute is still a ministry of the Advanced Training Institute, and as of 2011, young women are now welcome to receive the training.
Brian, Thank you for sharing your experience with us and reminding us of the important truth that we are all sinners stuggling with sin. We do live in a cursed world and sickness is a result of that curse.
I'm sure there are many others out there like you who refused to tell of their health issues out of fear of being accused of having certain sins in their lives and as a result neglected to get the proper health care that they needed. As a parent, I remember when they started teaching that stuff and even offered a conference for parents to come too. Thankfully, we couldn't afford to attend.
I do believe that we need to take responsibility for our health and that includes eating healthy foods which you mentioned that you have started doing. Healthy eating generally produces healthier bodies and likewise eating only junk food tipically produces health issues.
By the way, my aunt who is a christian also has scoliosis, started going to an awesome chiropractor and has improved immensely. I don't believe for one minute that she is demon possessed. Would be hard to see improvement without first casting out the demon if that were the case.
Thanks for pointing out more of Gothard's heresies.
I hadn't heard scoliosis was linked to "demon possession". I was diagnosed and treated (by a chiropractor) for scoliosis over 10 years ago. I had been a strong, growing Christian for many years then (still am), so know I was not "possessed".
Isn't there some way that names are tied into health? I wish someone would write about the name business in ATI--they seem to put great stress on meanings of names. I suspect that most such meanings are made up..... I remember Mrs. Duggar saying on tv that one girl's name meant "soft, downy" and thinking "okkkkkk.....?????"
The name Julia means soft and downy. I know because it is my sister's name. I don't know whether the Duggars have a Julia or not.
No, they do not.
yes yes and yes...the spirit of judgement combined with this thinking brings death...thanks for writing this...and SHOCK about women being included in ministry school...so much chauvinism around IBLP.
So glad you have addressed this! I find this teaching so disturbing--it cripples the Gospel. Instead of being about God coming to us in our brokenness through Jesus and giving eternal life, we must go through endless rounds of self-flagellation until we have found the *right* sin to confess in the *right* formula for present health. Not to mention that it puts a stop to any ability to ask for prayer or help in ill health, for fear of being immediately labeled with a very specific sin problem. The whole thing seems so absurd that it is hard to believe people take it seriously, yet I know those who do.
It was Jana or Jill they said was soft, downy.... Like I said I think the meanings are made up--you look at one baby name book it tells you one meaning, look at another and get a new meaning.
But isn't a name/health somehow related in ATI teachings?
Thanks so much for addressing this issue Brian. From the time I heard about this I've been troubled and perplexed. This is so far from anything taught in the Bible. As you pointed out, Jesus himself declared that one could be physically ill and it was not due to sin. WOW. Amazing how far one can get off track when you start twisting Scripture.
What is the name of Henry Wright book that teaches about that every physical ailment could be traced back to a specific sin. I wouls like to purchase it for study... thanks
Pastor DeBrah Felder
When Gothard dies, I wonder which sin will have killed him? Of course, I've heard that he's told people he won't die until he's 120 or so. Will be interesting to see how his prophecy and his sins play out.
DeBrah Felder, I just saw your comment and it was several months ago but the name of the book you are looking for is "A More Excellent Way”
I actually do believe that some sin can cause certain illness. but that does not mean you specifically have to find that sin out an repent. It is all about the power of God to heal you completely of whatever you have. God can do anything. Nothing is impossible to him. so he can even heal scoliosis. But I want to share something from the bible.
Luke13:11-13
11 And there was a woman there who for eighteen years had had an [f]infirmity caused by a spirit ([g]a demon of sickness). She was [h]bent completely forward and utterly unable to straighten herself up or to [i]look upward.
12 And when Jesus saw her, He called [her to Him] and said to her, Woman, you are released from your infirmity!
13 Then He laid [His] hands on her, and instantly she was made straight, and she [j]recognized and thanked and praised God.
That does kind of sound like scoliosis. And there was a demon inside of her that was casted and she was made well. Can you please explain this to me.
So Henry Wright says all sickness is from sin ? Well how does he explain the heart attack he had and the double bypass he had in a hospital ? What sin did he have in his life .? This is just another product of the health and wealth prosperity gospel that is so popular today ... Christians aren"t going to be sick , poor , or go through sufferingin life .. God say's so .. Yet all the apostles that knew Jesus were poor , and suffered horrible deaths .. Folks . This stuff is just not biblical .. it's popular yes .. But not biblical .. Some of God's greatest men and women of God suffered much ...Look at Job .. But I understand Wright claims Job suffered because he had the sin of fear .. Not that God deliberately lifted the hedge around him and allowed Satn to buffet him with sickness to prove to Satan Job wouldn't curse him ... This is pulling scriptures out of context just to justify your teachings .. Sorrry .. It won't work ... I don't say eating healthy and keeping well is wrong . It's not ..and sickness did originate from the curse of original sin ... But to claim all sickness comes from some personal sin is unbiblical and Jesus never said such a. Thing ....If God can't use sickness to bring glory to him then what about such people as Joni Erickson .. A cripple who has brought glory to God from a diving accident . What was her sin she wasn't healed .. Or the young man who witnesses to thousands of young kids with no arms or legs .. What was his sin that caused that .. God hasn't healed him .. No he hasn't ... But yet God is using thousands of people worldwide that have deformities or sickness to witness the love of Christ to the world ... But according to Wright .. This can't be .. Iam sorry .. But when we try and play God and explain all the terrible things that happen in life .. We get side tracked and look foolish .. God's ways are not our ways ,! And no man can say any different ... If you want to push a agenda ..fine .. But for goodness sake .. Stop using the Bible as a way of doing it if it doesn't say so .. Please ..
Amy, concerning the passage you brought up in Luke13:11-13, while this women's condition does sound like scoliosis and the passage may point to demonic involvement in this women's infirmity, we don't see Jesus performing an exorcism on her in order to heal her. He merely says that she was "loosed from her infirmity." The fact that demons can cause physical ailments is found in the gospels. However, It is very dangerous to assume from this any physical ailment is demonic. Are you saying that because of this one passage we are to assume that anyone who has some kind of bone issue, or deformation that involves their bone structure is possessed by the Devil? Nowhere does scripture make that kind of connection for us, in fact it discourages this kind of automatic conclusion (John 9:1-3).
I think it's great to see so many people commenting and giving serious thought to this issue. We know that our loving Father's heart is to bring restoration and wholeness to each of us, and that's why Jesus drank the cup, that's why He went to the cross for us... HOW AMAZING HIS LOVE FOR US!!! The Word says that it is His Spirit which leads us into all truth, He is the one who works in us and perfects our faith. This is why I believe that as sons and daughters, our approach to teachings and material from all Christian authors and ministers should be the same: allow the Holy Spirit to reveal His Truth to you, in His perfect timing, in the way you are ready to handle, according to where you are in your walk with Christ. He knows you perfectly, he knows what ails you, and He knows how to get the job done, THAT'S our Heavenly Father, Creator of the Universe, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The truth is God's misteries are beyond us, because He is greater than us-we can't fit him in our finite minds-so to try to extrapulate perfect formulas from Scpripture to bring God's Kingdom into the confines of our understading, is always going to leave us frustrated. We are instructed to study the Word, to meditate it day and night, and also, to receive the Holy Spirit to be our helper, the One who reveals it to us; without Him, we are LOST! All this to say, I know it is very possible that all of us have been hurt by imperfect church members and imperfect teachings in this imperfect world, but we should heed caution when atteming to discredit completely the work of our brother or sister's in Christ. We would be wise to bear in mind that the teachings, the books, the material is the result of his or her PERSONAL walk with Him and isn't a one-size-fits-all testimony. We are a BODY with many DIFFERENT members, and if God chooses to heal by forgiving a sin, casting out a demon, or simply spitting on some dirt and rubbing it on someone... I have to understand that it is THE FATHER'S SOVEREIGN AND PERFECT AND BEAUTIFUL WORK in my beloved sisters and brothers and I REJOICE in it! :) Blessings brothers and sisters! God is good!!!
Scoliosis and Epilepsy are definitely the fruit of an evil spirit and it is complete error to think otherwise. Casting out the spirit causing these ailments are essential to receiving the healing. A person may have given legal ground which the devil claims over a Christian. Read "Reclaiming Surrendered Ground" by Jim Logan to get better insight into this subject.
One should not cast out an evil spirit from an unbeliever as it will return that person to a worse condition than before it left. One only casts off or out unclean/evil spirits oppressing Christians, NOT unbelievers. This does not mean that Christians are possessed by evil, but rather oppressed and tormented.
It is very foolish and naive Christians who are very ineffective in their ministry, who do pridefully do not get any revelation from God because they do not seek God as little children. If you still have scoliosis, when God promised healing, then find out why. God has the solution but by intellectual and spiritual deception people ummerrily carry on suffering because they think its God's will.
The authors statement "I simply couldn’t stomach the ludicrous notion that my brother and I were demonized" is irrational and completely subjective and just because he believes that does not make him correct. These are exactly the subjective unreasoned notions that spirits who are antagonistic to God cause to rise up in the emotions of those they seek to keep in bondage.
But on saying that, I agree with the author, in other areas, where he says that not all sicknesses are a result of that persons sin, just as Jesus explained.
You don't know what your are talking about. This book sounds similar to "None of these diseases" which is a similar line of thinking, that physical diseases are a result of anger or bitterness, sin, etc. Only one of the healing recorded in scripture did Jesus tell the man, "your sins are forgiven". All the rest Jesus did not address what may or may not have caused the illness, He went ahead and healed as people came forward for help. The big problem with this stuff is that it causes people like you to practice medicine without a license. So you now are an expert on seizures and claim that it is demonic activity which is a judgement call. You put yourself in with Job's friends and start looking at people not with Christ-like compassion but condemnation because you think you know it all.
All of creation suffers the effects of the fall. But that does not mean that all the effects can be undone by prayer and other spiritual exercises. Such folly is the epitome of paganism. The cemeteries are full of the results of the fall, but none will be reversed by prayer. We are not called to permanent complete physical healing of these bodies but to faith that these bodies will be transformed into a new body.
From those general principles, I say if the Scripture does not proclaim that this or that disease is categorically caused by an evil spirit, one is speculating and doing the work of a false prophet to say that it is. Paul did not have to have healing of the thorn in his flesh. Healings are for the Glory of God, NOT for the refutation of an evil spirit. The evil spirits are already refuted at the empty tomb.
Study the Scriptures and quit following men who teach to itching pagan ears. Jim Logan included.
Actually, one aught to try bloodletting first, then if that is not successful, implement trepanation. Only if those two fail, then one should cast out the evil spirit.
Okay, I better say that I am kidding, because anyone who actually believes that the cure to epilepsy and scoliosis is to cast out the evil spirit just might take that seriously.
Can you tell us where it is that you obtained your medical and/or spiritual training?
I meant "ought". I think ever since the "seek reconciliation with those who have 'aught' against me" statement, I have had those two words mixed up. lol
Does Gothard address how I gave ground to the enemy, resulting in my scoliosis, which I've had from birth? Or what happened to those demons when surgery finally corrected it? Must have been some pigs nearby.
I thought I'd heard most of his wacky stuff, but Anton, you win the internet today. If it wasn't so ludicrous, I'd be offended.
Glad Jesus answered this already. "Not his son or his parents' sin, but that God might be glorified." BG is just as skilled at doctoring as he is at theology.
"Or what happened to those demons when surgery finally corrected it? Must have been some pigs nearby."
Lol! All the more reason to stay away from those ham sandwiches.
I agree with you Anton - eg. People with and addiction will get angry when told to stop smoking - which is the spirit in them trying to protect his territory.
"Scoliosis and Epilepsy are definitely the fruit of an evil spirit and it is complete error to think otherwise." - Anton
You can not possibly be serious?
If so....un....real. Wowzers.
Guess I should tell my brother in law that a lifetime of doctors have no clue what they are talking about.
Just....wow.
Sad, all of the bad stuff in the world can be traced back to the work of Satan in the Garden of Eden. But they can also be traced back to the judgment of God upon humans, that "dying, you shall die." For many unfortunate things, there are more proximate causes, such as accidents leading to deformities, and head injuries which can lead to seizure disorders.
I certainly wouldn't rule out demons as a direct cause of many bad things, including scoliosis and epilepsy, but that is what prayer is for, because only God is strong enough to deal with demons. After we pray, we need to roll up our sleeves and get to work, and I am so very thankful for doctors and researchers who are trying to find better methods of treatment for these and other sorrowful conditions.
Yeah because babies are SOOOO demon possessed when they struggle from epilepsy from birth.
"Scoliosis and Epilepsy are definitely the fruit of an evil spirit and it is complete error to think otherwise."
As one of my facebook acquaintances once said, "I guess your opinion settles the matter."
You offered no support for your categorical claims, and I think it would be foolish to try to argue with you, other than to say only God can see and know as far as you claim you can see, and know.
Yikes!!! This reminds me of when my brother was dying of cancer, "friends" told my parents that God hadn't healed him because he didn't have enough faith.
Somehow I had missed this article. IBLP's teaching on the cause of ailments is complete garbage. I am really having difficulty understanding how people can read this teaching and not immediately see it as insane. Some of the IBLP teachings are damaging and wrong in a subtle way. But when I read some of the material, in particular the medical teachings, I feel these are the teachings of a complete fool. How could anyone who has the slightest knowledge of medicine publish this stuff?
How much damage is done to the child with epilepsy or with scoliosis, when the parents are taught by IBLP that the child has an evil spirit that must be cast out?
“I’ll tell you, and I pray that you receive it, that Scoliosis, like Epilepsy, is the presence and the fruit of an evil spirit. You will not get Epilepsy healed, and you will not get Scoliosis healed unless you cast out an evil spirit.” (pg 97, emphasis his)
There are medicines that can help prevent seizures for people with epilepsy. A person can die from having a seizure. This kind of teaching is very dangerous. It's downright medieval.
I've heard that IBLP is doing an internal review of all their materials. I hope that this rumor is true. But, once the false doctrine and false medical advice is uncovered, they need to do more than just not teach it anymore- they need to publicly warn people that the material that they have been putting out up until now is dangerous.
yes I know, my oldest child has epilepsy. He does very well on medicines. There are so many different causes and even someone who doesn't have it, can have seizures if they have a head trauma or are severely exhausted, drink too much fluids, have a sudden drop in their bood sugar, etc and so on. Just because Jesus expelled demons in the NT doesn't mean that is the cause for all. Interesting too is that they were children. Just thinking about this, I can't image what life expectency they would have had without some kind of medicine or control. That is probably why it was children and not adults being cured by Jesus. Epilepsy is a death sentence back then.
I'm betting they would just delete the materials they can no longer endorse and give no explanation. Just like Big Brother.
How about do your own forming of opinion by prayer and asking God ? This is what's wrong with the world. This person says it's untrue..and so u believe. There must be a balance. The book does not claim to be Fact. it's a book of study.
Many of you will not get your healing because this person has turned you off to the truth. My friend was healed of scoliosis simply by prayer. There are things that are spiritual like it or not. That does not mean someone is demon possessed but they can be affected by spirits we live in a spirit realm. Have a childlike faith and go to your heavenly father in prayer to know the truth do not depend on what men say. No one is ever 100% accurate except for God. I was healed of migraines by receiving prayer I had them since I was in fourth grade. Can anybody explain that to me? The prayer was thank you Jesus that is all they said. Did I have self conflict did I have guilt yes I did. I don't really give a crap about the cause of it all I care is that I'm free! Don't block yourself from your healing by being stubborn and prideful and not willing to try something that is clearly helping many many people.