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Articles about how Bill Gothard mishandles the Bible to support his legalistic viewpoint.

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Stories and accounts of the destruction caused by the teachings of Bill Gothard.

Author Archives: Moderator

The Grace Relationship

3 June 2013, 06:00

Moderator

35

The parables of Jesus are so well-known that we often forget their message. Take, for example, the story of the prodigal son. The primary application is the welcome the father gives to wayward son when he is ready to return home. We rejoice to see the forgiving love of the father. But there is another […]

From Clear Conscience to Clear Thinking: Journey from Guilt to Grace!

16 May 2013, 06:00

Moderator

18

While many entered the world of ATI (the Advanced Training Institute) as teenagers or young adults, I was one of those who began my journey quite young. Even though I didn’t understand my parents’ new found zeal for “Wisdom Booklets” on my first day of school, I gradually came to accept them as a regular part of […]

The Gospel of Pragmatism

9 May 2013, 06:00

Moderator

38

Pragmatism is basically the idea that positive results are sufficient criteria for determining value, even truth. In other words: if it works, use it. One of the most famous pragmatists was a man known as Nicollo Machiavelli. For Machiavelli, the goal of a strong and controlled kingdom was worth whatever it would take to get […]

We Were The Normal Ones

6 May 2013, 06:00

Moderator

80

I have heard many people talk about how they still want to be involved in ATI (the Advanced Training Institute), but be “normal” families and just “filter out the bad stuff.” I’ve seen some of those responses in the Recovering Grace comments. If that’s your premise, then this post is for you, because that’s my […]

What Forgiveness Isn’t

29 April 2013, 06:00

Moderator

21

6 myths that may be keeping you from letting go by Denise George I listened quietly as my friend Jamie told me the frank details of the sexual abuse she’d suffered as a child. “I hate my father!” she blurted out. “He abused me for more than a decade!” Jamie cried. “But my pastor said […]

Set Free by Grace

26 April 2013, 06:00

Moderator

22

It was around 6 a.m. on a Sunday morning in June 2011. I was home for the weekend from the eating disorder hospital where I was in treatment. Asleep in bed, I woke up when my phone beeped for a text message. The name on the screen put fear in my heart. Terrified, I opened […]

When Asking “Why” Does Not Bring Answers

22 April 2013, 06:00

Moderator

55

Editor’s note: The following testimony references Bill Gothard’s “Why Did God Let It Happen?” teaching. This teaching has been delivered in several different formats, many of which do not directly reference sexual abuse. However, the Counseling Sexual Abuse document that was distributed at ATI (Advanced Training Institute) counseling seminars applies this teaching directly to sexual […]

How “Counseling Sexual Abuse” Blames and Shames Survivors

18 April 2013, 06:00

Moderator

120

Versions of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) document “Counseling Sexual Abuse” were distributed at Advanced Training Institute (ATI) Counseling Seminars for over a decade. The document speaks for itself, but Recovering Grace would like to point out how victim-blaming and/or callous dismissal of abuse survivors’ pain is built into almost every one of […]

A Life Defined By Externals

15 April 2013, 06:00

Moderator

14

My story is an interesting one. Until I found Recovering Grace I did not know there were many others like me. When I was eight years old my mom and biological father divorced. Even as a child I understood why their divorce was necessary. People say I was born an adult. Within a year my mom re-married a […]

How “Lessons From Moral Failures in a Family” Blames Victims

11 April 2013, 06:00

Moderator

56

An Institute publication entitled “Lessons From Moral Failures in a Family” [Click here for the full pdf document] was first mailed to Advanced Training Institute (ATI) families in the late 1990s, and it has been periodically distributed at conferences since. Recovering Grace does not know the identity of the family members who shared their story […]