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

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Somebody SHOULD Have Despised My Youth!

18 June 2012, 06:00

WendyA

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12) I remember frequently hearing this verse during my years with Bill Gothard’s Advanced Training Institute (ATI). It was often quoted to the young people at various […]

Sowing to the Flesh–More thoughts on Mr. Gothard’s Sexual Rules

15 June 2012, 06:00

DavidM

This article is a continuation of “Mr. Gothard’s Sexual Rules,” a three-part series we ran last December. Mr. Gothard’s teachings on sex within marriage are not among the Institute in Basic Life Principles’ (IBLP) central doctrines. However, this section of the Advanced Seminar is an excellent example of how Mr. Gothard both views the Law and […]

Spiritual Alchemy

8 June 2012, 06:00

MatthewS

A thousand years ago in Europe, alchemists served as philosophers, scientists, and magicians all wrapped up into one. They mixed, stirred, bubbled and distilled chemicals in the search for the fabled philosopher’s stone–the substance that would have the power to turn metals like lead into silver or gold. Their mission was doomed from the beginning, although […]

The Leader Who Lost His Anointing

25 May 2012, 06:00

Jay Rowland

Over the past few weeks, since Bill Gothard’s Easter Letter featuring David and Saul, I’ve been surprised as I revisited the book of First Samuel. When was the last time you studied the misadventures of King Saul? Saul was God’s anointed leader. Especially interesting and sad was his story in relationship to God, though. Here […]

Grace in Gothard’s Economy: Sanctification with Compounding Interest

18 May 2012, 06:00

Jay Rowland

Grace. Historically, most theologians and Christian teachers view it simply as favor bestowed upon man by God. A supernatural intervention that, though we don’t understand its workings, changes the outcome of our lives. For example, most Christians would view grace something like this: My repentance + God’s grace = Salvation My sorrow + God’s grace […]

No Place for Shame!

16 May 2012, 06:00

Joshua B

Talking about my family’s involvement in ATI & IBLP is something that is so incredibly difficult for me, mostly because my family refuses to talk about and would like to pretend that it never happened. It wasn’t until I was 25 years old and found myself having panic attacks, intense feelings of shame, and anxiety, that I […]

Sexual Harassment Part 2: “Aren’t you making too big an issue of this?”

23 April 2012, 06:00

Moderator

153

Editor’s Note: This is Part 2 of a two-part article documenting sexual harassment within the Institute. Please click here to read Part 1 first–“Exploited Innocence: Sexual Harassment at HQ.” After publishing this first testimony, we have continued to receive similar testimonies of sexual harassment by Gothard: Another Witness: Sexual Harassment at HQ; Third Witness: Sexual […]

Exploited Innocence: Sexual Harassment at HQ

20 April 2012, 06:00

Moderator

231

Editor’s Note: While most of our articles this month have focused on sexual abuse, this article focuses specifically on sexual harassment experienced while in the employment of Bill Gothard. The dictionary defines sexual harassment as, “The persistent unwelcome directing of sexual remarks and looks, and unnecessary physical contact at a person, usually a woman, especially […]

A Difficult Journey

17 April 2012, 06:00

Moderator

“I want to die, I want to die! I can’t take it anymore!!” I remember screaming that as loud as I could in the middle of the woods while punching a tree until my fists bled and I slumped down on the ground from exhaustion. I was 10 years old and felt so hopeless I […]

A “New” Approach to Easter

13 April 2012, 06:00

Moderator

155

On Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012, Bill Gothard sent out a mass email to his followers. It was entitled, “Let’s Celebrate Easter…by Doing the Impossible!” You can view a screenshot of the entire email here. In the email, Gothard writes about how the 49 “commands of Christ” can be applied to the “seven stresses” of […]