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

Personal testimonies of finding true freedom through God's matchless grace.

Living and thriving through the grace of God.

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

Tag Archives: legalism

The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, Chapter 2: Spiritual Abuse Is Not New

14 June 2012, 06:00

MatthewS

3

The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, Chapter 2: Spiritual Abuse Is Not New We continue our Thursday series blogging through “The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse.” The first post in the series is here.   Are the spiritual relationships you have bringing the rest Jesus promised or do you find just more toil and weariness? […]

Spiritual Alchemy

8 June 2012, 06:00

MatthewS

28

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 […]

Is This the Gospel?

5 June 2012, 06:00

SteveB

13

You know, I have seen so much in my 38 years. I have witnessed first-hand what false theology can do. Theology is the doctrine of God. It matters. How we view God determines how we treat one another and how we relate to the world around us. I am thankful for being taught about Jesus when I […]

When the Formula Fails

1 June 2012, 06:00

Moderator

8

The Wall Imagine yourself in a tunnel facing a wall that appears to seal off the tunnel. Your goal is to get through the tunnel to the other side but the wall is in your way. Fortunately, you have learned that the wall moves as you push it. You begin to push the wall down […]

Failure to Conform

23 May 2012, 06:00

Joshua B

48

As an ATI (Advanced Training Institute) student, I was a walking contradiction. So much of me wanted to be a perfect, sharply dressed, smiling young man in navy and white with a shining smile and a perfectly slicked comb over–just like the fine young men that sang on the main stage at the Knoxville conference […]

Grace in Gothard’s Economy: Sanctification with Compounding Interest

18 May 2012, 06:00

Jay Rowland

19

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

21

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 […]

To My Daughter

14 May 2012, 06:00

Moderator

40

Dear one, I am sorry for all the mistakes I made along the way. I looked to a program to validate what we believed we should do for our children by home educating them. I was more concerned about finishing the “race” (all the required booklets) and having good reports to send off to Headquarters, […]

Gracenotes: Sexual Abuse Wrap-Up

1 May 2012, 06:00

Moderator

28

Dear Recovering Grace Readers, This month has been a sobering one for Recovering Grace. While we are aware that many of these stories have been difficult to read, we absolutely believe that they needed to be told. Based on the overwhelming traffic to our site this month, we believe that they have had an inestimable impact in […]

Passive Moms: A Plea for Compassion

30 March 2012, 06:00

WendyA

28

A lot of the young people who have come out of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) and Advanced Training Institute (ATI) teachings have  run wildly in any direction that would get them away. Away from the pain, the abuse, the guilt, the self-hatred, the despair — and all the other negative emotions that […]