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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.

Tag Archives: legalism

Others may….

28 March 2012, 06:00

Moderator

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You cannot! If I had $5 for every time I heard that phrase growing up, I would be very rich. My mom said it when she wanted me to yield to a standard that was set in our home. Mr. Gothard said it when he wanted us to buy into his particular brand of elitist […]

A Matter of Basic Principles-A Review

23 March 2012, 06:00

admin

265

INTRODUCTION When I was 18 or 19 years old I really began to question the teachings of Bill Gothard, the Advanced Training Institute, and the Institute in Basic Life Principles. I had seen some things at various training centers that didn’t line up with the principles that Bill taught, and I began feeling in my […]

Creating a Rebellious Heart

21 March 2012, 06:05

Moderator

19

Two short months before leaving for Russia, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel Europe with my mom, both grandmothers, and my aunt. It had been a lifelong dream of my 88-year-old grandmother, and I relished every second of it. One of the days that had the most impact on me was the trip […]

We Were Elite, Super Special Christians

16 March 2012, 06:00

Moderator

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“You are the best of the best.” “You are on the front lines of the Christian battle.” “You are like the Marines of the Christian faith.” What Christian young person would not want to hear those words?  Every single one of us wants to be special.  We all want to belong to something bigger than […]

My Year as an LIT

7 March 2012, 06:48

Moderator

46

At the age of 15, I had already been heavily enslaved to a serious eating disorder for five years. According to my psychologist/counselor at the time, the eating disorder was accompanied by Borderline Personality Disorder and clinical depression. He prescribed three different medications that gave me headaches and made me more irritable–they didn’t really solve any […]

If your god is not God, fire him.

2 March 2012, 06:00

Moderator

16

There is a difference—sometimes an enormous difference—between the God of our doctrinal statements and the god we live with every day. Our theological convictions may be thoroughly orthodox, but we may actually serve a god who is quick to anger and slow to forgive. Or a god who shames his followers. Or a god who […]

Contradictions and Confessions

22 February 2012, 06:00

Moderator

12

The Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) Training Centers (TCs) seemed to be a breeding ground for hypocrisy. Especially for those who were in leadership. I will admit to being a part of that group. I was a staff member and I did things that were against the rules. All the time. If you happened […]

On Forgiveness

20 February 2012, 06:00

Moderator

6

If the topic of forgiveness just triggers panic or fear in you, I understand. It’s not the right time for you to work on this. There are other things to work on first. If you experience forgiveness as a kind of ‘have to’ or if you experience it as a kind of bondage – or […]

Spiritual Abuse Recovery

17 February 2012, 06:00

BrandonS

8

When I was approached by Recovering Grace to write articles related to recovery and healing, they referred to the analogy of “ripping the scabs off.”  The idea is that people who are trying to get back on their feet–emotionally and spiritually speaking–open up old wounds, but then have no place to go to get help […]

On Being a Shoe Salesman….

15 February 2012, 09:30

Seth S

11

Dearly beloved–let us beware! There is a Shoe Salesman among us! So I work in a shoe store. Quiet, and unpretentious, I do little more than get the boxes off the top shelf, match mates up from our back storage room, and ring up sales. Tada! That is about it. Recently however, thanks to two […]