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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

Judging 101

16 September 2011, 06:00

Moderator

31

I sat in the middle seat of the wood-grained station wagon, peering over the blue leather seats ahead of me, trying to get the best view I could out of the front windshield. I was on mission with my family to complete an ATI homeschool assignment for that day: “As a family, drive to a […]

My ITC Prison Sentence, Part 2

15 September 2011, 06:15

JessicaF

12

The Indianapolis Training Center (ITC) was gearing up for Thanksgiving and none of us in the training programs were allowed to leave. It was only a four-day weekend, after all.  But this policy was causing serious morale issues. Especially since it wasn’t applied universally: the cosmetology instructor was one of those who was allowed to […]

A Sorrowful Mother’s Answer

15 September 2011, 06:03

Sally

18

As a response to my son’s article, he was recently asked, “Kylar, where was your mom in all of this?” And so here is my answer… All I can say is that whatever my children were experiencing as far as brain washing and control, I was right there with them. I was 17 when I […]

Taking the Bait

12 September 2011, 06:00

RickH

11

Hooked on Principles  My story is unique in that I first heard about Bill Gothard when I was an adult. As a college student, I joined a small church in a community in north Austin, Texas. I’d thought about going to seminary much over the previous year but I wasn’t certain that I wanted to […]

My Journey: Legalism, Atheism, and Finally Freedom

5 September 2011, 06:00

Moderator

22

As a teenager in the 1960s, living near Atlanta, Georgia, I often wondered about God and heaven and hoped I had been good enough to get in. Being a normal male who enjoyed life, I wasn’t so sure. My grandparents took me to church, but that stopped when I was 13. During my junior year […]

Honor vs. Obey

2 September 2011, 06:00

jdevine

26

If you asked people familiar with Dr. Bill Gothard (those who favor him or otherwise) what his main distinctive teaching is, many would say “authority.” And indeed, besides the topic of grace, authority is probably the most defining aspect of ATI/IBLP and Bill Gothard’s teaching. This is an immense topic. No doubt RecoveringGrace.com will have […]

Disillusioned, Not Equipped, Part 2

1 September 2011, 06:15

Moderator

8

I wanted out! I wanted to go home! I had lost hope and trust in leadership. When I brought them a problem they said it was somehow because of some sin I had committed, or one that my parents had committed. I was tired of the judgment. I prayed fervently that God would take my […]

Disillusioned, Not Equipped, part 1

30 August 2011, 06:15

Moderator

11

photo courtesy of Ophelia Cherry

I was excited. Through the EQUIP program of the Advanced Training Institute (ATI), I was going to be used by God to reach one of the juvenile delinquent young women for Christ and help her improve her life. It would be someone who did not have the benefit of godly parents, as I did. Someone […]

Created to Worship

29 August 2011, 06:00

Moderator

12

My family joined the Advanced Training Institute (ATI) when I was four years old. We were one of the first year “pilot” families. We attended the Basic and Advanced Seminars as we had time, or when they were close. We were consistently involved in the homeschooling program, as well as Character First!, TELOS, and other […]

Grace and Culture

27 August 2011, 06:00

Beth C

18

I have recently made a number of new friends who, like me, grew up in the Advanced Training Institute (ATI). The discussions that have ensued have given me much to think about and shown me glaring truths about my past that I had never before been able to see. The logical fallacies quite apparent in […]