beatenpath
Nov 7, 2010
Just wanted to know what are your general thoughts are about Bill's programs and books.
Just wanted to know what are your general thoughts are about Bill's programs and books.
I know nothing of Bill Gothard but I did find these threads on the Puritan board and some red flags went up:
Are the Teachings of Bill Gothard and the IBLP Biblical?
What's wrong with this statement of faith?
God bless,
Lisa
thanks. i've taken a few of their workshops and came out not knowing what i just went through. this was about eight years ago. i only bring this up cuz i was going through my personal library at home the other week and found a spot where i kept their workbooks and realized that some things they tried to explain were really off. but like i said just wanted to know what people thought of their ministry here.
His teaching is generally good, however the one doctrine of his which is heretical is that he believes that nobody is born with a sin nature.
His teaching is generally good, however the one doctrine of his which is heretical is that he believes that nobody is born with a sin nature.
I had serious doubts about this statement, so I called our oldest son, who is now 42 YO and read this quote to him to get his reaction. He has attended Basic Youth Conflict seminars and even the advanced one, if I recall correctly.
Lynford said this is not true. His philosophical bent is always that one is dealing with a sinful nature.
I do not know where this idea comes from that Gothard does not believe in that anyone is born with a sinful nature...I know one thing - he holds to doctrinal positions that are not popular with mainstream Christianity, or at least he used to...have not heard much from him in recent years. But then I personally hold to doctrinal positions which flows against mainstream Christianity as well.
Having said all this, I must say that all mens' teaching should be evaluated according to 'what does the WORD say about this issue?' If they conflict with the WORD one must always embrace it and discard man's interpretation. This is why I weary of studying, reading theological works: to much work for the little one learns.
Just thought I would share this...
ginnyrose
thanks. i've taken a few of their workshops and came out not knowing what i just went through. this was about eight years ago. i only bring this up cuz i was going through my personal library at home the other week and found a spot where i kept their workbooks and realized that some things they tried to explain were really off. but like i said just wanted to know what people thought of their ministry here.
Bill Gothards ministry is tremendous and we fully approve of this brother and his walk with the Lord. Theologically he is sound and don't believe alot of the gossip. He has been characterized by some as a cult and that should not surprise us because Jesus christ our savior was also accused.
I encourage anyone who hasn't to benifit from this godly ministry. They are very supportive of sermonindex.net and we had our Indiana Revival Conference at their headquarter building in Indianopolis. You can watch the videos here:
https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/myvideo/viewcat.php?cid=114
We have many around us that promote IBLP and Bill Gothard. Lots of red flags have gone up just in knowing these brothers and sisters in Christ. I could tell you some stories that would break your heart because they would rather follow Gothard than the Lord, but they don't see it that way.
I was so concerned I looked for a book where his teachings would be checked out and it was hard to find one, but then I did, and it is a gem. I bought a book called "A Matter of Basic Principles, Bill Gothard and the Christian Life" and it answered all my questions and confirmed the red flags and more.
Here is the book and written endorsements by other Christian leaders and some insiders who were on the board.
You will be shocked.
http://www.midwestoutreach.org/02-Information/01-AvailableResources/GothardBookEndorsements.html
After my wife and I read this book, we understood much better why the Gothardites around us did what they did. They were taught it that way by Bill.
This book is not based on gossip. It carefully and responsibly documents everything.
As I look back I am so very grateful for the positive influence Gothard had on our culture. This deals in the area of courtship.
When we were teens the young people did casual dating. Occasionally you had a fellow who tried to see how many different girls he could get a date with. And we girls liked to have dates - the more fellows who asked you out the more popular you were. And who did not want to be popular?
During all this time, we were taught principles of moral purity: no petting, no necking and no kissing until you were engaged and then a good-night kiss was appropriate. And for the most part many youth followed these guidelines. Very few crossed the line into immorality.
Ok, so we dated. Then if the couple liked each other well, they went 'steady'. Then after a while if they loved each other, the fellow proposed marriage to the girl. And if not, they 'quit' and one or the other usually suffered heartbreak. I think Gotherd said this prepared one for a marriage breakup in the future. In any case, it was not a pleasant experience.
Gothard's ministry had a huge impact on this style of dating. He spoke against it.
Casual dating became a thing of the past. The community I grew up in does not practice it and neither do they here. In fact, I do not know where this style of dating is done anymore among our church conference.
And I am glad.
ginnyrose
We love Bill Gothard's ministry and his influence in our personal lives and family. They encourage christian families to have large families, live Godly holy lives, raise Godly children and much more. I thanks God for men like Bill Gothard.
Doug
They have a chapter on courtship. Page 249 in the book is the chapter on courtship. It is called the "Courtship Game".
There is documentation on this and much more and I cannot keep taking quotes out of the book. It is better if you read everything in context. I definitely suggest that you listen to both sides. Don't just listen to one side. More than anything compare what he teaches with the Word.
There is always truth mixed with error otherwise the error would not be accepted.
A thoroughly documented book. I was very impressed by the spirit of good will it was written in, to warn others and also to correct Bill.
When I was looking into IBLP, there was not much on the Internet about him. I just googled "Bill Gothard Teachings" and was shocked to find all the links out there about Gothard.
Here are some:
The Dangerous Leanings of Bill Gothard’s Teachings
http://www.pfo.org/evol-fad.htm
Bill Gothard - General Teachings/Activities
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/gothard/general.htm
The Blinding and Binding Teachings of Bill Gothard
http://www.batteredsheep.com/gothard.html
Basic and Advanced Concerns for the Teaching of Bill Gothard
http://www.wordmp3.com/files/gs/gothard.htm
BENEVOLENT MINISTRY or BONDAGE MAKING?
http://www.pfo.org/bgothard.htm
An Evening with Bill Gothard
http://www.midwestoutreach.org/journals/bill_gothard.htm
Several on this page.
http://www.midwestoutreach.org/02-Information/02-OnlineReference/04-Etc/01-TheJournal/index.html
http://www.midwestoutreach.org/02-Information/01-AvailableResources/GothardBookEndorsements.html
thanks! i wasn't sure if people on here threw red flags at him or not. i'm sure he has blessed many people over with his basic concepts of living a what i would call a "reformed way of Christianity" or a "basic understanding of what a solid Christian foundation should look like." don't get me wrong his teachings have revolutionized my way of thinking next to the teachings of Jesus. it was probably the examples he used at times that kind of made things obscure in a way that maybe using simpler concepts would have made it better to relate to and understand.
but yeah i think new and old Christians could greatly benefit from his workshops 100 times over.
Removed by poster.
ginnyrose
Personally seeing this list of wrong teachings of Bill Gothard is very saddening to me. With anyone you can find the 10% bad or not perfect doctrine or teachings. He is a godly man and used much more then most of us would ever be. I am really concerned with people with a quick sermonindex.net post trying to ruin a man's name to 1000's.
Think about what you are doing when you post such a thing, in the tongue (typing) is life and death and we can cause much damage to the body of Christ through posting against each other.
Very saddening to me, too. More than the teachings in and of themselves are the actual lives and families that I know that have been impacted by them.
No one should be given a pass when they are teachers of God's Word and none of us should be above "Berean" scrutiny.
Are you suggesting that people should just receive all of his teachings without checking them against God's Word?
do nothing to advance the Kingdom of Heaven.
search your hearts, because the world is watching.
indeed. at any one time, anywhere from 40 to 80 "visitors".
in my short almost nine year walk with Jesus, i was blissfully unaware of the ministry spoken of here.
blissfully unaware. know why?
i have the Word of God, the Bible. and i have God the Holy Ghost, and Praise God, Jesus lives in me.
Therefore, the Word, read daily, in prayerful repose, rightly divided is Sweet Labor, which is all i have time for, and this "supping" on the Word of God is to fulfill the God hunger within me, a desperate hunger, longing for Jesus....everything else is of every little profit.
in these nine years walking with the One i love, i have seen so many ministries, that i know are "off", and i know this because God the Holy Ghost reveals as such, but i keep my mouth shut, my pen stilled, and i avoid them.
know why?
lets go to the Epistle of Jude, the 9th verse:
"But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."
somethings wrong, somethings off, bring the Lord in, He is MORE than able to handle things. We insert ourselves into the mix, what happens?
this thread is a perfect example.
Stick to the Book, keep to the standards, stay low, meek and humble, and maybe God will bless us, in His Sovereignity with Revival.
any other path or witness is pure folly, and food for devil, the Lord rebuke him!
in Jesus' love, neil
I agree Neil and this is why I will not post on this thread, anymore.
The original question was just like one asked many times on SI. "Does anyone know anything about this ministry?"
And the reason I agree with you is when a thread leaves the realm of testing the teaching to protecting or not protecting a personality, then it becomes non-productive and personality biased. Even the Bereans did not take what Paul the Apostle said, carte blanche.
Anyone that offers anything negative, is made to look bad. It's ok, to show contrary info with the likes of the Todd Bentley's of the world, but not the "respected" people.
Lord help us all.
So, from now on, on this site, if someone is "respected" by some christians, teaching some error, not much, just "some", let's be sure to police any post that brings up anything contrary to that person's teachings.
If we cannot apply even handedness to all regardless of personality then what are we all about? Rhetorical question. No answer needed.
All the best to you
wow i didn't see this coming! maybe it would be best to close this thread if it's getting to negative. my apologies.
When I was looking into IBLP, there was not much on the Internet about him. I just googled "Bill Gothard Teachings" and was shocked to find all the links out there about Gothard.
Brother Pilgrim, you look up any man of God's name and this happens. You look up the name of Christ and it happens!
maybe it would be best to close this thread if it's getting to negative
I don't think there is one minister I've ever read or heard who had it all 100% correct - including myself ;)
I have made it a rule in my own life - which God has abundantly honored and blessed - if whenever asked about about a minister or church I might not agree with, to only speak of the good and commendable things associaiated with them. Wouldn't you want someone to treat you like that? Dear brethren, never speak ill of another man, if there is some good you make say in lieu of it.
For those things I don't agree with, I'll only say "I don't follow that example, but you pray and see what God would speak to you concerning it." Try this and see what God does in your life.
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