6 Comments

  1. CW

    Wow, I hardly know where to start. When I was a baby Christian, brand new in the Lord and joyful in Him (glory to God!), my husband and I joined a church that was very good in many ways. I immediately joined a ladies weekly Bible study (I put that phrase in quotes now), which was really Gothard’s teachings. Some of it was good (the basic Biblical teachings), but some of it was definitely not.

    The pastor was gung ho about it, and my husband and I attended several Basic and Advanced Seminars. I really wanted to use the homeschool program, but hubby said No. Thank God! We homeschooled with excellent Bible-based materials that did not have that slant.

    It took me YEARS to sort it all out. What saved me from it was simply spending time in God’s Word, daily, being led of the Holy Spirit. That made all the difference!

    One day, the Lord spoke to my heart about Gothardism and showed me it is a “religious system” (there are many others, too). The man might have been well-meaning, but NOTHING can replace (or should) the pure Word of God.

    At the same time, I too have the concerns which M shared. I have scriptural concerns about John MacArthur, too, He is very dogmatic about his views, and they don’t all line up with the Word of God.

    I think this comment of M’s is worth repeating:

    “They label the Duggars and IBLP as a “radical organization” and, far worse, “As details of the family and their scandals unfold, we realize they’re part of an insidious, much larger threat already in motion, with democracy itself in peril.”

  2. N Sime

    It was difficult to watch, but I agree that watching Shiny Happy People was helpful to see the secular viewpoint of the Gothard teaching. As believers, we need to be willing to look at and critically evaluate this for ourselves, lest – as you said – unbelievers will do so to the detriment and witness of the church. As a child, I remember having a character sketches book by Gothard at home…it wasn’t taught that I can remember, but I always felt uncomfortable by the book and didn’t really like it. Interestingly, I am encouraged now to see that it was good, in hindsight, that I didn’t like the book, as I learn about Gothard’s character and false teaching. As evangelicals we need to hold leaders accountable for their teachings and analyze it against God’s Word. So many people may still be suffering under this false doctrine and the abuse being perpetuated. Thank you for your willingness to speak up about this difficult but important issue in within conservative Christianity.

  3. Realist

    About 40 years ago my parents and grandparents all with extensive Biblical education and experience managed to keep Gothardism from prevailing at our church. It was an unpopular stand to some in the church that had already been propagandized. Warning, stay away from it.

  4. JDV

    Romans (cf. Isaiah 52:5, also Ezekiel 36:20)
    “As it has been written: “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you””

  5. M

    This docuseries tries to present as an objective critique of Bill Gothard (and the Duggars) that cares about his/their victims (and I am sure some do care), but it is bursting with bitterness, snarkiness, and generalized allegations that sweep biblical Christians into all of this.

    They label the Duggars and IBLP as a “radical organization” and, far worse, “As details of the family and their scandals unfold, we realize they’re part of an insidious, much larger threat already in motion, with democracy itself in peril.”

    “an insidious, much larger threat … with democracy itself in peril”?!?! Where have we heard this before? While the problems and dangers in IBLP, etc are all too real, the people behind this series are being deception, and, therefore are very dangerous. While many go behind the usual bitterness, they are subtly and openly anti-Christianity, and happily lump wolves in with biblical Christians, which fits with the ongoing demonization and false accusations of the ever-dreaded “Christian Nationalism.”

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