As an exercise in discernment, this series critiques the teaching associated with the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), Advanced Training Institute International (ATI), and specifically their founder, Bill Gothard. His teaching includes a myriad of distortions and this post addresses examples under the first two of six main areas (listed at the end of Part 1): the use of general principles as foundational proof texts for strange teachings and devaluing the place of women.

The use of general principles as foundational proof texts for certain strange teachings.

The first example involves God’s will and human authority. A proof text is given: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord” (Prov 21:1). From this general principle about God’s sovereignty, Mr. Gothard develops an elaborate “umbrella of protection” authority structure. This includes teaching that a young man shouldn’t follow a call to gospel ministry, if his parents, regardless of their spiritual condition, are against it. Mr. Gothard’s teaching here is an attempt to honor father and mother, but it’s actually in opposition to Jesus’ words in Mark 10:34–39. Further, it makes the general teaching from Proverbs say more than it actually does.

A second example involves his teaching that homeschooling is the best or only way to obey Deut. 6:6–9. Homeschooling is one of several options open to Christian parents.  It’s one way of obeying this passage for some, but it’s not the way or even the best way for most.

I’ve witnessed the tragic results of a family trying to homeschool because Bill said it was the best thing to do, even though this wasn’t the best option for their situation. This particular family had six children, a father with a sixth-grade education, and a son with a serious learning disability. I tried to suggest against my pastor’s wishes (also an avid Gothardite) that they get some professional help for their son and put him in a traditional system of education. Not wanting to “disappoint God,” however, they made no changes.  Today, the mother and father are divorced, and the three oldest children have spent considerable time in counseling trying to recover from being raised in a toxic home.

Devaluing the place of women.

Bill believed that women shouldn’t work outside the home and used Titus 2:3b-5 to undergird his teaching: 

“They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

The “at home” in this passage is used to restrict a woman’s location. And yet, a careful look will show that Paul’s point is simply, “Don’t be a busy-body. Take care of your own house” (compare 1 Tim 5:11–15). Incredulously, yet something Mr. Gothard’s legalism overlooks, by simply using the modern convenience of the telephone a woman may never leave the actual location of her home and yet remain a busy-body, and thus live in disobedience to this passage. Also, Mr. Gothard fails to balance out his teaching on working women or mothers with reality. He doesn’t take into account physical disabilities, stressful financial situations, single parent families, or even the personal desire of a woman to work! Scripture clearly sanctions a woman contributing as a financial provider for her family (Prov 31:16). Although she looked well to the ways of her household, the “Proverbs 31 woman” certainly worked outside her home (see Prov 31:16, 20, 24).

In 1997, I had the privilege of taking a seminary class and one day having a private lunch with Milliard Erickson, one of American evangelicalism’s most distinguished theologians as well as the author of the widely acclaimed systematics work, Christian Theology. Our conversation drifted to the topic of Bill Gothard and the impact of his teaching on women. Erickson, influenced by the experience of raising three very intelligent daughters, relayed how many of Gothard’s teachings suppress the talents and potential of women, especially those who may not choose to have children or stay at home. He then shared a humorous anecdote. He said, “Did you hear that Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ (still alive at this time) and Bill Gothard are combining ministries?” Knowing something was coming, I said, “No. I haven’t heard about that.”  He said, “Oh yes, and they are going to use but modify Campus Crusade’s famous slogan, ‘God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.’ It will now be ‘God loves you and has a terrible plan for your wife!’”

Next week, we’ll look at examples under the third of six headings: A misuse of the original languages and over-reliance on the wooden literalness of the King James Version (KJV).