Bill Gothard acted in an “inappropriate manner” but “no criminal activity was discovered”

The Aquila Report ^ | 6-20-14 | Francine Knowles

[metmom]

I’m familiar with his seminars. They were held regularly around the country for years and all of a sudden, he just dropped off the radar.

I always wondered about that , why it happened. Seems like this was the reason.

[metmom]

In the pages of this volume — which everyone who is involved with IBYC/IBLP should seriously evaluate — the reader will find that repeated attempts have been made to dialogue with Bill Gothard about his lack of submission to authority, his lack of accountability, and his failure to apply biblical principles to his own life. Bill’s teaching on legalism, law, and grace deserves careful examination. The authors are to be commended for their concern in publishing this helpful volume.

Obviously, he didn't practice what he preached.

[metmom]

Not Scripture, he did not adequately support Luther's dogma, in reinterpreting Paul. The "magesterium" of Wheaton did thereby declare him heretic.

What is *Luther's dogma* and how did he twist it? Instead of spewing spurious accusations, how about some facts and documentation?

[Tzfat]

Luther's dogma: any emphasis on right behavior is a rejection of "salvation by grace."

Just read the letters they wrote. "Doctrinal issues" can be summed up as "works salvation." Not content that ATI has removed Gothard, they want to destroy ATI as well - so pull out the big guns of "heresy" and claim that ATI teaches against "grace." What does that have to do with Gothard's sin?

[Alex Murphy]

1 The board said based on a review conducted by outside legal counsel, it unanimously agreed that “at this time” Gothard “is not permitted to serve in any counseling, leadership or board role within the IBLP ministry.” That leaves open the question of whether the 79-year-old Gothard may be allowed to return one day as he did after resigning following another sexual scandal years earlier.

A board investigation of the former president of a controversial Oak Brook-based religious and home-schooling organization, who resigned following allegations he sexually harassed teen girls, concluded he acted in an “inappropriate manner.”

Thanks for the ping.

[metmom]

Luther's dogma: any emphasis on right behavior is a rejection of "salvation by grace."

That's a matter of opinion.

We're called to holy living as believers but it's not to earn salvation. It doesn't contradict grace in the least.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Regardless of any lamentable personal failings and/or misinterpretations committed by Bill Gothard, he has successfully served in presenting the Gospel to myriads. Individually, he answered all my spiritual questions, along with many I hadn’t even thought to ask, so at his urging I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior October 7, 1977, during a Basic Youth weeklong seminar—and it has stuck. I’d call that “fruit.”

[Always A Marine]

That may be the motivation of some, but is not of all. I know well several families who fully participated in ATI throughout their children's lives. All were and still remain very conservative in their beliefs and practices. All remained loyal to Bill Gothard until the evidence of his misconduct and treacherous intimidation of his accusers became undeniable. Now, while grateful for many positive experiences, they recognize that Bill Gothard is unfit to lead any Christian ministry. They also recognize in hindsight is the cult-like control that Gothard held over the followers who trusted him, and they are just grateful that their children were blessed and not harmed in their ATI participation.

Those of us who tried to warn ATI friends about Bill Gothard's controlling legalism were practically shunned by many ATI families despite our many shared convictions, because Grace as described in the Bible was not part of Gothard's program. By design, Gothard was shielded from scrutiny by the rigidly-enforced insularity of his organization and its closed communities of followers. Now our friends see the truth about Bill Gothard and are much wiser for it. Fortunately, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is greater and stronger than mortal men who all too often besmirch the name of our Lord by our sinful actions.

[DungeonMaster]

Interesting!

[af_vet_1981]

The statute of limitations on earth may be exhausted, and so their legal counsel would assert there was no criminal activity by Bill that would be prosecuted now.