Replies

“Bill Gothard has finally been exposed, although it has taken 20 years.”

I am not sure how this constitutes him being exposed. There is a fairly high standard for evaluating accusations against fellow believers. Rejoicing in his being “exposed”, failure, or being removed from leadership seems a lot more like what anti-Christian groups do... groups like abortion promoters, atheists, homosexual activists, and socialists.

Show me one teaching he has that is clearly against the teaching of the Bible. I can list many of the Mormon doctrines which do not stand up to scrutiny even without being very familiar with that group. If you compare a Bible teacher to a cult leader, you should be able to identify the specific teaching that is heretical. This generic accusation of legalism and Pharisee-ism is nothing. You could be called the same thing for being against homosexuality. Paul could be called legalistic for all the moral instruction he wrote in his epistles. Bill Gothard has opinions that I personally disagree with in some cases, but that does not make him a false teacher, because my opinion is also just an opinion. I don’t know two Christians who agree on everything. That does not mean everyone is a false teacher who has a mistaken view on a subject.

One Christian may think modesty requires a hemline below the knee while another thinks a few inches higher is fine. Another may think there is no universal measure. Every one of these is an opinion because the Bible does not explicitly define modesty in such terms. Believers can disagree about things like this as long as they are focused on Christ. A believer who thinks they should dress a certain way, ought to do so and not judge and condemn others who do not. A believer who does not accept such standards should follow Christ and try not to cause other believers to stumble in their liberty. Unless someone is claiming that their standard is necessary to be saved, then they are just holding an opinion and are not a heretic or enemy of Christ. Therefore we are supposed to have tolerance for those believers with whom we disagree.

“his own perversions”

You will be judged by the standard you are setting for him. I read a lot of accusations against Bill Gothard and do not see any that constitute what is Biblically a perversion. I would like to meet the man who could boldly look me in the eye and claim he has never committed the sin of adultery in his heart. A true believer in Christ should be grieved at learning of the sin of a Christian leader rather than gloating and rejoicing in it like the enemies of God do.

“as Jesus pronounced judgment upon the Pharisees of His day, so it will be with Bill Gothard”

To call a believer a Pharisee is itself a serious offense. The Pharisees plotted to murder Christ. They had zero compassion, mercy or effort in helping those who were trapped by sin. The Pharisees who refused to repent at Christ’s teaching are in hell. Bill Gothard spent many, many years putting his life in danger working with inner city gangs in Chicago before beginning this IBLP ministry. And in that ministry he has spent many years serving in a very sacrificial way from everything I have seen. The fruit of his ministry includes many thousands of people professing faith in Christ, many broken marriages being restored, many people overcoming bitterness, and many other positive evidences of a real God-ordained ministry. These things do not match the life or attitude of the Pharisees that plotted to kill Christ.

I am not minimizing the accusations against him, but the things you are saying lead me to believe that you despise the moral standards he advocates and are therefore glad that he failed to live up to them himself (apparently or supposedly), so you can gloat and proclaim how God is judging and will judge him. That is an extremely foolish position for you to publicly stake as a believer in Christ.

I am sad to hear someone who is a prominent leader among evangelical Christians has been removed from ministry due to accusations of immorality. Whether they are true or untrue, it is a sad day. I am also even more saddened to see fellow believers like yourself celebrate this as if it is something to rejoice in.