bill gothard is he Christian?

Check out www.billgothard.com and see for yourself.

 

I always thought it was strange that a man who was supposed to be an expert on marriage and child-rearing has no experience in either field.

 

I have no direct experience with him but know people who have a largely favorable opinion on him.

None the less, from what they have said in a "positive" tone, I suspect he is a judaizer.

 

While some of his view are, in my opion, extreme, and while his type of esposing is not for me, he is a Christian nonetheless, from what I gather.

Besies, Cabbage Patch Dolls aren't evil, Barbies are.

 

Can you give specific examples of false teaching?

Testimonials are as subjective as the person giving them. They are practically useless.

 

I have gone through the financial freedoms portion of his program. It is very legalistic. However, a person can be legalistic and a Christian, just like someone can be liberal and a Christian.... Though everyone should realize that the only true Christianity is that which is practiced JUST LIKE I DO! Oops, sorry.

 

Hehehe!!!! Very funny!!!

You said "I have gone through the financial freedoms portion of his program. It is very legalistic.". That doesn't surprise me, since financial habits are inherently legalistic, expecially if one wants to evercome old financial bad habits and replace them with new ones. So that's not necesserily a bad thing. There's much that's legalistic about AA, but they are necessery for the success of a person going through the program.

 

Olive & I have gone to alot of his seminars, and found them very informative and useful in our Christian walk and the raisingof our family.

Most people that call him legalistic, just have a hard time with God's Holiness, or just don't understand it, and/or don't want to.

When you are following God's Word, you don't have to personally have a family, or church to know God's principles of these institutions.

Merry CHRISTmas to all!

 

You do not have to have "experience" when you have God-given insight. The Apostle Paul was neither married nor had children, but he is quoted quite frequently on both subjects.

My personal concern with Bill Gothard is his weakness on the local church. He teaches local church but is not under the authority of a local church.

A wise college professor once told me, "Get what you can; can what you get." This would apply to Bill Gothard or any other author that you might read or speaker you might hear.

 

This chap doesn't sound any different to most leaders of my era, and particularly people who came through the nondenominational route; bible colleges as opposed to Baptist seminaries; secular training followed by nondenominational Bible training.

It is also called a soft approach in counselling of people who are casually acquainted with the Lord, or those who are totally unfamiliar with a gospel commitment. It is easy to tell a Christian to "trust the Lord, brother or sister"; "The Lord is able"; "Jesus is the answer to ALL our problems." Well, it isn't always that simple. Sometimes we take the garden approach; We work the soil, sow the seed, water it gently, feed it as required and guard its growth.

I can't speak for all this chap has to say because I haven't a clue about him, except what I read in the site which was given.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I know what you mean about legalism being a requirement to change, and frankly it was a sunday school offering and we (wife and I) didn't really need this one, but took it anyway. But for instance, I get paid monthly and we tithe monthly. He was very adiment (spelling) about giving weekly. Well, we did for a while, but went back to making out one tithe check the evening of payday, it was just a lot easier. I didn't really see that I was a better Christian when I divided my tithe by 4 or 5. I am trying to remember but it also seemed like I was suppose to be the one to balance the checkbook. That made no sense to me. I am working 50-60 hours a week, she is a stay at home mom, she can balance the checkbook.

 

Is Bill Gothard christian? There is no doubt that Bill Gothard is a true believer based upon his personal testimony and life for Christ. There are problems with some of his teaching, but that does not remove him from the realm of the saved. Like any commentary or role model we must sort out the chaff from the wheat.

 

I think he is a christian, but his teaching and some of his followers leave alot to be desired. I have been to the seminars and ATI. I have read material and studied my Bible and do have some disagreements. Some disagreements came after taking 3 years of Greek in Bible College to discover he does not know much Greek, period.
Some examples: In his book "Sevenfold power of the First Century Churches and Homes" he states that when a believer sins it "causes" another believer to sin (pg 103). Wrong! you sin because you yielded on your own (Romans 6). Our sin may affect another, but that is not what he said!
He teaches that "fornication" in N.T. is a pre-marital word. In reality it covers every form of immorality there is, pre-marital or post. Divorce is not God's plan or something which should be easily sought. However, when ones mate is living in an immoral relationship with no plan of getting right I do believe it is allowed.
His followers believe youth groups and activities are wrong. None of them just quietly keep their kids out, they must voice their "concerns" often. Almost always his followers refer to "Mr. Gothard says" instead of "God's word says", that is a cult. I have more concerns, but I have said enough.

 

Cult? How does Gothard demand conformance from you to become an alumnus?

 

It is a cult mentality when people are constantly referring to a leader and what he says over what God says. I did not say "all", but alot do. It in itself is not a cult, but that practice is a cult practice is it not. Whether or not it is his fault I don't know. I also find it interesting that anything you say negative about the man, people in ATI get mad at you. Is that not also a cult mentality? As a pastor sure you want your people to like you, but I tell them you don't have to defend me, if my life is right with God He will defend me.

 

I would say at most churches,Bible schools or what not ,people get mad if you say something negative about their leader.

 

If Pastors would do their jobs and make disiples and give their congregation meat, there would not be to much need for people like Bill Gothard.

Merry CHRISTmas to all!