Why I believe Mr. Gothard and the Institute in Basic Life Principles is a cult.
Rev. D. Thomas Owsley
I used to believe Mr. Gothard nor his Institute was a cult but did state for many years that IBLP and Gothard are cult-like. Strictly speaking, a cult deviates from essential and historic Christian orthodoxy. However, there are points at which I believe Mr. Gothard and his Institute are heretical and they demonstrate cultic behaviors. I do maintain that he and the Institute exhibit many cultic traits, which is a cause for alarm.
I am indebted to Mr. Matt Slick, M.Div. of the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry for outlining the basic traits of a modern cult.[1] It is this material, which I have found helpful in making the following comparison. While there are apparent similarities to me, it was interesting to discover that I was not alone in making such an assessment.[2]
The question I have for those who adhere to Mr. Gothard’s teachings and his Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) is: What can you get from him and the Institute that you cannot get from the Bible and a biblically solid, evangelical, orthodox church whose pastor and elders are concerned with the Gospel, biblical truth, and truth applied?
Here are the characteristics of a cult and how Gothardism fits:
Unorthodox, esoteric, with a devotion to a person, object, or set of new ideas.
Adherents and enthusiasts of the Institute are devoted to a person (Gothard), object, or set of new ideas. This is true of most, if not all followers of Mr. Gothard and his new ideas.
Much of what he teaches is labeled as “keys,” “secrets,” etc., indicating that this is something new, which until Mr. Gothard had discovered them would still be hidden. He continues to reveal new teachings previously unknown.
IBLP has maintained a policy of secrecy over the years about its materials. One had to have attended
a seminar in order to obtain written material. The reason was under the pretext that someone might
misinterpret or corrupt the information. “You had to be there to understand,” is the oft-given reason.
It has been said by several IBLP students that “Mr. Gothard has wonderful teachings. You’ve got to come to this seminar - it’s life-changing! There’s nothing like it anywhere!”
Often isolationist.
This is frequently observed among Gothard/Institute enthusiasts. They are quite comfortable and relaxed around others involved in the Institute, but often withdrawn or deliberately segregated even from others within their local church who do not follow Bill Gothard. The claim is that they wish to remain “pure.”
Many cults have non-verifiable belief systems.
More frequently than not, Mr. Gothard gives “proof” of his teachings using testimonials, and medical or scientific “research”, but he does not give the source, at least not in a manner that can be verified.
His doctrine of the rhema, that God speaks personally to each individual through the logos-Word, is quite
subjective. It is quite challenging to argue against someone who claims to have received an inspired word directly from God.
The leader is often charismatic and is very special because he or she has:
(a) received special revelation from God
Though I know of no place where Gothard states he receives special revelation from God, he does say he hears the Rhema word from God. He implies God speaks through him by presenting “new” teachings, or by receiving rhemas (inspired teachings from God) about a situation, which at times becomes a new principle or topic for a seminar.
(b) claims to be appointed by God for a mission
I have been told by followers of Gothard that God appointed him for this special mission. This is the reason why he is celibate: to devote all his life to the work of IBLP.
(c) claims to have special abilities
Aside from saying God has given him the ability to receive new insights, teachings, or principles about
all things in life, I am not aware that he claims any other such abilities.
The leader is often above reproach and is not to be denied or contradicted
There is much of this with Mr. Gothard. While he has given a public invitation for people to correct him, there is little if any evidence that he has changed his methods, teachings, or principles. Further, his
longstanding refusal to meet with Dr. R. B. Allen, Th.D. about his hermeneutics or interpretations of
Scripture gives the appearance that he is beyond correction.
I personally experienced this when I sent him a critique of his Twelve Hearts seminar. I was wrong and he was God’s anointed. He ordered me to retract what I said and wrote about it and when I said I would not do that, he put a curse on me.
It is quite interesting that a frequent response by Mr. Gothard to his critics is that he has been
misunderstood or misquoted. Even when the critic takes Gothard’s words in his writings, the critic is wrong.
Along this line, followers of Mr. Gothard and IBLP accept his teachings as superior, over and
against the teachings of the local pastor and elders., or anyone else for that matter.
On several occasions, I have witnessed people who adhere to the IBLP refuse to accept doctrinal correction from their pastor, elders, or Bible teachers because it runs contrary to Mr. Gothard’s principles.
In terms of priorities, IBLP followers will attend an IBLP function rather than a local church event if given the option. Also, there is a tendency by followers of the Institute to flee the local church if the church does not teach, conform, or promote things in keeping with IBLP. The net effect is that Mr. Gothard is their spiritual leader and “pastor”. Not a few churches have endured such conflict.
This leads to a fundamental problem with Mr. Gothard and the IBLP: while they claim to uphold the local church when in reality, they usurp the role and authority of the local church. As a parachurch organization, Gothard and the IBLP are not under the oversight of a God-ordained, established church, hence biblical leaders. In other words, he has no biblically sanctioned accountability for his ministry. This is unbiblical and effectively contradicts his teaching on the chain of authority.
The ethics of a cult:
(a) typically seek to do good works
There is a strong emphasis on performance and doing good things as defined by Mr. Gothard and the IBLP.
The stress on developing and exhibiting good character is commendable to a degree. It is
commonly a stress without the recognition of the work of Christ and the need for the Holy Spirit. This is why many non-Christian organizations, schools, prisons, and even religions are using IBLP materials.
Such incredible stress to perform has kept many believers in constant doubt about their salvation. They lack true joy and peace of true assurance of the work of Christ in their lives.
(b) Usually moral and possess a good standard
The families I’ve known who are or were involved in the IBLP’s teachings are very hard workers. They
present themselves as clean, wholesome, upstanding citizens. While there is nothing wrong with that in and of itself, the pressure to perform and always do right as defined by Gothard and his institute appears to be tremendous. His emphasis on obtaining good character is all-encompassing and the core of his teaching.
(c ) The Bible is often used or additional “scriptures” are penned.
Mr. Gothard uses Scripture but uses it to prove his teachings. His method of exegeting the Bible is distorted with private interpretations. This is a large and consistent point of criticism and concern by many evangelical Bible scholars over the years. He frequently makes passages say things they don’t say or takes Bible verses way out of context to support his principles. While Mr. Gothard does not write new “scriptures,” he does exegete nature (animals), and interpret so-called scientific or medical studies from which he derives spiritual principles.[3]
(d) Many cults recruit Jesus as one of their own and redefine him accordingly.
This overview intended to show how Gothard, his IBLP, and former ATI organizations are cultic. Other resources that reveal the definition, nature, and actions of cults would demonstrate how Gothardism is quite cultic. I am not the only one who urges people to leave Gothardism or avoid it by all means necessary.
Some good resources to help you
Combatting Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan, PhD
Deprogramming Victims of Brainwashing and Cult-like Mind Control by Dylan Clearfield
Freedom of Mind by Steven Hassan
Links and websites:
http://www.inspiredwalk.com/5017/12-characteristics-of-a-cult-leader
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/268-characteristics-of-cults
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/spycatcher/201208/dangerous-cult-leaders
https://bible.org/seriespage/2-characteristics-cult-acts-151-31
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB-dJaCXAxA
[1] Mr. Slick’s webpage on the Internet is located at www.carm.org.
[2] Mr. G. Richard Fisher has written A Study in Evolving Fadism: The Cultic Leanings of Bill Gothard’s Teachings in the quarterly Journal of Personal Freedom Outreach, St. Louis, Missouri, April-June, 1996, pp. 5-11. Others have also written along the same theme.
[3] Mr. Ron Henzel of R.E.S.T. Ministries has written a two-part excellent article entitled Bill Gothard’s Evangelical Talmud. The website can be visited at www.geocities.com on the internet.