Carmen J. Bryant, August, 2002
18
happening, however, is accentuated when Gothard says, "In my experience, I have met
very few who have actually been called upon to take [this step of suffering]."
48
Imposing so many conditions upon obedience to God's Word, however, gives
more honor to the authority figure than to God. Respectful appeals may be appropriate in
some situations, but there are also times when a respectful but immediate "No!" is
necessary. Evil cannot be relied upon to be reasonable.
Gothard's seminars lost momentum in the 80s, largely due to serious sex scandals
in the organization. In spite of continued problems, IBLP continues to spread its doctrine
through seminars and other programs, including a very strict home schooling movement,
the Advanced Training Institute of America (ATIA).
49
IBLP now claims two and a half
million alumni.
Now that the seminars are no longer the rage, it is easy to overlook how many
men and women today are still bound by the chain of command they learned years ago.
Gothard's unbiblical chain of command is perpetuated by those who learned well in his
seminars. Other groups have endorsed his principles that promote obedience to husbands
over obedience to either the written Word of God or the voice of the Holy Spirit.
The chain-of-command is very appealing to men who want to practice the
unhealthy control predicted in Gen. 3:16. It is also appealing to women who do not want
48
"Authority and Responsibility," 1975. In its application to marriage, Gothard endorses the need for
women to embrace suffering as part of submission. He rejects any concept of mutual submission, claiming
this is only a ploy of humanism to turn men into gods (Alsdurf and Alsdurf, 88-89). Gothard defines
humanism as "an expression of `The Lie'--that man is equal with God." When Christian women attempt to
gain equal rights with men, they are falling victim to The Lie: "When we resent the authority which God
placed over us and demonstrate a spirit of willfulness, we accept the delusion of Humanism which
promotes rebellion through `equal rights'" (Gothard, Applying Basic Principles, 1984, 10-13).
49
Allegations of sexual misconduct still plague IBLP, both from the past and the present. In February 2002,
Gothard's Indianapolis Training Center came under scrutiny for alleged child abuse. The investigation is
ongoing.