The Prosperity Gospel Family Style: The Gothard Movement and Biblical Fundamentalism

There is an Amazon series being aired that is an expose (with an agenda) of the Duggar family drama, and the ministry behind the Duggars—the Institute in Basic Life Principles—founded by now disgraced (as determined by the leadership of the ministry he founded) Bill Gothard. My understanding is that it falsely ties all of biblical fundamentalism to this movement. I have not watched the series—yet. I wanted to write this before I might be influenced by it.

The Gothard movement was much broader than fundamentalists, and many who sounded the alarm early were fundamentalists.

The relationship between Gothard and Independent Fundamental Baptist has been complex. Some followed him closely. Others, like Dr. James Singleton, who was my pastor for most of my life, held him at arm’s length at first and eventually rejected him as unbiblical. E.R. Jordan, founder of Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary in Lansdale PA where I attended, called “Gothardism” (his term) a dangerous cult. …

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