The Sword & The Trowel TS&TT: Ron Henzel & Don Veinot | A Matter of Basic Principles: Bill Gothard & His Cultish Teachings
Feb 27, 2024
In this engaging discussion, Don Veinot and Ron Henzel, co-founders of Midwest Christian Outreach, delve into Bill Gothard's teachings and their cult-like nature. They share their motivations for writing 'A Matter of Basic Principles' while recounting personal experiences of spiritual abuse linked to Gothardism. The conversation critiques Gothard's interpretation of grace and authority, emphasizing its divergence from traditional Christianity. They also explore how his formulaic spirituality fosters uncritical thinking in evangelical circles, underscoring the need for clarity and healing.
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Origins of Midwest Christian Outreach
- Don Veinot and his wife began outreach to Jehovah's Witnesses which evolved into a broader Christian apologetics ministry.
- They discovered Bill Gothard's movement through complaints about cult-like behavior and became concerned after examining his teachings.
Gothard's Distorted Teachings
- Gothard distorts key concepts like grace and authority, redefining scriptural language with misleading new definitions.
- His method involves memorizing scripture then praying for interpretation, often resulting in interpretations inconsistent with the biblical text.
Dialogue on Gothard's Grace View
- Don Veinot engaged Bill Gothard in six weeks of dialogue on grace, exposing Gothard's Roman Catholic-like view of grace.
- Gothard admitted Catholics aren’t wrong on everything but could not align his view with biblical grace as unmerited favor.
