We are under an Umbrella of Protection: Bill Gothard P/1

                                                    

In this post and in the next one I will focus on a man named Bill Gothard, the founder of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), a very popular ministry in the US in the seventies and eighties and beyond. All of his teachings were viewed through the prism of male superiority and female obedience.

Bill Gothard covered many subjects in his teaching such as use of cosmetics, clothing, beards, sleep schedules, homeschooling, medical advice and courtship and marriage.

He taught a great deal on the issue of authority in the form of a military-style chain of command, as follows:

"God has ordained authorities in order to live a proper Christian life. If we do not submit to God-ordained authorities, then we will not have protection against spiritual chaos.
God-given authorities can be considered "patriarchal umbrellas of protection." By honouring and submitting to authorities, you will receive the privileges of their protection. direction and accountability. If you resist their instructions and move out from their jurisdictional care, you forfeit your place under their protection and face life's challenges and temptations on your own."

"There are four areas of God-established jurisdictions of authority. They are:
Family: husband and parents;
Government leaders;
Church leaders: elders and other believers;
Employers."

In this post I will focus on the Concept of the Umbrella of Protection in Family Relationships in relation to husbands and wives as follows:

Gothard's Umbrella of Protection in Family Relationships puts the husband in charge under Christ while the wife is totally subservient to her husband; her access to God is through her husband.

The husband is responsible for making the decisions for the family and it is the wife's job to properly instruct and manage the children; the children's spirituality and access to God is through their mother as she submits to her husband.

Wives should not work outside the home and should have as many children as possible.

They are always to obey their husbands instead of God in matters of conscience. Their primary reason for existence is for the purpose of producing children, caring for their husbands and rearing children. 

 

Read Part Two HERE