Examining a Gothard Book, Part 9

This post examines Chapter 5: To Be Cleansed Within, of Bill Gothard’s book, 7 Basic Needs of a Wife. This is part one of this examination.

The Cleansing That a Wife Needs (page 50)

The first cleansing that a wife needs is in the thoughts of her heart and soul. David prayed, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). 

I would say that the husband needs the same “cleansing.”

Many wives come into a marriage with a load of painful memories, false ideas, lies from Satan, and unbiblical presuppositions. When new situations come up, a wife will refer back to all these untruths for direction and continue making unwise decisions and damaging responses. This only adds to her problems.

Wow, sounds the same as for a husband! It actually sounds the same for every human being!! So does Gothard have a book to fix husbands? His next paragraph cites Romans 12:1-2 as being for all believers, so he gets good points for that.

There can be several sources from which these lies come. A primary source is from unclean music that promotes lies through its lyrics and its sound.

Since so many legalists have virtually declared that music other than hymns match this description, Gothard should give examples.

Each time this music is listened to, it establishes strongholds of deception in the heart of the listener.

Really? “Each time.” So, what if someone listens to something and decides it isn’t proper, do they now have a “stronghold” of deception in their heart? What if someone is listening to this music for research purposes and in the process of transcribing the lyrics they have to listen to it multiple times times? Do they now have a stronger “stronghold”?

Other lies come from love novels, sensual reading material, and false philosophies.

Not all “love novels” (i.e. romance novels) are full of lies. I’ve read several Jane Austen books to my wife and didn’t seem to find lies in them. What defines “sensual” reading materials? What false philosophies? Gothard’s teachings are one huge false philosophy!

Cleansing Wives of Lies

Jesus stated that Satan is a liar and the father of lies, and that there is no truth in him. His goal is to get all Christians to believe his lies. Women are especially susceptible to believing lies and must be cleansed from them by God’s truth. Here are some lies that wives believe: (pg.50)

So women are more susceptible to believing lies?!? By what research? Want to see lots of men believing lies? Look no further than the Democrat Party, or the Mormon Church, or the Catholic Church for that matter.

I am not good enough.

This lie is based on the false premise that we can generate enough goodness to be acceptable in the eyes of God and other people. Being “good enough” does not come by our own efforts but by the power of God working in and through us! (pg.51)

Wow, I’ve known many men (husbands) who believe that lie. But mostly I see this as not good enough in other people’s eyes; insecurity among others. Gothard’s response becomes Romans 7:18 and Philippians 2:13, which are fine.

I am ugly

This lie is base on the idea that beauty is determined by outward features. The truth is that beauty is determined by the inward character qualities of the heart, especially gratefulness, joyfulness, kindness, compassion, generosity, and attentiveness. (pg.51)

Gothard is confusing two kinds of beauty. There is indeed a beauty of appearance (e.g. beauty contests) as well as an inward beauty. A woman can have both or neither. But the inward beauty does NOT change the outward appearance. If one is outwardly ugly, it is not a lie to believe that. Gothard’s citing “God’s Truth” (Prov.31:30; 1 Pet.3:3-4; 1 Sam. 16:7; and Prov. 15:13) addresses the inward beauty more so than outward beauty. Whether Gothard wants to admit it, men tend to first look at the outward beauty before desiring to learn the inward beauty. So don’t say it is a lie if an ugly woman (or man) believes they are indeed ugly.

I am a failure

The first lie in this statement is that we can achieve our own success. The second lie is that we can evaluate our own success or failure. The third lie is that we will be judged by our success rather than by our faithfulness. (pg.51)

Gothard’s first lie is that we can’t achieve our own success. Hard workers achieve their own success. His second lie is that we can’t evaluate our own success or failure. All one has to do is to look at their achievements to determine their success or failure. His third lie is that we won’t be judged by our success vs our faithfulness; the world judges you by BOTH. Gothard seems to think people judge their own success or failure according to God instead of man, but when a man or woman says they are a failure, they are 99% of the time talking about success or failure according to mankind’s judgment, or even their own.

Personal failures can help us realize that we should not be working for our own ambitions but rather for the benefit of God’s kingdom and the welfare of other people. (pg.52)

Why can’t we be working for both?!?! Personal success for being able to provide for family and for God? Gothard’s first response is Jeremiah 45:5 as applying to the individual, but in context God is only speaking to Baruch; typical Gothard taking text out of context. His second out of context passage is Joshua 1:8, which is addressed only to Joshua. Can it be applied to everyone as an example of how God works? If so, then explain the many Christians out of work, unable to support their families, etc?

I will continue this examination in a future post.

Agglomeration Time!

Review: The Netflix Mary Movie Is Catholic Cringe. I don’t get Netflix, but I wouldn’t watch this movie if I did because I KNOW it wouldn’t be accurate and would take liberties with the truth. Don’t waste your time with it.  Here’s another review on Youtube; “Mary’s” hairdo is ridiculous.

Pope Francis continues to prove how apostate he is.  Look how the Vatican is featuring the baby Jesus!!!

Meanwhile, “Catholics” use Mary to promote abortion.

Research: Christian Cults.

Are There Any Modern Apostles? Short answer, NO!

CNN Repeats Andy Stanley’s Conference Falsehoods.

Cru, formerly known as Crusade for Christ, are really more and more becoming apostate.

Heidi Baker, Billy Burke, Mike Bickle, et al-FALSE TEACHERS.

The Strategies and Tactics of False Teachers. Learn them and pay attention.

What you should know about Voodoo and the Haitian invasion our government has accommodated to my home town and other small Ohio towns.  Part 1, Part 2. 

Todd White and his supporters—such as Michael Brown.

Knock, Knock! Are You Prepared to Answer? A history of the Mormon Church.

Christmas and Mary

I have posted many of my own articles and links to articles on other sites, which discuss how Mary was a virgin until the birth of Christ and then had normal sexual relations with her husband Joseph and gave birth to other sons and daughters; just look on the right side of this page and scroll down to “Virgin Mary” and click the link.

What I want to address here is the idea of Mary’s “immaculate conception,” the idea that she was conceived without a sin nature which the rest of us have. This was necessary, so the argument goes, in order to give birth to Jesus without passing a sin nature. 

My first question is, how could Mary need to be sinless to prevent the sinful nature from being passed to Jesus if her mother wasn’t sinless!?! Then for her mother to be born sinless her grandmother would also need to be sinless, ad nauseam through the genealogical line! This demonstrates the illogical nonsense to bring about an “immaculate conception.”

So now we get to the idea of how Mary could give birth to a person with no sin nature unless she had no sin nature.

The Bible says that “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Now this would mean that Joseph could not provide the sperm from the male side because Mary was to be a virgin, and his sperm would carry the sin nature of mankind. However, what I’ve never seen a discussion about is if Mary’s egg was used, wouldn’t that also pass down the sinful nature?? Common sense tells me that what the Holy Spirit provided was a God-created fertilized egg for Mary to carry to birth! Only in that way would there be nothing of Adam’s sin to pass down to Jesus.

If God can create a man (Adam) who had no sin nature, why can he not create a fertilized egg in Mary’s womb in order for Jesus to grow from embryo to fetus to baby?

Thought Provoking

Jesus and the apostles never wore special robes to represent themselves as clergy.

Yes, he had a tunic woven from a single piece of cloth. But let's not pretend that it had a little white bit in the middle of a black color or that he wore some elaborate, pointy hat that only he was allowed to wear.

Clergy clothing is an accretion and one that seems unhealthy (note I did not say "evil").

One can make analogies about Old Testament priests and their clothes but this only underscores my point, for we are ALL priests and trying to make such distinctions in the body of Christ base on an Old Covenant distinction that doesn't exist in Christ only shows that the priesthood of all believers is made less clear through clergy clothes.

Mike Winger, 10/7/24, Facebook

Things To Think About

Christianity Today Astray extremely wrongly tells Christians to NOT vote while in reality promoting the anti-Christian Harris. See my previous post about the importance of the Christian vote.

Bethel, Hillsong, Elevation Worship Music—should we be using it? Absolutely not!

The Disturbing Trend of Continuationism Embraced by the Modern Church

Russell Moore swings farther and farther away from true Christianity.

How about examining something in popular culture: Stevie Nicks & Taylor Swift Witchcraft Influencers

Aimee Byrd goes further astray with apostasy. Further information.

Jonathan Cahn is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Why is the book of Enoch not accepted in the Christian (or Jewish) canon?

Todd White is a lying false teacher/false believer. Michael Brown and Sid Roth are also a false teachers who support White!

With all the false teaching of Andy Stanley, I’m wondering if he is a true believer.

False teacher Jenny Weaver tells people to order everything to resist the hurricane in the name of Jesus! And a whole lot of other lies about your power to protect yourself from the hurricanes, binding demons, etc  This sort of nonsense is dangerous to people who follow her and her ilk who claim “apostolic authority.” No, she isn’t getting any word from God nor is she speaking in tongues

A dangerous new cult is called Shincheonji Church of Jesus, founded in 1984 by Lee Man-hee.

Take these things to heart and spread the word to save people from false teachers/teachings.

Important Thoughts About Voting!

Let’s start of with a thought about politics; “A vote is not a valentine, you aren’t confessing your love for the candidate. It’s a chess move for the world you want to live in.” 

Polls show millions of Christians will not be voting, which means if the worst side wins it will be their fault. I don’t like the candidate the Republicans are putting forward but I like even less the demonic and communist tyranny which will increase under Demokrat rule. If they win this time, there will never again be a Republican government. 

At least read this Appeal to Non-voting Christians, and think about YOUR responsibility.

Another Agglomeration

The Real History of Israel and Palestine – Pt. 1 Then read Part 2.

A very good, thought-provoking article about “Enjoying the Anger of Jesus.”

Does the Bible Encourage Masters to Beat Their Slaves? NOPE!

No, Jesus would NOT have us vote for Kamala Harris or the Demonkratic party.  “Evangelicals for Harris” is also very, very pro-abortion, which is something NO Christian should be.

Who Were the Emergent Church Leaders? Where Are They Now? Excellent review of the movers and shakers of the Emergent movement and how they still cause damage in the Church.

Beth Moore’s latest study: critique and review. As bad of a teacher as always.

I don’t remember ever hearing of Joni Lamb before, but she definitely needs to be warned against.

Heresy by the Pope! He essentially says all religions lead to the same God.  A wee bit of humor has the Pope debating with Jesus.

Blasphemy in the Church by those who condone and support the LGBTQ+ agenda. Satan is very active turning this nation even more and more into Sodom and Gomorrah.

Robert Morris is indeed a false teacher.

Heidi Baker, Billy Burke, etc, false teachers.

The Gospel Coalition loves to twist Scripture for their ideology.

I just had to share this false teacher, spawn of satan, so you can see what is out there and what  we real Christians have to work against. The article doesn’t give her name or “church,” for which I am glad.

Closing with this nonsense by Greg Locke:

Politics

These two memes pretty much sum up the whole idea that Christians can vote for Demokrats. Christians CANNOT in righteousness vote for such an ungodly party. One doesn't have to like the Republican candidate, nor does said candidate have to be a righteous man. We are voting for the lessor of two evils when voting for Republicans. Demokrats have purposely been destroying this country, whether by allowing an invasion of illegals or by ruining our military's ability to fight wars, destroying our children's minds in public schools or destroying families and the culture with the whole LGBTQ agenda. Demokrats are anti-parent, anti-morality and even anti-Israel as well as anti-semitic overall. 

Yes, this blog is about teaching discernment as to exposing false teachings and false teachers, but that MUST include the false teachings that Christians can righteously vote for Demokrats.

Examining a Gothard Book, Part 8

This post examines Chapter 4: To Be Valued and Cherished!, of of Bill Gothard’s book, 7 Basic Needs of a Wife. 

Bill Gothard starts this chapter with a small test he gave to pastors (I’d be surprised if this was a true incident). He wanted them to write answers to the question, What things can your wife do for you that no other woman can do? He said most were embarrassed to have empty sheets of paper. Okay, so let’s see what Gothard gives as the answers to that question.

1. Have the Power of One-Accord Prayer (pg.40). Without citing a passage, he states: When the 120 believers were in one place and in one accord, the power of God came upon them and they carried out supernatural deeds. The same results will be experienced whenever two or more believers pray with one-accord agreement.

Acts 1:15—23 is when 120 believers listen to Peter’s teachings and then selected a replacement for Judas.  There is NOTHING about anyone being in “one accord” or anyone carrying out “supernatural deeds.” If you continue to Chapter 2 and assume the same 120 are being discussed, again there is no mention of any “supernatural deeds,” but it does have them speaking in different languages. Where are the deeds? The point Gothard is trying to make is that husband and wife in one accord” prayer will have “success of their lives, marriage, children, health, family, and ministry to others.

I hate to say this, but “one-accord” prayers don’t guarantee the success of anything.

Then his sidebar says, The potential of the one-accord prayer of a married couple is beyond what most husbands realize. When two are in one-accord agreement on an important matter, God releases supernatural powering order to solve the crises in the family. If two of you shall agree and pray in faith, it shall be done unto you.

Where in Scripture does it say this?!?!? There is no such promise!

2.  Protect Your Name and Reputation (pg.41). “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1). There are many ways that your wife will protect your name and your reputation. She knows your blind spots. She also has keen discernment into the motives of men and women who want to gain your favor.

So every man’s wife can discern the motives of those who want to gain her husband’s favor?!?

When it comes to financial investments, it is very important that both of you be in total agreement. God will show your wife dangers that you will not see.

Really? God will show things to the wife but not to the husband?

3. Give You Pleasure Without Guilt (pg.41). The subject here, of course, is sex and affairs can’t give pleasure without guilt. I won’t disagree with this.

4. Meet Basic Needs in Your Children (pg.42). For the most part this section is common sense. The he says this, without any references to back up his claim: [C]hildren from broken families have twice as much asthma as children from stable home. So broken homes cause asthma in children?

Gothard then talks about the need to cherish only your wife (I agree) but sidesteps with “Safeguards in Selecting Secretaries.” (pg.44) Then he gives seven ways to do this (pg.45-46):

1. Make sure that she is not likely to look to you to meet her emotional needs. That’s sort of a difficult thing to do when “selecting” a secretary. This sort of thing comes out later.

2. Make sure that your wife meets, interviews, and approves your secretary. Sorry, but if one is looking for a secretary he wants qualification, not wife approval. Gothard says, Technically, a secretary is working for your wife, because she is doing things to assist you that you wife is not able to do.  Balderdash. She is working for the man who hired her, period. On the sidebar Gothard writes, The scope of responsibilities of the Proverbs 31 wife extends to the maidens who served in the household. This should include the secretary who assists her husband. WRONG! That is not even hinted at in Proverbs 31.

3. Keep your relationship with your secretary on a business level at all times. That should go without saying. 

4. Make sure that your wife can call you without going through your secretary.  OKAY.

5. Make sure that you never ask your secretary to meet your personal needs or do tasks that your wife normally does.  Again, that should go without saying, but his sidebar regarding this loses common sense: Osteoporosis is a condition of bone deterioration. Calcium and other minerals are leached from the bones leaving holes like those seen in Swiss cheese. Millions of women suffer from this disease, which is primarily caused by envy: “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.” (Proverbs 14:30). Apparently Gothard thinks metaphors don’t exist as he disregards actual medical science.

6. Make sure that your secretary is committed to the success of your marriage.  How can you ensure this when selecting a secretary? Your secretary must help you make your wife and home your priority. She can do this by shielding you from unnecessary interruptions, helping you keep appointments with your wife, and guarding you from temptations of moral impurity.

Wrong. First, one might just have a male secretary! Second, it is not the secretary’s business to do any of this!!!

7.Make sure that you praise your wife to your secretary and never discuss your marital problems with her.  I agree you shouldn’t discuss marital—or family—problems with a secretary but why should you secretary have to listen to you praising your wife all the time?!?!

As usual with Mr. Gothard, Scripture is twisted and his opinions/beliefs are to be adhered to without common sense.  Next time we’ll look at Chapter 5, To Be Cleansed Within!