It happens regularly. Well-meaning Christians get caught up in fundamentalist cults like the IBLP. If you have never heard of the IBLP, then allow me to briefly introduce this organization to you. The IBLP stands for the Institute in Basic Life Principles. Bill Gothard founded this organization in 1961. He developed it around the idea of helping teens make wise life choices based on scriptural principles. On the surface, this sounds good, and this affected literally thousands, if not millions, of people around our country. However, when you peel back the layers, that is where you see the cracks.
Gothard never married, and in 2014, 34 women accused him of molestation and sexual harassment. The teachings of IBLP were steeped in legalism and authoritarianism. Without going too deep, these are some problems with the IBLP. With issues like these and others, how do well-meaning Christians get caught up in fundamentalist cults like the IBLP? Let me first explain what a fundamentalist cult is, and then I will answer the question.
A fundamentalist cult is a group characterized by rigid adherence to a specific set of beliefs and practices. A charismatic leader who is revered as an ultimate authority often leads them. The term "fundamentalist" refers to their unwavering commitment to a literal interpretation of religious texts or ideological principles.
Based on that definition, a fundamentalist cult might sound somewhat ideal. After all, shouldn’t we all be committed to what we believe, like these people are? That thought process plays into how many well-meaning Christians get caught up in these fundamentalist cults like the IBLP. Let me show you four ways this can happen.
When Christians get caught up in these cults, it is often because they miss the signs that are present. They either don’t see them, or they ignore them. Either way, the result is the same: they get trapped in these cults.
1. The doctrines are agreeable; at least, they appear that way.
When you look at the core beliefs of the IBLP, you will discover their beliefs mirror many of the beliefs of orthodox Christian doctrine. For example, here is a direct quote of the core beliefs of the IBLP that I got right off their website.
“IBLP affirms the cardinal doctrines of Scripture that have been defended by historic statements of faith. These include the divine inspiration of Scripture, the deity of Christ, the original sin nature of man, the atonement for sin by Christ’s shed blood, and justification by faith in Jesus as the Christ. This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith and doctrine. The Bible itself is the source of all that we believe.”
Language like this draws people in because this sounds like the real deal. If you dig further on their website as I did, you will read many doctrinal statements that you would probably agree with. Because of the apparent legitimacy of what they believe, this is how well-meaning Christians get caught up in fundamentalist cults like the IBLP. Because they appear to be correct in their doctrine, many people let their guard down and get sucked in before they realize what is really going on.
2. A charismatic, authoritarian leader draws them in.
One condition that is typically present in every type of fundamentalist cult is an authoritarian leader. Typically, this person is a strong and persuasive personality type, and their leadership and authority usually stand unchallenged. In these environments, questioning or disagreeing with the leader is seen as questioning or disagreeing with God. In the IBLP, the charismatic leader was Bill Gothard. The culture he built was one of unquestioned authority. Obedience to authority was paramount. He also taught that this was the way we should run the home. Wives should bow down to the unquestioned authority of their husbands. Children should recognize the unquestioned authority of their parents. This type of leadership was great for power-hungry men but was extremely damaging to the women and children trapped under his teaching. Any type of leadership structure that suppresses thought is dangerous. When you do not allow people to question what they are being taught and unquestioned obedience is required, something is wrong. Jesus never disparaged his disciples from asking him questions. Any group that does this you should run away from and run fast. Well-meaning Christians caught up in fundamentalist cults like the IBLP simply miss this sign.
3. The group isolates from everyone else.
One thing is true of many fundamentalist cults like the IBLP. They have the tendency to create an 'us vs them' mentality. You often find they consider everyone outside of the group as sinful and a threat to their way of life. This type of thinking leads to isolationism. Rather than engaging in the culture, there is often separation from the culture. The group stands off as its own entity. This isolation separates people from friends and family, and the group becomes the new family. When Jesus walked the earth, he did not withdraw from the world and sinners; he engaged them. As he said, it is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick (Mark 2:17). When any group tries to separate you from your loved ones, that is a red flag. When the only people you associate with are those in that group, be careful. Remember, Jesus came to save the world. We cannot save a world that we isolate ourselves from.
4. The extreme seems welcome at first.
Many well-meaning Christians that get caught up in fundamentalist groups like the IBLP are often initially looking for alternatives. One attraction of the IBLP was the seven basic life principles and the homeschooling movement that was very popular, especially in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. Because it was positioned as an alternative to mainstream education, it attracted many parents who were looking for something different for their children. They embraced the extreme rules because they were a departure from the other ideologies that were prevalent in the culture. However, these extreme rules eventually pull people so far away from the mainstream they begin to lose their identity. In the effort to build a counterculture, they only end up building a community that lives on the extreme edges, even among people who are believers in Jesus.
What it boils down to is many fundamentalist cults are not healthy environments for those who are part of them. This is especially true for women and children, who are often the collateral damage in these cults. The true remedy is to be like the Bereans in Acts 17. Search the Scriptures for yourself to see if what they say is true. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything that is taught, and if they do not welcome questions, run and run quickly. Finally, focus on building your relationship with Jesus and being in tune with the Holy Spirit. He is the one who can help you identify when something just isn’t right. Even if you don’t know every verse of Scripture, he can give you discernment to help you distinguish truth from error. Trust me; you will need this to avoid falling into a fundamentalist cult.
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