The Sin of Pastoral Plagiarism in the Pulpit

In this video, I have a brief look at the ethic surrounding pastoral plagiarism, both in the pulpit and in print.

[@allengilliardiii8612]

As a Southern Baptist who has long enjoyed your videos, thank you for addressing this. I really wish more of the SBC seminary Presidents and entity heads had as much courage as you do right now.

[@worshambaptist4177]

Jason Allen of Midwestern Seminary has addressed the issue, but I know of no others who have. In my opinion, that's quite an indictment of our SBC leadership.

[@PrentissYeates]

I’m a southern Baptist and the problem most pressing about Ed Litton and JD Greear is that under their SBC leadership the SBC has shifted leftward and gone woke. Thus, plagiarism is viewed as a very minor of problem. Most seated Baptists will just shrug their shoulders as it isn’t a sin as big as say if the youth pastor runs off with the head cheerleader and leaves his wife and 3 children. The potency of the pulpit as been diminished greatly from the SBC leadership since Adrian Rodgers past away.

[@Bigdave203]

Personaly, when i was a young minister starting out i plagiarized several sermons. A fellow minister was present and recognized the source of the sermon and called and corrected me privately. I apologized to the church and never did it again. I was unmarried, and wad pastor without a wage to keep it from being closed. Iworjed a secular job, and i did borrow liberally from other pastors but i always acknowledged the source and made it my own. Frankly when you're working full time, teaching the adult Sunday school, 2 bible studies, nursing home services you cant do it without borrowing liberally. That was many years ago and i will quote and acknowledge writers and sources so i dont appear to steal and to perhaps encourage my people to read those referenced.

[@45paisley]

I personally like a pastor that uses many sources and cites them. Tells me he is researching the subject matter from a variety of sources.

[@ruthgoebel723]

Totally agree! Our sermon this past Sunday, was largely opinion and contained suppositions and had no documentation. He admitted he had no documentation, yet he went so far as to say getting a vaccine is a road for the Antichrist to indwell us and that too much education is bad. I was so repulsed that I got up and left.

[@45paisley]

@@ruthgoebel723 sad to hear that.

[@rongrimes9102]

I don’t care what cow the pastor gets his milk from as long as he makes his own butter

[@MatthewEverhard]

@@ruthgoebel723 what text was he preaching?????

[@ruthgoebel723]

@@MatthewEverhard Revelation 22.

[@durableapostle]

I've been waiting for you to discuss this. :)

[@AJMacDonaldJr]

I wish preachers were preaching the life, death, and resurrection of Christ every Sunday.

[@jonathonjankovich2362]

Years ago, I heard about a pastor who preached “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” without identifying it was Jonathan Edwards work. His point was to slap the complacency out of his congregation. Being fresh out of college and being a passionate fellow myself, I tried it too. Although I did identify it as an Edwards sermon afterwards, I felt ashamed that I was already influenced by gimmicks and shocking people. I’ve never done such a thing again.

[@classicchristianliterature]

The sad part is that there are "research" groups that pastors are paying to get their sermons from... and then they just read them word for word. I love quoting others, especially those of the past. However, I could not imagine getting up in the pulpit and preaching "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" word for word as if it were my own and not making any mention of Johnathan Edwards.

[@PastorEdwinTheProverbiallife]

This was great. Thank you brother.

[@billanderson7059]

Am I the only one that constantly wonder what all of those books right over his right shoulder are? LOL Great stuff as normal!

[@jonpendragon2066]

I always look at books in videos

[@paulthomasson4832]

The green books with silver are the sermons of C.H. Spurgeon, as far as I know.

[@joshuaslusher3721]

Search his channel, he has a library tour!

[@jadedoldguy5233]

@@paulthomasson4832 - Correct.

[@shawnd04]

Looks like a library worth quoting from, and citing as sources from the pulpit

[@clintonmartin4864]

I find it also shameful for the people who are continuing to support these "pastors" after all of this. People really are, like you said, "making a brand" for themselves. I can't stand that. Litton should resign and make open confession/repentance of this sin.

[@GerardPerry]

I was talking with my pastor about this on Saturday. He just shook his head. It's amazing how openly corrupt the church has become.

[@joshuahoward7567]

Very well said as always

[@blackukulele]

I vaguely recall reading that, during the reformation, sermons were written so that they might be read to congregations that had no ordained minister. I believe both Presbyterians and Anglicans did this.

[@joehinojosa24]

I'd use Matthew Henry with NO GUILT. Matthew Henry flows with inspiring thoughts and practical application

[@hansmeisterschulz5941]

Preach the Gospel, teach the practical! Give credit where credit due!

[@blackukulele]

John William Burgon encouraged people always to check the references.

[@MightBeWrong]

Even though I'm terrible at coming up with illustrations, I'm happy to say I've never used the one with the guy rejecting help. lol

[@robcharles7464]

Pastor Matt ...you spooked me a little as I certainly don't want to dishonor God. Perhaps a little clarity on the word "plagiarism." I preach occasionally and teach regularly ... with no formal education. I read through numerous Bible translations and 5-7 commentaries to help me ensure I'm understanding the text and/or not missing any key themes. I then create an outline of the scripture, building points and application. I'm certainly using the ideas of many godly men. Is that plagiarism? In watching your video...it seemed that approach might be included. For clarity, when using a direct quote ... I do say, "Baptist Preacher John Gill, writes " ... "" or Bible commentator John Calvin suggests "....".

[@toomanymarys7355]

The people involved in the scandal are reading the same sermons word for word.

[@Tom-qo4mz]

@@toomanymarys7355 agreed, the people Pastor Matt is referring to do not apparently 'create an outline of the scripture, building points and application' of their own, instead they're using other's work that already does this and passes it off as their own

[@worshambaptist4177]

No, it's not plagiarism to take other people's ideas and develop them on your own. It is wrong to preach someone else's entire sermon and try to pass it off as your own. Ed Litton did the latter. If he had only done it once, I'd be willing to cut him some slack, but he's done it many times.

[@SisterinChrist1]

QUESTION 🙋‍♀️ I just discovered on my own that my pastor has been using all of David Guziks commentaries as his own sermons. I even watched his past sermons online and followed along with the commentary and there is little to no difference. He copies them from the beginning to the end. I feel hurt and confused on what to do? I'm so new to this church. Is this normal to copy commentaries? Should I say something or keep quiet? Your advice would be much appreciated 🙏🏻 thank you. God bless!

[@MatthewEverhard]

It's definitely odd; neither normal nor healthy.

[@worshambaptist4177]

I've been a Southern Baptist pastor for 26 years, and I've been keeping up with SBC politics for 36 years. I have never called for the resignation of a sitting SBC president, but I think Ed Litton should resign.

[@toomanymarys7355]

The person involved repeated entire sermons virtually word for word. And he told stories of other people as if they happened to him.

[@danbrown586]

With respect, I think you may be missing the biggest issue with pastors not doing their own sermon prep: serious Third Commandment issues. When you stand in front of your congregation, you're proclaiming the Word of God. If you're willing to stand in front if your flock and say "thus saith the Lord" without putting some serious effort into being *sure* you're right, where is your fear of God?

[@jonpendragon2066]

Hugs

[@jesusislordandgod3326]

Martin Luther had wonderful sermons too. And so did John Calvin.

[@jesusislordandgod3326]

Using a sermon to praise the Lord and re-using it, is no big deal. It all belongs to the Lord anyway. Now, using someone else's life story - is creepy. Baptizing babies however, is not Biblical.😁👍🏻

[@worshambaptist4177]

Using someone else's sermon and passing it off as your own is dishonest.

[@princeofpeaceproductions3506]

With all the commentaries I read …I would have to stop every every 2 minutes ..every illustration is borrowed… preach the word

[@princeofpeaceproductions3506]

Every sermon is stolen - if it’s new it ain’t true

[@toomanymarys7355]

Not new ideas. Reading the sermon of someone else as your own and also telling personal stories that happened to someone else as your own.

[@TheJpep2424]

Wrong. Not every sermon is plagiarized.

[@worshambaptist4177]

Not so. Every preacher is different, and he should develop his own distinct style. There's nothing wrong with reading commentaries or even sermons to help understand your text. Neither is there anything wrong with borrowing someone else's ideas and developing them on your own. When a pastor preaches someone else's entire sermon word-for-word and tries to pass it off as his own, that's just plain dishonest. If a pastor repeatedly does that, then people have good reason to question his integrity