PLAGIARISM FROM THE PULPIT

Plagiarism from the Pulpit                                                      April 7, 2012

               (See also, http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/)

      The recent accusations and subsequent admission of plagiarism
from an eminent pastor,has raised questions among persons within
and without the Christian  community.  The first response I had was
"so what."  The very next  suggestion was, "if  the message is good
the source is not important."  As we look  closer,  we  find  this con- 
clusion to  be invalid.  The first  issue concerns  the  integrity of  the 
Pastor. The admission of guilt was not  forthcoming until  there was 
a  challenge from the congregation.  When  anyone in  public forum 
uses  someone  else's  material,  credit  must  always  be  given  the 
author.  If  the credit  is not  forthcoming,  the  material is then to be 
assumed  as original.  When Scripture  is used,  book,  chapter, and 
and verse are identified.  While  the integrity of  the  Pastor is called 
into question and  his indolence established,  there is an even grea-
ter issue.  Why is source the overriding issue in the matter?  

     Today's Pastors are modern day prophets in a strict sense.  Our
Ministers of  the Gospel of Jesus Christ serve in the prophetic tra- 
dition of the Old Testament. If one does not have an understanding 
of the  nature of  Old Testament  Prophets, he  cannot  understand 
Ministers of the Gospel.  Prophets  of the Old Testament were said
to have a  message directly from  the Lord God.  When  they spake 
publicly in their role as Prophet, they spoke the Words of God. Not 
only were the words inspired of God, at times they spoke of things 
to  happen in  the future.  While modern day "Prophets, " Ministers, 
have a word from the Lord,  it originates from Scripture. Today, the 
ministers of the Gospel do not normally claim to  have a Word from 
the  Lord that  is unique to Him as did  Old Testament  Prophets.  If, 
however, the message is researched  from Scripture by that Pastor, 
and he has  leadership from the  Spirit of  Jesus Christ in selecting, 
preparing,  and  delivering  the  message,  it is a  message  from the 
Lord.  Although the message  may not be original with the minister, 
it is no less powerful. The  minister of  today differs from a Prophet 
of the Old Testament in that his  message is old, proven and accep- 
ted  by the church  community as a word from  the Lord;  it squares
with Scripture and has the power of the living God behind it.  

   Prophets of the Old Testament, or Old Covenant, often had a mes-
sage from God previously unknown.  It  is true, however;  ministers
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, today, are able through leadership of
the Holy Spirit, to come up  with truthes deeply embedded in Scrip-
ture  that are new to his audience, who have not had that particular
message from God.  After all, when we expound Scripture in power
and the presence of the Lord, it is a "Living Word."  It must be fresh
and new,  even to the teacher.  That is one question we have with a 
teacher or minister who teaches from notes  of an "old" sermon.  It
may be easier, and less time consuming,  but with me it suggests a
question. 

     The issue we have  with today's  prophet getting messages from 
a  source other than Scripture, is the lack of power in the message, 
since it did not originate in the mind of Christ.  Secondly,  since the 
message is not of the Spirit of the Lord God, there is no integrity in
the message nor  the messenger. The message must originate and 
receive it's power of the Spirit.  How do we know the word from the
modern day prophet is of the Lord?  There is a test singularly accu- 
accurate every time;  as the message preached squares with God's 
written  Word, the Bible.  If a message from the "prophet" is  in line 
with the teaching of  Scripture it may then be  accepted as from the 
Lord.  Another;  the  power test.  God has  promised that  His Word 
would  not  return  unto him  without  having  accomplished  Divine 
intention or  result.  The second test is subjective,  but used in con- 
junction with the first, there  is further confirmation of  it's  validity.

    
  One final test, even more subjective than the second; the common 
sense test.   Is  the message preached,  when compared with Scrip- 
ture, a reasonable and adequate explanation of  the passage of the 
Scripture to which the  prophet refers.  Every message from one of 
God's modern day  prophets must be accompanied  by a proof text 
from the Word of  God and is  consistent with that text.  

       Hebrews 4: 12,    "...For the Word of  God is quick, and  powerful, 
       and  sharper  than any  two-edged  sword,  piercing  even  to the 
       dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, 
       and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  kjv  
      (The word, quick, here is used to mean "alive" or "lively."
 
    A Pastor of 40 years experience once asserted to me that he would not 
have  anyone take  from him the  privilege of searching  the Scriptures for 
a word from the Lord to bring to God's people.  May he be blessed of God 
and may his tribe increase.                          
                             edited 1.19.13                                donporter   8.23.12