Podcast Episode #375
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Pastors and church staff do a lot of great things. Unfortunately, they sometimes do some stupid things too.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- The internet has made both sermon plagiarism and detecting sermon plagiarism easier.
- Pastor, if you’re plagiarizing sermons, I guarantee you that people know it.
- Church credit cards can be very helpful. They can also be very harmful when abused.
- If you’re currently involved in one of these four danger areas, the first thing to do is to stop.
- Don’t. Do. Stupid.
The four dangers we discuss are:
- Flirting dangerously with sexual boundaries.
- Plagiarism.
- Financial stupidity.
- Social media madness.
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Feedback
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Those are great thoughts for those of us not in ministry. I find the social media madness to be one that I loathe because of my job in small-town media. When I retire in a few years, I’ll be able to rid that unwelcomed part of social media and hang on to the part I enjoy, pictures/updates from close friends and family. The sexual and financial issues have been around since the fall of man and will be until we have the new heaven and new earth.
Dr. Rainer (and Jonathan),
Great podcast and, unfortunately, I can attest that each of these are true. In the church I pastored, within a span of less than 18 months after my arrival, I (with the support of some of my leaders):
1. Terminated one pastor for sexual infidelity;
2. Terminated another pastor for financial misgiving (nearly 20 years without having given a penny to the church); and
3. Saw a third pastor resign (primarily due to a massive personality conflict), and then he proceeded to troll me mercilessly on Facebook.
Yes, many pastors do stupid, and at a rate of rapidity that is shocking. More importantly, however, pastors’ stupidity leaves a mess for others to clean up. Succinctly, I cashed in nearly ALL of my leadership chips in order to Scripturally remove these men due to their “stupidity.” Worth it? Absolutely. Difficult (and at a personal cost)? Certainly.
Scott S, I stand and applaud your faithfulness to obey God and not your flesh or man. I would love to be a part of your ministry for then I wouldn’t just barely make it into heaven but confidently and willingly though the great practice of leadership such as you exhibit. I pray that you continue to be strong in the Lord that way through the power of His might and tearing down human fortresses and strongholds in the church that other leaders passively wink at.
Loved the podcast. I couldn’t help but laugh – I caught a pastor plagiarizing once and he was not happy about it. He was reciting a popular online sermon almost verbatim. I was like, “Wouldn’t it be easier to write your own sermon than to memorize someone else’s?” I mean, goodness, if that’s the message you want your congregation to hear, just play the other guy’s sermon or tell your congregation to go watch it, don’t pretend it’s yours!
I don’t see a problem with citing an old sermon and reading it aloud – even if you do it entirely. If you think it’s wisdom and you want your people to hear it, read it, but don’t claim it.
Come by and visit me at eastjordan.church where the sermons are always home-made.
Loved the podcast. I couldn’t help but laugh – I caught a pastor plagiarizing once and he was not happy about it. He was reciting a popular online sermon almost verbatim. I was like, “Wouldn’t it be easier to write your own sermon than to memorize someone else’s?” I mean, goodness, if that’s the message you want your congregation to hear, just play the other guy’s sermon or tell your congregation to go watch it, don’t pretend it’s yours!
I don’t see a problem with citing an old sermon and reading it aloud – even if you do it entirely. If you think it’s wisdom and you want your people to hear it, read it, but don’t claim it.