More On The Growing Problem Of Cut-and-Paste Preachers

Blogger Tony Rose has a powerful piece on the growing problem of pulpit plagiarism that I have addressed in different place on this blog. You can read the whole article here, but check out just this excerpt of blatant fraud:

"In this first example, watch Pastor Craig Groeschel’s introduction as he describes his VBS experience. The speaking starts around time marker 2:30 and his story concludes around the 5:00 mark:

• Example 1: You’re Watching: So You’re Dead… Now What? #2– Craig Groeschel
• Download Craig’s Text

Next, listen to Tadd Grandstaff, of Pine Ridge Church in Graham, NC, as he appears to use Pastor Groeschel’s material, as his own, in first person:

• Example 2: So You’re Dead - Part 3 of 3 – Tadd Grandstaff
• Download Tadd’s Text

So are we to believe that both of these men had the same experience, at the same age, with the same details, exactly as described in first person by both of them?

Both men had a neighborhood vacation bible school, when they were 8 years-old, sat Indian-styled in a circle in the driveway, ate the cookie, drank the Kool-Aid, both were the only one to raise their hand and be taken to the garage to be told the same thing, with the same intonation, both race home and hide in the closet and pray the same prayer, and both fall asleep in terror of the same thing, and praying the same thing? I’m serious! I don’t believe it!"

You can read my take on the growing problem here.

By the way, in the interest of full disclosure, we are starting 40 Days of Love (a Saddleback Church resource) this Sunday and I will be adapting Rick Warren's material. Just so you know.

HT: Slice of Laodicea