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Mark Driscoll Nailed for Plagiarism
From Janet Mefferd:
On Nov. 21, I conducted an interview with Mars Hill Church Pastor Mark Driscoll. During the course of the interview, I questioned Pastor Driscoll about two sections of his book, “A Call to Resurgence,” which neglected to contain any quotes, detailed footnotes or attribution for his reproduction of another scholar’s thoughts and insights. The passages in question are on pages 38-47 and pages 185-189 of Pastor Driscoll’s book. Those pages of material all borrow from the original material of Dr. Peter Jones, cited here in his books, “Gospel Truth and Pagan Lies” and “One or Two: Seeing a World of Difference.”
Today, we also revealed that Pastor Driscoll has lifted material from another source — word for word — in another of his books, “Trial: 8 Witnesses From 1&2 Peter.” This was a book published in 2009 by Mars Hill Church. On pages 7 and 8, Driscoll lifts and publishes, under his own name, an entire section from “1 Peter,” New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, Ed. D. A. Carson, 4th ed. (Downers Grove, Ill.: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994),p. 1370.
On Nov. 23, Pastor Driscoll posted an article on his website, entitled “We Even Lie About Our Lying.” In that article, he writes the following: “Deception is where we twist the truth into a weapon for harm and destruction. Cheating in school. Half-truths on a resume. Falsifying reports at work. Double-billing clients. And, pastors are notorious for ‘borrowing’ material. All of us are guilty of deception to some degree. Its prevalence, however, does not change the fact that deception is a demonic, satanic issue.”http://marshill.com/2013/11/23/we-even-lie-about-our-lying
It is evident from this article and from his own sermons and website material that Pastor Driscoll understands the seriousness of committing plagiarism.
Scripture is clear that Christians are to be holy, exhibiting the highest standards of ethics, integrity and morality in obedience to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There is an even higher standard of conduct expected for Christian pastors, as Scripture clearly says they must be “above reproach.” (I Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6) Plagiarism is a significant ethical breach that has ended the careers of academics and journalists alike, and especially in view of our calling before God to be upright and godly, Christians should not dismiss such charges lightly.
Since many listeners have asked for the evidence of our claims, we have compiled 27 pages of material for public investigation. It is our hope that people will examine the evidence and determine whether or not these charges of plagiarism are true.
“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (I Peter 1:15-16)
For the glory of God,
Janet
What blows my mind is how many young Christian men (mostly men) are defending this guy and tossing Janet Mefferd under the bus. Justin Taylor should be ashamed of himself, but he proves again where his loyalties lie, just like he did when John Piper gushed over Rick Warren and helped boost Warren’s market share and credibility yet again.
The people upset with Piper were the bad guys back then, and the people upset with Driscoll are the bad guys now.
Justin Taylor suggests authors not go on Janet’s show. Does he know some dirty little secret about the Christian Publishing world that the rest of us don’t know?
Jesus gives us absolutely clear guidelines on how to approach a brother who has sinned – ONE ON ONE – Janet doesn’t follow Jesus’ instructions on this AT ALL! She confronts him on the radio!
And she should have. You’ve misunderstood Matthew 18. That passage is not referring to public transgression, but individual. For more, see here.
It is indeed a fortunate thing that the guidelines of the Bible have not been followed in this case. Christian charlatans should be exposed as publically and openly as possible.
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More allegations are “emerging”:
Mefferd struck again on Wednesday [11/27], providing two additional allegations of plagiarism— both taken word-for-word from Carson’s “New Bible Commentary“ and published in Driscoll’s book on 1&2 Peter. Carson has said that preachers who plagiarize are “stealing” and “deceiving.” Requests for a comment sent to the office of D.A. Carson were not immediately returned.
http://jonathanmerritt.religionnews.com/2013/11/27/mark-driscoll-silent-amid-mounting-allegations-of-plagiarism/#sthash.SwOnBfvX.dpuf
Are you people seriously beating up a Christ loving, preacher of the Word over plagiarism? Please…besides the early Mark Driscoll sermons show me any of his heretical teachings. You people are throwing rocks at a Christian instead of uplifting him in prayer and exhorting him. Show me the pastor who is perfect…show me a Christian who does everything correct. Peter was beat up by Paul in the bible for messing up, BUT Peter was stating circumcision + Christ = salvation. I listen to Driscoll, Piper, McArther, Chandler and several others all the time and I don’t hear anything heretical coming out of their mouths. They might not all agree but the basic tenants of true Christianity is being preached. Jesus is being put at the forefront of the message and that is what you should rejoice in. We have come out of an age of charlatans, the word of faith ministries and prosperity gospel, where the name of Jesus is hardly ever uttered and these men are leading the way and all you guys can do is throw rocks? Get on your knees and pray for them. Thank God that they are truly professing the Gospel and stop backbiting. Oh and how much money does he make off these books? I bet none of you knows. I am not a Mars Hill member just to be transparent. I am a U.S. Marine who lives in Virginia and goes to a non-denom, unaffiliated church. I bet you have some rocks to throw at me…but I am just going to pray for you.