Original Recipe
I'll never forget hearing the news a few years ago about a lead pastor of a mega-church in Charlotte, NC resigning from his position after an admission that he had spent two years plagiarizing sermons. The pastor admitted that he had been deeply depressed and felt that he had nothing original or creative to offer so he resorted to downloading sermons from other church leaders and presented them as his own work. In an interesting turn of events, his church actually forgave him and begged him to stay. He chose to move on; however, because he couldn't get past the fact that he wasn't true to himself.
As a church leader and frequent speaker, I turn to other communicators and leaders for inspiration. I've exchanged ideas, concepts and personal stories with other pastors, but I realize how important it is to be myself. Even though I'd love to smile as big as Joel Osteen, have as much passion as Louie Giglio, be as cool as Rob Bell, and be able to deliver practical application like Andy Stanley, I realize that I've just gotta be me. Let's face it: our audiences want real, authentic communicators standing before them... delivering the very word that God gave to them. They like the original recipe... and they want you to be you. Here's a humorous video that Ed Young Jr. created recently on the dangers of imitation and the importance of originality:
haha. nice vid...
ReplyDeleteEd is my former pastor. While in seminary Monica and I went to Fellowship. We loved our time there.
ReplyDeleteI like the point here and the video is of the chain. (Did I use that last phrase correctly? It hurts when I try to go street.)
ReplyDeleteThat's good advice for everyone, not just pastors.
ReplyDeleteWay too funny!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd good to see an Aussie in the mix!
There's a fine line between "borrowing" and "plagiarizing," and I'm glad you talked about turning to others for inspiration and exchanging ideas. I have all of my sermons uploaded to sermoncentral.com and occasionally get an e-mail from a pastor out there who asks permission to use my stuff. One guy even told me he would put my name on the notes page he passed out to his congregation!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate these guys' sincerity, but my response to all these inquiries is to use whatever of mind they want and not to give me any credit. We need each other. And if anything I have put out there can help a fellow minister or layperson communicate the Gospel more effectively and possibly lead people to Christ, how could I possibly be upset over that? I tell these guys, "Use anything you want, don't give me credit, and we'll rejoice together in Heaven with the people who were saved because we didn't care who got the credit."
Rick Warren says that "The pastor who wants to be original or nothing...is both." Truth.
Also, I haven't laughed as hard as I did from 3:30 on in that video in a long time.
ReplyDeleteSteven, thanks for the comment. I think you have a great perspective.
ReplyDelete