Copyright 2018 Theresa Harvard Johnson
Jeremiah 8:8 NIV, “‘How can you say, “We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD, when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely?” (The false “anointing” of the SCRIBE)
Here are some tips on identifying plagiarism and plagiarists:
- Plagiarists become experts at twisting the Word of God by putting the sin of plagiarism in direct contradiction to the community release of revelation. They CONFUSE shared revelation (which we all have access to) with the theft of intellectual property. They do not understand that “intellectual property and copyright APPLIES in spiritual communities as well as in the natural. They choose ignorance in this area and recognize that most people DO NOT know the difference. As a result, they create an atmosphere of confusion around this subject — blinding people to truths concerning this subject that are universal.
- Plagiarists are EXPERT manipulators. Like scam artists, they build a community around their lies. Often, however, they lack the “credentials, influence, vocabulary, insight and backstory” that often supports or comes behind original ideas and concepts. This is a place of weakness in the plagiarists efforts that can often be proven in “apostolic-prophetic” environments.
- Plagiarists COMPETE. In fact, they THRIVE on competition. Competition is at the core of their initiatives. The plagiarist is literally in a contest against their peer. They work overtime to one-up them for the purpose of stealing opportunities and pushing out what they consider to be the competition. They have a strong COPYCAT mentality.
- Plagiarists WON’T SHARE. Plagiarists are selfish. Instead of working in cooperation with others, they prefer to stand alone – claiming autonomy over their stolen information. They crave attention, long to be on center stage and demand autonomy over what they never owned in the first place.
- Plagiarists are NARCISSISTS. This inflated sense of self causes them to believe that they “can get away with stealing” the original content and ideas from their peers, unaccountable. They may consider their peers as “less than” they are in their respective environments.
- Plagiarists DISMISS the authority of others. They become experts at taking another person’s life work, reworking it or rewriting it to “appear” as if they are the authority. Unfortunately, they credit these efforts with “God setting up authorities” instead of seeing this as deceit and the undermining of authority. Like Diotrephes, they deceive the people.
- Plagiarists ARE LIARS. Perhaps this is the most critical aspect of plagiarism that must be recognized in the congregation. If plagiarism is seen as inconsequential, then those who do it will not be “revealed as LIARS.” To be called a liar, in spiritual understanding, is to recognize that there is “NO TRUTH” in that person in a particular situation. It is a complete deception… for falsity which stands in direct contrast to Christ’s heart.
- It grieves a plagiarist to give recognition to the source of the information they share. Literally, it is like asking them to BLESS OR ANOITING someone they secretly hate. Behind this effort is the “seat of jealousy” in some situations.
Despite the divided heart over this issue in the Church and ESPECIALLY in apostolic-prophetic communities, know that you do not have to bow to men. STAND YOUR GROUND AGAINST PLAGIARISTS.
Watch this FIVE-MINUTE presentation on plagiarism: https://my.visme.co/projects/jwvv31gy-the-sin-of-spiritual-plagiarism
Learn how to respond to a plagiarist and to plagiarism in my book, “The Sin of Spiritual Plagiarism: Unauthorized Vessels,” by Theresa Harvard Johnson at scribalarsenal.com. Join my group: https://www.facebook.com/stopplagiarisminthechurch/
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