Category: Ministry Integrity

Real Examples of Plagiarism

Posted on by Theresa Harvard Johnson

SINOFSPIRITUALPLAGIARISMExcerpt From “The Sin of Spiritual Plagiarism”
Copyright 2013 Theresa Harvard Johnson

(Because this is a serious topic among the congregation, this book has been offered as a free resource. You may download it or read it online here.)

The idea here is to fully establish a foundation of what plagiarism looks like in the natural, so that we can build a strong spiritual understanding around it. Our thesis is simple: “Thou shalt not steal.” (KJV Bible)

Let’s take a look at some additional examples of what plagiarism might look like by exploring some real life, extremely public cases:

  • JAYSON BLAIR: One of the most infamous cases of plagiarism over the past decade is the story of a former New York Times reporter by the name of Jayson Blair. He was proven to have plagiarized more than 30 national news stories by inventing fictional quotes and stealing quotes from other news articles or news magazines. Not only did Blair resign, but two editors within the company resigned as well. While this case was indeed an embarrassment for all parties involved, the reputation or “good name” of this man was critically tarnished regardless of the skill and writing ability that landed him the position in the first place. Just putting his name search engines brings up topic after topic on what is being coined the “plagiarism dilemma” (Dan Barry, et al. 2013).
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    Ministry Integrity

Defining Plagiarism (And Why The Church Should Care)

Posted on by Theresa Harvard Johnson

SINOFSPIRITUALPLAGIARISMExcerpt from the book, The Sin of Spiritual Plagiarism
Copyright 2013 Theresa Harvard Johnson

(Because this is a serious topic among the congregation, this book has been offered as a free resource. You may download it or read it online here. Print copies are available here. In addition, this excerpt addresses the definition of “plagiarism” and does not dig into the spiritual aspect. For the full understanding download the book.)

A few years ago, I was discussing the issue of spiritual plagiarism with a group of prophetic scribes when one of them said to me: “Is there really such a thing? How can plagiarism be an issue among brothers if what each one of us receives is from and belongs to God? We are to take ownership of nothing and leave everything in God’s hands.” 

While I can see the logic and perhaps some spiritual debate in this exchange, there was a need to take thie discussion further. Father wanted this scribe to see that there are people, some with malicious intent, who carelessly and deliberately steal the words and works of others – even among the body for their own personal gain. He wanted to bring clarity and understanding in that: “It is not okay to take someone’s inspiration (meaning published words, works) under any circumstances and claim it as your own. It is stealing. Yes, that inspiration may be from the very heart of God but it was given to that specific person under God’s authority; and recognition, acknowledgement and permission will still be required if you or anyone else decides to share, distribute or otherwise publish that person’s information. If for no other reason, as believers, we should look at using someone else’s inspiration as a privilege, honor and courtesy.” That expression is one of respect, honor. We are Sons of God first, regardless of our “business in the world.”

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Ministry Integrity

Opening The Gates

Posted on by Theresa Harvard Johnson
Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson
This clip from the movie, 2012, opens with people plunging to their deaths as they take extraordinary, desperate steps to live. They simply want one day, one more minute… one more breath. While we all know this is a movie for entertainment purposes, in shows us plainly in the Spirit  that many, many people want to LIVE.
 
As I watched this moive from beginning to end, I found myself thinking: “They can live. They can have a life even greater than this natural on. They can have it in Jesus who has already saved humanity. We simply have to be desperate enough to tell them… and let them know that the gates are open!”
 
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Ministry Integrity

Part I: Are you Godly confident?

Posted on by Theresa Harvard Johnson
(The video above is powerful. Please watch it! It is 4-minutes long. In addition, the focus of my blog post is on “Embracing Your Confident” as a means of accessing your authority and power in Messiah. It is from the perspective of confusing CONFIDENCE with arrogance and pride. I pray that this series encourages you.)

Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson
A couple of weeks ago, the Lord began ministering to me about the power of confidence. It is through this confidence that you and I are able to access our authority in Yeshua and access POWER. Confidence works with faith. Confidence strengthens us in overcoming fear. The trouble is, so many of us have given our confidence away and exchanged it for false humility –the devaluing of the gifts of God that are within us, and causing the extraordinary “in you” to become common.
 
I had to repent for this – as I had walked this way for a very long time. In truth, it was an effort to lower who I was so that others might be more comfortable around me. It was the epitome of compromise, the very altar the Lord had called the ministry entrusted to me to destroy. It was an attempt on my part to people please, fit in. (If you want to take a look at the extreme side of this, read Luke 9:26.)

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Ministry Integrity

Love Not The World

Posted on by Theresa Harvard Johnson
1 John 2:15-17 CJB says, “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If someone loves the world, then love for the Father is not in him; because all the things of the world – the desires of the old nature, the desires of the eyes, and the pretensions of life – are not from the Father but from the world. And the world is passing away, along with its desires. But whoever does God’s will remains forever.”
 
In this passage, the term “world” is referring to the world system or the ways of Babylon – not people. The phrase “things of the world” is speaking specifically toward the objects and influences that are valued inside this world system. Things that become the idols of men. The Apostle John infers that the act of clinging to the world system is proof that a person is living out of or from their old nature, the sin nature of the flesh. He is admonishing believers to turn away from this pull and commit to our Father in Heaven.