Southern Baptist President Ed Litton Continues to Deny & Cover Up Flagrant Plagiarism in Interview with President Adam Greenway of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 4:32PM I was a biology major during my undergraduate years. We didn’t have to write term papers. We had to memorize things like the chemical equation for photosynthesis or the double helix for a DNA molecule. I didn’t know how to write.
When I arrived at seminary I quickly discovered I had to write 9-12 research papers per trimester. My first year I took Church History I from Dr. John Warwick Montgomery. He had seven earned degrees including three doctorates. One doctorate in jurisprudence; one master’s degree in library science. Nothing got past him. I quickly learned the definition of plagiarism the hard way.
I wrote a lengthy paper on Athanasius. I read several works by various authors. I knew I couldn’t use their material verbatim without citing in quotations marks. I didn’t know it was plagiarism to use their thoughts without citation in the footnotes.
When I got my paper back there was a note in red letters on the cover page, “Your grade has been reduced from an A- to a C- for your intentional or unintentional plagiarism.” My plagiarism was unintentional but it was real. I learned my lesson. You must always credit the words and thoughts of an author you are using as a source. This is nothing novel. It is the standard definition of plagiarism.
Dr. Adam Greenway is the President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. This week he interviewed Dr. Ed Litton during the chapel service for students. Litton is the president of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is also a plagiarist though he adamantly denies it.
Southwestern Baptist Theolgocial Seminary
The September 14 interview lasted 55 minutes and covered several topics. The section on plagiarism ran from minutes 4:05 to 19:53 but it also included ancillary thoughts. A short section of the audio cut out but I was able to recover some of it. In this interview, Litton made many deceptive statements. His lying and deceit continues. This is a serious issue and one I’ve written about before. My charges are based upon carefully documented evidence.
SBC President Ed Litton Refuses to Repent After Private Appeals Go Unheeded. The Evidence Against Him Demonstrates a Long Term History of Deceit & Plagiarism.
Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 5:32PM
Will the Southern Baptist Executive Committee Take Any Action Against President Ed Litton at Upcoming Meeting for His “Despicable” Plagiarism?
Friday, August 20, 2021 at 2:43PM
Here are the sections from the interview dealing with plagiarism. I’ve highlighted parts and provided commentary.
GREENWAY:
There has been a lot of conversation, controversy, claims have been thrown around particularly as it relates to your preaching ministry in the context of your service at Redemption Church in Mobile where you have been the pastor now for many, many years. Talk to us about that because there have been all kinds of statements and claims. You can imagine that when I posted on social media that we were hosting you for this conversation there was a lot of snark that came back particularly from the anonymous social media accounts that proliferate these days. But I’d like for you just to talk about particularly in light of what has come to be known in the common parlance as “the sermon plagiarism controversy.” And I’d like to even hear, do you accept the term plagiarism to describe your actions in terms of your preaching ministry. Yes or no? Why? Just help us to understand for the benefit of our seminary community the issue here.
COMMENTARY:
Greenway immediately shows his bias. He disparages the charges against Litton. “A lot of…claims have been thrown around” and “there have been all kinds of statements and claims.” He gives no credence to them. Therefore, he wasn’t surprised when “anonymous social media accounts” (the ones throwing around all kinds of stuff) responded to the invitation with “a lot of snark.” He discredits a group of anonymous mockers as though they are the only ones bringing charges against Litton. He creates a false impression. In truth, there are godly leaders and pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention who have addressed Litton’s plagiarism though most remain silent. For example, I have included as an addendum Dr. Al Mohler’s response to a student’s question about Litton’s plagiarism and role as president.
Greenway asks Litton a question that has been asked of him before in other interviews. “Do you accept the term plagiarism to describe your actions.” Litton uses it to vindicate himself before all the seminarians and college students. His answer. Absolutely not.
At no point in the interview does Greenway challenge Litton’s answer or ask follow-up questions. I have sent Greenway all the evidence. He knows Litton is guilty of plagiarism yet willfully enables him in his lying.
The same was done by Jared Cornutt on Not Another Baptist Podcast (August 24, 2021) I’ve also included his interview with Litton as an addendum.
Here is the standard definition of plagiarism from the Oxford Dictionary. “The practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own.” That is exactly what Litton did. But let’s take it a step further to make sure the definition is correct. Let’s cite Greenway’s Student Handbook for the seminary and college. How do they define plagiarism? The underlining is mine.
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Texas Baptist College are educational institution committed to a high standard of academic integrity at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels. As such, any student who submits work as part of the requirements for a course thereby asserts that the student personally has done that work and that it has not been submitted for credit in any other course without permission. Unless credit is explicitly given to sources, the student is asserting that the words and/or the thoughts are the student’s own original work. Falling short of these standards is academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes the following: cheating, submitting without approval work originally prepared by the student for another course, and plagiarism, which is essentially submitting as one’s own work material prepared in whole or in part by another person while failing to give proper credit on papers for sources used. All cases of plagiarism will be reported to the Dean of Students and will be kept on file. The institution recognizes a professor’s authority to undertake disciplinary actions concerning any of his students in the context of his classroom.
What holds true for the classroom holds true for the pulpit! Unless credit is “explicitly given to sources” it is “dishonesty.” “Plagiarism…is failing to give proper credit.” Plagiarism is not about using other sources. It is about not crediting those sources!
Litton had permission to use J.D. Greear’s material on Romans. Fine. That’s like having “permission” to use a commentary in preparation for a sermon. It becomes plagiarism when you fail to credit the commentator and present the material as your own. That is precisely what Litton did time after time.
This should result in “disciplinary actions” like removal from the pulpit and resigning as the president of the SBC.
LITTON:
Well, first let me start by saying I take preaching very seriously. Seven and half years as a church planter in Arizona and then 27 years at Redemption Church. It is critical that the man of God preach the word of God and the truth of God to God’s people. And that there is a trust relationship that is built when that is done. And so there is a high value in primacy of preaching. The situation we find ourselves in today is that a series of messages we did last year on the book of Romans, which I just want to be honest with you, was intimidating for me. I preached Romans before but a lot of things have changed in my life in the last ten years that I may get to in a moment. But when I approached that I noticed that I had my commentaries, I bought new commentaries preparing for that series. We actually plan our preaching about two years in advance and in that particular case I started listening to J.D. Greear, who had done a series just previous to this and I was really moved by the way he handled some very challenging passages in Romans. So I called J.D. and I asked him, I said “First of all, would you mind sharing with me how you broke down the book of Romans to do it in one year?” Which he sent me a spread sheet with all that information that was very helpful, so as part of the preaching planning. But then I said “There is material here do you mind if I use this material.” He was very gracious. And I think he even quoted Adrian Rogers that if my bullet fits your gun, shoot it. I said “That is fine and I appreciate it.” So there are in particular, a couple particular cases, times where I made statements that others have been able to line up with statements that, from the same text, the same passage that J.D. used. So to answer your question I don’t consider that plagiarism.
COMMENTARY:
First, Litton broke his “trust relationship” with his church. He led them to believe his sermons were his own. He deceived them. He never acknowledges this sin.
Second, Litton’s plagiarism was not confined to “a series of messages we did on the book of Romans” in 2020. Nor was it confined to J.D. Greear. His documented plagiarism goes back to 2012 when he and his wife Kathy read word from word a message given by Tim Keller in 1991 on “Marriage as a Commitment and Priority.” There was no attribution. Litton refuses to answer my question about whether he asked Keller’s permission. This use of material is most probably a combination of stealing and plagiarism.
Third, Litton confines his use of “statements” to “a couple particular cases.” This is a blatant lie. There are six documented cases where he used material from Greear’s sermons. These “statements” include message titles, subheadings, sermon outlines, introductions, prayers, illustrations, jokes, quotes, actual words, thoughts, doctrine, and application points. People must listen to the videos to comprehend the extensive use of material by Litton that “line up” with Greear. It is shocking!
Fourth, Litton confuses his audience by changing the definition of plagiarism from crediting sources to “do you mind if I use this material.” Therefore, he proclaims “I don’t consider that plagiarism.” Since he asked permission there was no plagiarism. Greenway lets him get away with this deceitful explanation.
One must recognize his strategy. He wants people to believe he borrowed a couple statements from J.D. in 2020. That is all!
LITTON:
Let me tell you where my sin was. My sin was I did not credit him to my church. And I have been asked why, and I am a little mystified by that too, because I am very transparent with my people, and the goal of using material whether it is written by R. Kent Hughes or the International Critical Commentary or any other commentary you use, is to expound on the text and to make sure people understand the verse by verse meaning of that text, so that was my goal, it wasn’t to become famous because frankly if that was my goal I would not have picked J.D. Greear as someone to quote. The problem was I did not credit him. I have repented of that to my church. I have repented of that to our leadership. And quite frankly we are in a process of changing some things. I am fasting from listening to preaching right now cause it turns out I have a capacity to remember statements that are made in an audible sermon that I hear that is a little too good and sometimes it gets mixed up.
COMMENTARY:
This is the first time Litton uses the word “sin” to describe his actions since he was initially exposed on June 21. It is a crucial paragraph. What is the message he is sending to the entire Southern Baptist Convention? He didn’t cover up anything. His didn’t sin on purpose. His heart was pure. Not crediting J.D. was an oversight.
This is not a biblical confession of sin. It is manipulation with the goal of self-vindication. Here is a satirical paraphrase to make the point.
“I should have credited J.D. but the thought never crossed my mind. It was completely unintentional. My heart was pure. I’m mystified because I am a very honest person. I never conceal anything and I certainly didn’t withhold from the church knowledge that the entire series was based on J.D.’s painstaking work. It was an oversight. Furthermore, I didn’t use J.D.’s jokes, illustrations, and content to impress or look good. Frankly, he’s not a popular or effective preacher. Therefore, my problem really wasn’t a “sin” issue. My problem was my exceptional memory. I inadvertently remembered statements by J.D. (but not that they came from J.D.) and I spontaneously shared them not realizing they were his statements. I got mixed up. I thought my thoughts were my thoughts, not his thoughts. Oh well. What can you do? Anyway, I still sinned but it was inadvertent and due to my remarkable recall. My heart was always right. It’s all a big misunderstanding. Sorry folks!”
One more point. Litton blames his plagiarism on “a capacity to remember statements that are made in an audible sermon.” Litton listened to Greear’s messages but that is not what he relied on. He relied on his manuscripts. When the scandal broke Litton put out a statement. Here’s an excerpt.
Redemption Church
A place to belong
Pastor’s Statement
by Ed Litton
June 26, 2021
In that process, I learned about my friend J.D. Greear’s messages on Romans and discovered what he had recently preached resonated with the direction God was leading me and our preaching team. We often consulted his manuscripts along with other resources as we prepared.
When Litton preaches he is fixated on his notes. He doesn’t preach extemporaneously from thoughts that come across his mind. There’s no question his notes included notes from the manuscripts. Litton should release his written sermons to the SBC Executive Committee for examination. This is another example of profound deceit in his interview with Greenway.
LITTON:
But the truth is this has been a very painful process. It has been a hot process for me. Let me explain what I mean. You’re very familiar with the fact that the Scripture teaches us that we are being refined. I feel like I am in a refiner’s fire. Now I want to tell you this, it is easy to criticize the source of the fire, nowhere does the Scripture tell us to do that. The Scripture tells us to put our eyes on the Refiner because he knows when to turn up the heat and he knows when to allow it to get to a certain place and he knows when to shut it off. And so through this I have accepted the reality of this fire and I embrace it by the grace of God and God is refining me. There is a depth in me that I have discovered of insecurity that needed praise for my preaching that God has been in the process of burning out. And it is a painful thing. And there are more things. Matter of fact, some of my critics, if they knew what God knew about my heart, this would be a never ending tweeting feed. But the truth is God is far more gracious, then I have ever been. And what the Scripture tells me, and what it tells all of us, is that we pray for those who all manner of evil against us false or true, we pray for them, we ask a blessing and I can say that what some may have meant for evil, God has meant for good because at the end of the day the purpose of preaching is the saving of many souls. And my church has been incredibly gracious and loving and supportive. And I also have a unique process too, I have been mentoring young preachers for many years now, we have multiple campuses, we have live preaching on all of our campuses, and so we have a process of studying together, and we have a process of working it out. Now when that became public knowledge that opened up even more criticism that I was perverting or misleading other students but we’ve had honest, candid conversations about how we credit and what we do with the information that we are sharing with other people. And so we are learning and growing through this experience.
COMMENTARY:
I find Litton far too focused on “the source of the fire” and “the evil against us” and too little focused on his sinful heart. Let me explain.
This is not the first time Litton has talked about the refiner’s fire but he has never explained what dross is being burned away. He does for the first time. The impurity being removed is “a depth in me…of insecurity.” That is his fundamental problem. He is insecure. Therefore he “needed praise for my preaching.”
This is a fundamental misdiagnosis of his heart. It reveals a lot about Litton’s superficial understanding of the doctrine of sin. He does not know how to apply it to his heart. How can the president of the SBC and the lead pastor-teacher of a church identify his core problem as insecurity? That is a morally neutral term. Insecurity does not appear on any of the sin lists in the New Testament. Jesus did not suffer the wrath of God for insecurity. Litton’s problem is far greater than he realizes.
He also says this insecurity resulted in needing “praise for my preaching.” He is wrong. The desire to be praised does not come from insecurity. It comes from idolatry. Preaching for praise is reprehensible. It is the opposite of preaching for the glory of God.
There is every reason to believe this desire to impress was behind his unwillingness to credit Greear. He wanted the recognition due Greear. Only the Lord knows all the occasions when church members complimented Litton for jokes, illustrations, insights, or points of application that came directly from Greear. Each time he should have corrected the person and made clear his material came from Greear’s sermons. And every time that happen God was watching. That is why Litton has been exposed. He is not a victim.
The desire to be praised is always rooted in the pride. It is the desire to be great, to impress, to make a name for oneself. That is Litton’s core problem. He is preoccupied with his reputation and will do what’s necessary to preserve it or add to it. That includes covering up and minimizing his plagiarism and deceiving his congregation into believing his sermon material was his own.
If Litton were a honest man, he would have told Redemption Church from the beginning the entire series was based upon J.D. Greear’s series. Then he would have explained how he planned to use Greear’s titles, introductions, illustrations, word for word and thought for thought content. In fact, he could have told them they don’t need to come to Redemption, they can listen to J.D.’s messages online! Of course, that would get him fired!
GREENWAY:
In light of this, particularly we have obviously students who are here, who are studying preaching, who are preparing for pastoral ministry. Obviously, the old line, it may be Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday but Sunday is always coming. And yet the demands of pastoral ministry particularly in today’s age where in any given moment a phone call, a text, a tweet, something else can disrupt the entire course of life. In light of what you have been through, and in light of how you have reflected upon that, I am curious if you had any particularly pastoral words for our seminary community and our seminary students and for pastors in terms of how they can learn from this and not have to experience that same degree of pain that you have gone through in terms of this particular issue since there but for the grace of God could go anyone.
COMMENTARY:
Greenway lets him off the hook and focuses on Litton’s pain, not his plagiarism. Instead of asking, “In light of what you have been through,” Greenway should have asked, “In light of what you have done.”
Greenway doesn’t apply the doctrine of sin to Litton or ask follow up questions about his “insecurity” or “needing praise” for his preaching. He could have helped him to see his heart.
On the other hand, he wants Litton to tell the students “how they can learn from this and not have to experience that same degree of pain that you have gone through in terms of this particular issue.” What particular issue? Plagiarism. Not crediting sources.
This was an easy question for Litton to answer. “Don’t ever deceive people like I did into believing your sermon material was original. That is why I have suffered. Not for righteousness sake but for unrighteousness sake.”
At this point in the interview Litton’s microphone cuts out for 13 seconds. He is barely audible. I managed to recover some of what he said.
LITTON:
The sovereignty of God is such that we believe he controls everything including our suffering. He is sovereign over everything. I think we have to embrace that. Let me tell you as new pastors, old pastors, all of us. Be as transparent as you possibly can be. Be real. You should apologize to your wife, probably daily. To your children. You should be willing to stand before your church this is where I am broken because they are broken. And religion also wants us to put up a façade. But true discipleship has to be able to embrace our brokenness. And we preach grace but do we believe in grace.
COMMENTARY:
Litton is telling the students to do the very thing he has not done. “Be as transparent as you possible can be. Be real.” People need to read or re-read SBC President Ed Litton Refuses to Repent After Private Appeals Go Unheeded. The Evidence Against Him Demonstrates a Long Term History of Deceit & Plagiarism to understand the extent of his deception. He is expert at putting up a façade. A façade is “an outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality.”
For Litton being real is being real about “where I am broken.” “True discipleship” is being “able to embrace our brokenness.” No, no, no! True discipleship is denying and putting to death one’s sinful self and following Christ. That is why Jesus commands, “If anyone wants to become my disciple, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
Telling people they are broken is not offensive. Telling people they are evil is offensive. That is why they hated Jesus. He testified that their deeds were evil (John 7:7) and the wrath remained upon those who would not obey him (John 3:36). Ouch! So much for gentle Jesus meek and mild.
A therapeutic gospel fills church buildings but it does not save souls for eternity. My brokenness is not my problem. It is my sinfulness. That’s why the good news centers on the crucifixion of Christ. He died on the cross in my place for my sins to satisfy God’s justice and remove God’s righteous wrath from my life. Hallelujah! That is extraordinary news!
This theme of brokenness is the marketing brand employed by Redemption Church to attract people. If you go to their website this is the message that jumps out at you.
One Church. Two Locations.
Surprising people every day with redemptive hope
Redemption Church is a place where broken people can be who they are so they can experience the freedom only Jesus can bring.
Litton understands his fundamental problem in therapeutic terms. He is broken. Not he is sinful. That’s why he is so insecure. He needs healing and understanding. So when you do something wrong you “apologizes” for your brokenness. I am concerned Litton lacks a working knowledge of the doctrines of sin, salvation, and sanctification.
One more observation. Litton says “Be as transparent as you possibly can.” When the plagiarism scandal broke his leadership team immediately removed all his sermons numbering over 140 according to Newsweek. They posted this statement on the website. It has been removed now.
Redemption Church
A place to belong
Sermons
June 26, 2021
By the action of the leadership of Redemption Church, we have taken down sermon series prior to 2020 because people were going through sermons in an attempt to discredit and malign our pastor. It is our highest priority to care for and shepherd our church.
You can find all sermons from 2020, including the Romans series, on our YouTube channel (LINKED HERE) while we’re waiting for our new website to come online at the end of July.
Of course, you can’t “discredit and malign” unless Litton has done something wrong. I called for an outside audit of all his messages for plagiarism. Not a chance. There is every reason to believe he has been using other people’s sermons for a long, long time. He refuses to be transparent in the least. This was the kind of question Greenway was not willing to ask. Nor have any of the Baptist Press reporters. “President Litton, how long have you been using others people’s sermons without attribution?”
LITTON:
And I am a recipient of amazing grace from the Lord, amazing grace from a loving church, a loving wife, loving children and I need not just to preach that I need to model that for my people so I would say this, it is frightening to think about what can happen to your reputation, it is terrifying, but that is a danger. Proverbs chapter 19, or 29 rather, says “The fear of man is a snare.” And to me it is probably one of the greatest struggles we as Southern Baptist have, we are terrified of being ruined in public.
COMMENTARY:
It is no fun having your reputation impugned by slanderers and false witnesses but it is not “frightening” or “terrifying.” When you come to Christ you renounce your love of reputation.
On the other hand, it is frightening and terrifying to come under the discipline and judgment of God for unconfessed sin of a serious nature over a long period of time and be exposed for your iniquity by the Sovereign Lord.
This controlling fear tells us more about Litton’s idols. His love of reputation rules him. He lives in fear of the “danger” that his reputation with be ruined without cause. What he should do is live in the fear of God.
1 Peter 4:15,17 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler…. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household.
Litton is suffering as a deceiver in this plagiarism scandal.
He goes on to quote Proverbs 29:25 out of context. Here’s how the verse is translated in the Southern Baptist Christian Standard Bible. The fear of mankind is a snare, but the one who trusts in the LORD is protected.
If Southern Baptists “are terrified of being ruined in public” it is for one of two reasons. Their sin is serious or they don’t trust God. Furthermore, if you are living a life above reproach you have little about which to worry.
LITTON:
When, when, Mr. President when I ask people to serve in Southern Baptist life, the most common question I get in response is “Will they do to me what they have done to you?” So what we have done is created an atmosphere that is quite toxic to where good people will not serve for fear that a mistake or a sin that they committed five years ago could be brought up on YouTube or they could be paraded out and embarrassed and ashamed. And I want to tell you something, it is not fun, but by the grace of an Almighty God who died naked on a cross for me, you can overcome it. I don’t mean overcome it politically so that you can win another election. I don’t mean that. But folks it is well with my soul because of the God who paid the ultimate price for me.
COMMENTARY:
Litton emphasizes “what they have done” to him. He compares it to “a mistake or a sin” “committed five years ago.” He is minimizing. Then he claims the atmosphere is “quite toxic.” The people who did this to Litton are poisonous. Once again, he is discrediting those who have brought to light what he did in the dark.
If Litton had been honest in his June 26 Pastor’s Statement – Redemption Church (goredemption.com) the seven additional videos may not have been posted on YouTube. It became necessary to document the extent of his plagiarism because he covered it up from the outset. Yet, Litton implies these people “paraded out” the YouTube videos to embarrass and shame him.
I can’t speak for others but that has not been my motivation. I repeatedly tried to contact Litton and his pastors in private. They would not respond. That necessitated writing the SBC Executive Committee. That accomplished nothing. Only then did I go public.
Furthermore, there was no snark in the statement put out by Conservative Baptist Network or comments made by Al Mohler, Mark Dever, and Jason Allen about the seriousness of Litton’s plagiarism.
He also says “you can overcome it.” That is, your embarrassment and shame and uses the nakedness of Christ on the cross as an example. I don’t think that is a proper application. Jesus’ focus was not self-centered. He wasn’t thinking about his own shame, embarrassment, or nakedness. He was focused on suffering the wrath of God in our place. Lastly, Litton says “God…paid the ultimate price for me.” He doesn’t explain for what.
LITTON:
And so in pastoring what people need desperately is the truth from God and they need it from broken people. The only thing I would say is repent often for pride. Because we have the best tools and the best professors and the best ability to train and equip preaching, but the reality is nothing happens apart from brokenness, that well of living water comes out by the power of the Holy Spirit that refreshes and revives. And it is not the power of my preaching. Or the praise of my preaching. But it is the truth that I preaching that ultimately transforms people’s lives. I hate to admit this but most people do not remember my sermons but they remember that I walked slowly through the crowd. John Basonya taught me that you. That you take time for those that are broken. That you hug and pray for those who ask you to prayer for them and you don’t put it off because you’ll forget and feel guilty, but you pray right then and there. That you minister to the people God gives you. Your crowd may be big, or it may be small, it doesn’t matter, but be faithful to wherever God has placed you, and he use you, even as a broken human he will use you. [Applause]
COMMENTARY:
I agree “what people need desperately is truth from God.” My concern in this interview, and other interviews and articles, is the lack of doctrinal clarity by Litton concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ. Throughout this interview, Litton uses the word “gospel” but he never articulates the gospel. That is common in our day.
What is the gospel? It is the good news about the incarnate birth, sinless life, propitiatory death, justifying resurrection, and glorious ascension of Jesus Christ. All these vital truths need to be unpacked for sinners and saints. Of course, none of this is necessary if we are “broken humans.” It is only necessary if we are sinful humans and enemies of God. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20).
Litton exhorts the seminarians and college students to “repent often for pride” but he has never identified pride as one of his sins. Instead of turning from pride, Litton continues to nurture pride by his refusal to humble himself. I sincerely hope and pray that changes in the days to come.
GREENWAY:
Following up on that… Particularly, how are you a different person as a pastor and particularly as the President of our Southern Baptist Convention in light of the level of pain that you have experienced. How does that sensitize you as you think about what it means to lead our convention of churches in your role?
COMMENTARY:
Greenway is not helpful. He continues to focus on “the level of pain you have experience[d]” not on the seriousness of sin you have committed.
LITTON:
Well I think that we live in a painful and broken world. So I think that God uses our brokenness and he uses the pain and the things we suffer more than anything else to communicate his gospel to people.
COMMENTARY:
I disagree. Our testimony of sustaining grace in times of pain and suffering can be used by God to draw others to him but that is not the primary means. It is not the “more than anything else.” It is our brokenness over sin and a honest testimony about the consequences of sin in our lives that is a means by which we can communicate the gospel. We can extol the sustaining and strengthening grace of God in our lives but in evangelism we must major on the saving grace of God in Christ. It is not our suffering that communicates the gospel. It is Christ’s suffering that is the gospel.
LITTON:
I think one of our problems as Southern Baptists, and I can show you this on a chart, I just don’t any slides with me. It is interesting how as more prosperous we have become, the more out of touch we have become to a hurting world, so the bigger our churches get, the nicer the building get, the less likely broken people are going to feel comfortable walking in the doors even if invited, and if they are invited sometimes we, our people will look at them as if they are odd balls. In fact, we are the odd balls. The truth is most denominations die out because they out prosper themselves. At our best, look at Southern Baptists when we grew the most. We were pretty much lower middle class people which makes up the bulk of American today. Lower, middle class, and poor. We have to figure out how to humble ourselves in order to reach those people today. We’ve got to open the flood gates. We got to call them in and we have to go to them. We have to love people where they’re at or otherwise we will prosper ourselves into nonexistence. Now I think we have some serious work to do in this area. That we’ve got to reach out to people who are broken.
COMMENTARY:
I am not trying to be pedantic but Litton’s descriptions are misleading. I know people are hurting and broken. I was a pastor for 31 years and an advocate for survivors of abuse the past 10 years. We have all experience a lot of pain and suffering in this world. Much of it due to our sin, some of it due to the sins of others. But relief from the consequent pain is not our greatest need.
When Peter preached on Pentecost he did not exhort the crowd to be saved from this “broken world” or messed up world. He commanded thousands to be saved from this perverse world. Acts 2:40 (CSB) With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” You don’t often hear that kind of preaching in our day.
I appreciate Litton’s emphasis on reaching those the world has cast aside and forgotten. The poor, the immigrant, the oppressed, the disadvantaged. Most church planters target wealthy suburbs. They too must be reached but we cannot leave behind those who are uneducated, materially poor, socially lower cast, unimpressive in terms of attainments, or laden with sin. The ones he calls “broken people.” I always think of Romans 12:6 in this regard. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Apart from grace, we want to associate with people of high position like well-known Christian leaders.
LITTON:
My credibility in my city, my street cred to use city terms, is that people know that at 25 years of marriage, a woman I desperately loved, and we had gone through a lot of hard things together, and she was suddenly instantly killed and my life spun off. I didn’t know if I ever wanted to preach again. I didn’t know if I wanted to live. And by God’s grace, a loving church, a loving family, God was able to hold me and keep me in his presence as the source of my strength. Elizabeth Elliot wrote a book called [A Path Through Suffering], about the presence of God and I am just telling you as a powerful principal that all of us need to practice when we are suffering, because he will not leave us or forsake us. Kathy went through a very similar experience when Rick died about 19 years ago. My wife Tammy died 14 years ago and then God brought us together. It is not a harlequin romance. It is real. We both joke, the two most unorganized people in our two families, survived, and now are together and trying to work it out which leads to a lot of interesting things, especially when we make our travel plans, but God has blessed us and graced us with a ministry to broken people. And let me tell you this it is a stewardship of your suffering that will give you more progress in the gospel than you ever imagined as a pastor. And so I want to encourage you to be stewards of whatever it is.
COMMENTARY:
I rejoice that God has used Ed and Kathy’s story to reach people who have experienced horrific pain and calamitous suffering. “God was able to hold me and keep me in his presence as the source of my strength.”
In the same way, the extraordinary sufferings and hardships experienced by Paul the apostle were used by God to strengthen the saints as they observed the sufficient grace of God is his life. So too, we can use the comforts of God to bear witness to his kindness and faithfulness. He is our rock, refuge, and strength. A very present help in our time of need.
But this is not the same thing as bearing witness to the ransoming and redeeming grace of God in our lives that flows from the cross of Christ. People need to know I was a thief, a drunk, a fornicator, a murderer, an idolater, a power hungry executive, a greedy rich man, a self-righteous church member, a self-exalting pastor. Or, a plagiarist. Our ministry is primarily to sinful people not broken people. I will testify to his sustaining grace but there can be no “progress in the gospel” unless we point sinners to his saving grace.
LITTON:
I started suffering when I started at Southwestern. As a matter of fact, I will never forget when I graduated, the service was held at Travis Avenue Baptist Church back in those days. I’m standing on the front steps of Travis Avenue Baptist Church, looking out over Fort Worth knowing I’m about to load up a U-Haul and head out, and I guy I had several classes with was standing next to me, he said, “Hey Litton, where did you grow up?” I said, “Right here.” He said “You mean you are from Fort Worth?” I said, “No, you asked me where I grew up.” I said, “I’ve grown up here.” And so, this place I cherish for that reason. But I’ve had a lot of other growing up and continue to.
COMMENTARY:
I don’t understand the meaning of this story. Somehow it’s about how he “started suffering” when he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the early 1980’s. Somehow it is like his current suffering. I provide it for context. Litton returns to his denial of plagiarism.
LITTON:
And I just encourage you, I don’t believe that what I did, back to the original question was plagiarism but I will tell this, you don’t need to plagiarize, you need to be the unique person God called you to be. And you need to give credit where credit is due. You need to honor people. You need to honor their suffering, honor their pain, and do not be afraid. I’m not sure I’ve answered your question but.
COMMENTARY:
The original question from Greenway was, “How are you a different person as a pastor and particularly as the President of our Southern Baptist Convention in light of the level of pain that you have experienced.”
Plagiarism is not “giving credit where credit is due.” That is exactly what Litton did in 2012, 2015, and throughout 2020. Furthermore, there is every reason to believe it has been his pervasive and long standing practice. Litton continues to frame plagiarism narrowly. It is using material without permission. It doesn’t have anything to do with not crediting your sources. This is smoke and mirrors. He knows otherwise. He just won’t admit it.
Litton tells the students five things. First, “you don’t need to plagiarize.” That is, you don’t need to steal material from others. Second, “you need to be the unique person God called you to be.” That is, you don’t need to copycat. Third, you need to “give credit.” Fourth, you need to “honor people.” Fifth, “do not be afraid.” All good advice.
There is one caveat, however. Litton says you must “honor their suffering, honor their pain.” If he means honor people who have persevered during trials by the grace of God for the glory of God then I agree. Here’s my concern.
Litton makes this statement in answer to Greenway’s inquiry about “the level of pain that you have experienced.” In other words, he is saying, though indirectly, that he should be honored for the unjust pain and suffering he has endured. No, he should not be honored. He should be rebuked. He should be reproved. His sins should be told to “the church” and he should be treated like an unrepentant pagan or unscrupulous tax collector until he repents (Matt. 18:17).
The entire Southern Baptist Convention should be calling for his resignation. Not for punitive reasons but because he is not above reproach and cannot be trusted. His sins have only grown. Litton’s interview with Greenway was regressive. He has fallen even farther.
Next week the eighty-six members of the Southern Baptist Executive Committee meet. They must appeal to President Litton to repent and resign. He should not continue as the president. If he does, he should be replaced by the messengers at next year’s Convention in Anaheim on June 12-13.
ADDENDUM 1: AL MOHLER’S RESPONSE TO SBTS STUDENT’S QUESTION ABOUT ED LITTON
Al Mohler did a question and answer session with students at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary on September 1, 2021. A student asked him about Ed Litton’s plagiarism. Unlike Adam Greenway, Mohler believes Litton’s plagiarism is a grave and serious issue. Here are some comments from minutes 9:42-25:50. I’d suggest people listen to the entire section.
STUDENT:
My question is about Ed Litton and the plagiarism controversy there. As the president of this academic institution your position on my plagiarism is quite clear. So I was hoping that you could help me think through, and help us think through how as Christians we should relate to Ed Litton’s pastoral plagiarism. How as members of churches we relate to that as we encounter it there. And then specifically also how do we respond to Ed Litton as president of the SBC in light of these revelations?
COMMENTARY:
Rightly, the student calls attention to the double standard for Litton. As a student he would be expelled from the school for uncorrected plagiarism. Mohler doesn’t answer the second part of the question about how to respond to Litton as president.
MOHLER:
Yea, I’ll do my best. And I think this is the right place for that kind of conversation because these are the issues we must confront and deal with. This a theological seminary for the training of preachers. This is about preaching. So this is exactly the right context for us to have this discussion. … We ought to define terms. In the academic community or the artistic community, plagiarism is mostly about theft. It is mostly about taking someone else’s material in a way that is unattributed and uncredited and thus it is a form of theft. That is kind of the classic model of plagiarism. … In the academic world and in the world of intellectual content this is a very serious thing. … Do the people who are reading your book or the people hearing the song or the people who hearing the sermon. Is this set up so they believe this is you speaking? This is your voice. This is your heart. These are your words. The congregation should have the expectation that when the preacher preaches this is coming out of the preacher’s heart, mind and soul. And most importantly engagement with the biblical texts.
COMMENTARY:
Mohler’s concerns for Litton are obvious. He led Redemption Church to believe it was him “speaking.”
MOHLER:
Plagiarism is a very serious thing. It is a very serious thing. So those two parts explain why. For instance, even if you had preachers who said “I’m fine with you using my sermon. So if someone says “I’m fine with you using my sermon” then that’s not the theft issue in plagiarism as the most graphic issue. It is the presentation to the congregation issue. The congregation thinking this is, and having the right to think, this is coming from the preacher when it is actually not except in the voice. It is not in the actual structure and substance of the sermon.
COMMENTARY:
He is describing Litton. Litton’s plagiarism is a very serious matter. Make no mistake about it. The congregation has “the right to think” “the actual structure and substance of the sermon” comes from their pastor and preacher.
MOHLER:
And I think this particular news story has revealed the fact that is evidently increasingly common in many circles for manufactured sermons to be pretty much Sunday by Sunday the norm. And I think that is, that should alarm us as we think about the centrality of the preaching of the word. … It should not be a manufacture sermon. It should not be someone else’s sermon. That is a grave issue. A grave issue for the church.
COMMENTARY:
“This particular news story has revealed the fact” that Litton has preached “manufactured sermons.” It is a “grave issue” meriting serious attention.
MOHLER:
So I feel like my responsibility is to answer your question directly. I know it is a question many students have asked in their own way. We at Southern Seminary take plagiarism as a first rank priority. The most significant academic actions I have had to take as president in the nearly 30 years I have been president, have related to plagiarism. That has been thee front line issue. I normally don’t speak about these things in public but during the time I have been here a Doctor of Philosophy degree has been rescinded because of plagiarism. Numerous students over this time have been expelled from the institution because of a pattern of uncorrected plagiarism. I would not venture to offer how many thesis and term papers and all the rest have been caught and necessarily corrected because of plagiarism. We take that as a frontline issue and as you look long before any of these issues came up just look at the documents governing student behavior and student performance in the classroom and for that matter faculty as well and you are going to see that is a frontline issue.
COMMENTARY:
Confronting plagiarism at SBTS is a “first rank priority.” There is no question Mohler will discipline faculty and students at SBTS for plagiarism. There is no question Mohler believes Litton is guilty of plagiarism. The implication is clear. He should be “necessarily corrected” and disciplined. Unfortunately “the documents governing behavior” are not available on line.
This is a frontline issue for Mohler. You must be willing to address it like a soldier in battle on the frontlines. It can’t be avoided; yet it is being avoided in the SBC. Litton carries on as president as though nothing has happened.
MOHLER:
Now I know you pressed another issue and that is where I have to say that there simply is no doubt that this conversation we are having right now is occasioned by the fact the that president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Dr. Ed Litton, has been involved to some degree in preaching someone else’s sermon and beyond that we can see the whole issue of the kind of manufacture of sermons that is now widespread. I would simply have to say that is precisely not what we are trying to teach or to hold up as an example here.
COMMENTARY:
I hope Mohler is fully informed. Litton didn’t preach from just one of J.D.s sermons. He preached from many of his sermons.
MOHLER:
And you asked what does this mean for someone who is the president of the Southern Baptist Convention. And that is where I have to answer that question in the only way I know with integrity and in propriety to answer, since this isn’t one seminary president speaking of one president of the SBC, but we were in an election together. And he won. The Southern Baptist Convention elected Dr. Litton as president and no doubt because of his many gifts. This is an issue that I have to leave between the Southern Baptist Convention and its president. The Southern Baptist Convention alone decides who its president shall be. And the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Nashville decided that Dr. Litton would be its president. From this point onward about that role that has to be between Dr. Litton and the Southern Baptist Convention and I of all people should not imply that I know the answer to that question. Nor that the Southern Baptist Convention would ask me that question. I have to do my best to act honorably and to be honorable in this situation. I hope I have. It would not be honorable to fail to answer the question you have asked. It would not be honorable I think for me to take it where some would like me to take it. I hope that makes sense. Thank you.
COMMENTARY:
The Southern Baptist Convention can vote for another president in June 2022 and well they should. Mohler is not willing “to imply” that he “know[s] the answer” to whether Litton should continue as the president.
Mohler has stated Litton’s plagiarism and manufactured sermons are a “very serious, grave, first rank, frontline” issue. He has cited the actions taken at SBTS for similar behavior. I think Mohler clearly implies Litton is unfit to be president of the Southern Baptist Convention. I also think he could take the conversation further.
ADDENDUM 2: ED LITTON’S COMMENTS ON “NOT ANOTHER BAPTIST PODCAST”
Ed Litton also did a 25 minute interview on August 24 with Jared Cornutt on Not Another Baptist Podcast. That was three weeks before his interview with Adam Greenway. I include it below. The section on plagiarism runs from minutes 12:40 to 17:17.
CORNUTT:
But there have been some voiced concerns regarding your preaching, even calls for you to resign not just the presidency but also at your own church. If you had just a few minutes to simply share your heart, sort of clear the air, whatever it may be, what would you say to the Southern Baptists who may hear this and maybe even share some of those same concerns?
LITTON:
Yea listen, I understand why some people are concerned. I really do because of what they are hearing and there’s videos and even people in my church, we have set down and talked about it, and there is publications and things being said. So the best way I can describe, really its, most of it centers, not all, but most of it centers around a Roman series that we did last year. And when we were outlining the series, you know it is a responsible part of pastoring and preaching, as if you are going to preach outline what you are going to cover each week. And so I was looking to do that and I was in the process of doing that and I remembered that my friend, J.D. had already done that so I called him. And I said “Can you send me a spread sheet” (he keeps it on spreadsheet), that shows me how you outlined it. I want to see how mine is lining up. If I am approaching this right.” And in that process he gave me permission not only to do that he said “Any material at all you are welcome to it.” I appreciated that and I had no intention of doing anything with it except I enjoy listening to him and I enjoy how he handles certain things in teaching so I did listen to him.
COMMENTARY:
“People are concerned” “because of what they are hearing and there’s videos” “and there is publications and things being said.” He implies it is all untrue.
Next he states J.D. was the one who took the initiative to say, “Any material at all you are welcome to it.” That is a lie. In the Greenway interview he states, “But then I said ‘There is material here, do you mind if I use this material.’ He was very gracious.” Litton changes his story in the Greenway interview. He may have been corrected for lying in the Not Another Baptist Podcast.
Third, he claims, “I had no intention of doing anything with it.” Really? In other words, Greear said he could use his material but Litton had absolutely no plans to do so. He just “enjoy[s] listening to him.“
LITTON:
So here is where I want to make it very clear. Like any pastor, I used his material to help me outline it, and then I resourced his material after I had done the Greek work, after I read my commentaries, tried to get sense of how this passage needs to be explained to my people, and there are a couple places in particular where we shared the same outline. And there’s a couple places in particular where I used a lot of phrases that he did.
COMMENTARY:
“I resourced his material.” He doesn’t explain his meaning. We know he constantly consulted manuscript copies of Greear’s sermons. Next he lies about the extent of his plagiarism. There are a couple places, not a few, not several, just a couple of places “where we shared the same outline” and “a lot of phrases.” This is so deceitful. Listen to the videos. The use of material is extensive.
LITTON:
And I want to say this, I want to be clear, I think the older you get the more set you get in language, and you tend to rely on what you have used in the past. I’ve always been a guy who always wants to figure out if I am really connecting with people, my people. I want them to understand this. I didn’t do this, what I did, what it appears that I did, though I don’t think it is exactly what I did, but the point is, when I did it, I wasn’t trying to make a name for myself, I was trying to help me people understand Scripture.”
COMMENTARY:
This is humorous. “I want to be clear.” Okay, great! Tells us what you did wrong. “I didn’t do this, what I did, what it appears that I did, though I don’t think it is exactly what I did, but the point is, when I did it, I wasn’t trying to make a name for myself.” I am totally lost. What didn’t he do? What did he do? What does it appear he did but isn’t exactly what he did?
You only make a statement like this when you are covering up. He took large amounts of material from Greear and used them without crediting him. That is plagiarism. Litton never discusses his sinful motives for why he never informed his church. It certainly wasn’t “to make a name for myself.” Once again he presents his motives as altogether altruistic. He was trying to help people understand Scripture. No doubt but that is not all that was motivating him.
LITTON:
And I will be honest with you. Romans is an intimidating book for me. Now you guys are a lot smarter than me so it is probably not as intimidating for you, but it was, so I did rely on that. Here’s the problem. I had permission which I think it means is not plagiarism. The problem was I didn’t, and it obvious, that I did not tell my people exactly the source that it came from. I didn’t cite the commentaries I read either. And so that is what I have apologize to my people, they have very warming accepted that of our leadership, and I have set down and we have talked about how we can correct this, and we are in the process of correcting it. I am fasting from certain things I’ve always done preaching, and approaching every message I preach, whether it is at the Convention, or at a location, or in our own church. I am approaching it differently.
COMMENTARY:
“Exactly the source.” Oh my! He didn’t tell the church about “the source” in any way, shape, or form. There was no “exactly.” Then he compares apples with oranges.
If I read a commentary for general understanding of a text I don’t need to cite it though it is good to let your church know the commentaries you draw upon. If I use an original thought or well-articulated thought by a commentator I should give credit. And there is no question you must cite the commentary if you quote it. Litton used Greear’s thoughts and words and so much more. Even his jokes! Litton assure us the pastors “are in the process of correcting it.” Correcting what? Twenty-seven years of preaching stolen material and not crediting your sources? Approaching what differently? Not preaching other men’s sermons?
LITTON:
And so I take this very seriously and this is what I shared with my people. Every week you have trusted me for 27 years to be a man of truth and so I have to tell you the truth and if you can’t trust me than I have no basis of leadership in this church. And so, we’re grateful for the opportunity to address it but the other thing is I believe the Lord has forgiven me, and I believe that the Lord is helping me, learn an even stronger, better way to communicate. And we are moving on. We feel like we are dealing with it. We’re moving forward.
COMMENTARY:
I have no idea what he “takes seriously.” I guess not telling his people “exactly the source” for Romans. The pastors should hire an outside auditing firm to go through Litton’s 27 years of messages for plagiarism. Then “the man of truth” should “tell the truth” and present the findings in written form to the church.
Litton expresses gratitude for “the opportunity to address it” (whatever it is). In reality, he takes the opportunity to lie about it and obscure it. He says God has “forgiven” him. He doesn’t say for what. It doesn’t matter. He is “moving on.” He’s “dealing with it.” He’s “moving forward.”
CORNUTT:
Thank you for sharing that with us. I think that very clearly articulates where you are at and I do appreciate that. So I want to ask this question. Not only do I believe that we should give, we should be people of prayer, I have you written down in my prayer journal and many of our SBC leaders, and I just pray for you guys on an everyday basis. How can I pray for you as you lead your family, your church, and the work of the Southern Baptist Convention? What are some specific things that we can pray for?
COMMENTARY:
This so grievous. There are no follow up questions. Instead there is a compliment. He appreciates Litton’s very clear articulation of his thinking. What? This highlights a major problem in the SBC. Few leaders are willing to ask hard questions and call men to account. I hope that happens next week with Ed Litton.