My dear husband has spent roughly 35 to 40 hours per week for over three decades studying to preach two sermons every Lord’s Day. His weeks are still 60 to 80 hours , and he’s now in his 60’s. The church is about 120 dear people. I believe he will hear “Well done, good and faithful servant,” not because he has been “successful”, but because he has been faithful, slogging it out week by week, month by month and year by year. I am in disbelief at what I’m seeing in the above video. It’s heartbreaking.
Right before this I listened to a sermon by John MacArthur on Acts and how Peter and Paul specifically did NOT change their message to the culture. But that the gospel transcends culture. And here we have pastors needing “cultural research papers”. Awful
MacArthurites have their own set of problems. His teaching and that of his acolytes is best described as the Mariana Trench of milk. Faux depth and retreatist pietism. I'm glad they got me and many others into reformed theology but beyond that I was spiritually malnourished until I found a holistic Christian worldview, covenant theology(not paedo tho), better eschatology(we don't "lose down here") and a more gracious disposition toward our charismatic brethren.
@@AKhardcore1 lol true but the expression salty means bitterness and discontent I am open to valid criticism of any public leader or pastor including ones I follow. But you spent a lot of time attacking macarthur but really didn't articulate a compelling argument other than you really really dislike him.
I worked for Docent four years ago. I did Curriculum Writing. I got out quickly when I found out some researchers imported Bias into there work.. sometimes it’s just their sources .. but it was enough to get out
Ok don’t know if your mocking me.. but it’s true. Unless it has changed - researcher are hired as contract labor thus little to no overhead (don’t pay SSI insurance etc.) you Get paid a good hourly price for time but must remain under 9 hours a week and must get work in on time.. put that together and you have rushed work often cut and paste from Logos - no time for nuance or explaining both sides - for example a resurcher is behind takes the word study from theological dictionary of the New Testament (blue book) on headship - it claims it means source which is an outdated (disproven at an ETS by gruddem years ago) yet no update in book.. good resurcher will uncover this and correct word study - or they just send the first deffiniton in the packet requested by the church team trying to write position paper on egalitarian-comp issues.. It’s not so much a plot to subvert traditional ideas. But the bigger problem of bad academic integrity in the references works and schools - in sociology and many other disciples the definition were changed years ago. So if you research without considering the fundamental categories of the work but assume what the textbook assumes your already thinking from a critical worldview. Second example, Friend in education working on maters now (background in statical analysis) he tells me you have to go back 15-20 years to find good statistical work that is not agenda crowed in numbers. So if anyone just trusts modern scholarship they get dooped Most of these guys and gals assume this is the best info out there and it messes up trajectory of their theological thinking. You assuming conspiracy when it’s most bad info at least on research side. Because critical theory has a memetic effect yet it operates like a virus in how it spreads throug information systems it is hard to track. Just wanting to point out it’s much more complex and not a simple cowboys and Indians scenario.. and if I may I have enjoyed your commentary from time to time but please stop playing identity politics with religious ideas and positions ..
@@johnjeremiah3437 thank you for sharing that information from your experience. I get what you are saying about incompetence over infiltration. But I would counter that there is usually a fine line between the two. Yuri Bezmenov (who was a defector from the KGB) used the phrase "useful idiots." He talked about how the KGB would use spiritual leaders and activists in order to pushed their own agenda. I think the segregation of integrity we are seeing across the institutions is a sign that many useful idiots are in power. I saw the same thing as a police officer, working in a gang heavy city. So many of these gangs are actually extremely ideological and learned these ideas in prisons (which are targeted by nation of Islam and other groups which seek to make converts). From studying what these gangs taught, I saw that communist ideology was central to many. It is not as simple as blue vs. red turf wars (though for some useful idiots, it is). I would have conversations with many of these gang members (before BLM was a national story) and they would tell me how China was the ideal place to live and look up to. Upon further conversation, they knew very little about China. But it got my attention. Where are they learning this? All this to say, I'm sure people at Docent don't see themselves as infiltrators. I'm sure many think they are doing good. The question is why are groups like these starting to have the influence they do, despite, as you have pointed out, their shody workmanship? I believe it is a sign of a weakening of our institutions which, either directly or indirectly, is always taken advantage of by US enemies.
@@johnjeremiah3437 I don’t think Jon was mocking you. Also I think Jon did a good job making a better case for the motive behind many of the leaders and writers at Docent. I’m sure there are pawns who aren’t very good at their job who are not really helping, but nobody accidentally promotes a critical-theory approach to the Bible effectively enough to steer the church towards hell. Docent is deliberately doing this, your pints haven’t really made a convincing argument, although it may add to my concern the integrity of the company.
I will add one thing I worked under James G and he was a jerk. Never dealt with him face-to-face - email and phone and when I asked if I needed to sign another contract because all the contracts were yearly his first question was do “I really want to work here?” When I left I just stopped emailing .. no exit paperwork nothing.. i’ve always thought someone who works in accounting could gives some background to that .. all that to say - I can definitely see him as a bad actor in all this ..
The liberals at Docent seem to be "pastoring" or "discipling" these so called "pastors." This is very telling about why the evangelical church is experiencing the massive mess we see today. Wow. It makes alot of sense actually... albeit incredibly tragic... and the horrifying fact is that alot of pastors look to these "successful" guys like Kellor and Greer in a sort of "Paul/Timothy" way.. Thanks John! The work you are doing uncovering and making this stuff public is so valuable to the church!
I just wanted to point out that you’re comparing all this Docent and leftward invasion conspiracy to the pizzagate scandal… which was a debunked conspiracy theory… so in your analogy you’re saying that Docent and all these leftward conspiracy allegations are also debunked conspiracy theories.
@@wyattharris6902 pizza gate was not debunked but I understand that is what we are told by the media. I looked into it myself and there was plenty there but the courts would never do anything about, of course. Just like this story there are tons of connections to "interesting" people and associations that are way to obvious to be a coincidence. Just didn't want to let you post that comment saying pizza gate was a hoax when I know from personal research that is was not.
Plagiarism is obviously just one small part of a much more complex situation. We should not "do nothing" but thankful we can rest in God's being Sovereign and Omniscient.
plagiarism with a purpose is called propaganda.... Rick Warren's mentor Peter Drucker concluded the best way to install a collectivist socialism was not through corporate human resources, as he initially believed, but through the churches..
@@CS-bn4un "we can *_rest_* in God's being Sovereign and Omniscient." rest??? really??? meh.....not according to Ephesians 5......and Eph 6 and just about every warning Jesus Christ gave us about wolves in sheep's clothing, the hirelings, false gospels and false christs, John's warnings to test the spirits, Jude instructions to pull some out of the fire... no...resting is not part of our labour in Christ... Eph 5:Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Thank you so much for doing your research and exposing hypocrisy in evangelical Christians communities. Love your work, and enjoy your posts very much!
Tim Keller right from the start says the most asinine thing. Things are different today, we need to understand the culture blah blah blah etc.... NO TIM!! Like Solomon said. " There is nothing new under the sun''. The word of God does not change with the passing of time. Sin is still sin just like it was in the beginning. God's word is still effective in diagnosing the problem and diagnosing the cure. These guys are beyond belief!!!
Yes, it reminds me of the whole "seeker friendly" movement back in the 90s, Willow Creek Community Church pastor Bill Hybels went into their community to find out why people weren't going to church, and asked them what would make church more appealing to them. They took the information they gathered and styled their church with it. Same goes for Saddleback's purpose driven life Rick Warren. 🙄 We need to be on our knees praying for the church (the bride), and praying for her leaders. 🙏
I remember having coffee with a young assistant pastor at my old church that's gone woke and when talking about why he got into the minstry he said, "I didn't want to work a 9 to 5.". The whole shell game makes sense now and these types haved help to make a more punitive world.
Jon, correct me if I'm wrong. I've been in the church (WELS as well as independent and SBC Baptist) my whole life. I've even attended Christian schools. Never once did I read, in the Bible, that the Gospel message was about social justice or about having "peace on earth." The Gospel message is about saving lost souls and for those souls to be in Heaven. Jesus even stated that they would hate us because of Him. This says to me that he clearly did not come to earth to create a social justice environment. I find it amazing that these "pastors," those with a LOT of theology and Bible education, don't see something that I learned in high school. It's sad.
I agree with you. It's not just you, because I haven't found one instance where Jesus concerned Himself with 'social justice'. It's disgusting to sit under any pastor spewing such bovine scatology.
Look up the words “justice”, “oppressed”, or “mercy” using a concordance and you’ll see that the Lord cares very much about these themes. What was the passage Jesus read when He started His ministry? Lk 4:18-19. Being “woke” doesn’t have to mean being Liberal or Democrat or socialist. Are either of you doing anything to help the blind, hungry, oppressed, lonely?
Wow. What ever happened to shepherds reading the word of God n listening to HIM in prayer! The word of God is relevant yesterday, today n tomorrow… HE is the great I am!
If these pastors are saving all this time by having a 3rd party write their sermons, what are they filling that time with? Highly doubtful that it's tending to their flock.
A lot of megachurch pastors delegate other tasks to their staff - hospital visits, weddings, funerals, counseling, etc. I can understand that, because a megachurch pastor simply doesn't have enough hours in a week to do all these things himself. He delegates these tasks to free up time for Bible study and sermon preparation. If he's delegating his Bible study and sermon prep, too, then something is seriously wrong!
@@worshambaptist4177 Something is wrong with "mega churches" in general. The Pastor is no longer a pastor, but an overseer...hired shepherd. He doesn't smell like the sheep, he doesn't fellowship with the sheep, his salary is higher than the average parishioner's salary; he uses the church platform to promote material etc... He becomes a celebrity of sorts. They all write books and they all must be on t.v. A pastor can effectually shepard 200 ppl, after that he should plant new churches. Yet ego won't make room for that!
Thank you for putting all these modern false teachings into historical perspective. The battle for Biblical veracity in this fallen world is nothing new. We are all called to remain vigilant and faithful.
I praise God for the current (revealed) state of these organizations. This should cause Christians to refocus their attention and effort on the family and the local church.
Churches are basically just businesses now. This settles it for me. The way Keller and Chandler are doing a sales promo for them is over the top. It's such a reality check and incredibly disappointing to think you've been a part of something that was trying to teach people and share the Gospel but it's like everything else - all about the dollar and self promotion. At least we have this info now.
@@forrestrhodes The New Testament teaches very clearly that Ministers should be paid for their work as ministers. Paul taught this specifically and he was paid in a couple NT instances . You should study it.
that was the most disturbing part to me, too. some slick salesmen or professional consultants-getting paid. who knows what they believe about anything, butithink they are driving the topical demand and Docent just finds the staffing to get it done on time and on point. By that i mean that these ‘pastors” set the political agenda of the message and Docent gives them the “research” or somewhat polished product.
Just wondering. Anyone notice neither Jon Harris, AD Roles, or Voddie Bachmann have been interviewed about their books criticizing Social Justice and CRT by most leading Christian Radio ministries or other media?
Voddie has mentioned that the machine (my word) worked against his ability to publish this book. He's also had trouble with distribution, but God made it a best seller despite the resistance.
The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. These pastors are hired hands, and care more about culture than the truth of the word of God. Keller’s endorsement was outrageous, in my view. Preach the word, in season and out of season.
as i said in other comments, if you can’t come up with anything “original’ just read the sermon on the mound-it’s only the greatest teaching, from the greatest teacher in history, and word has it that He is okay if you don’t explicitly give Him author credits.
Yea! Wonder why they don’t speak much about the Holy Spirit...maybe because they really don’t trust God or believe His Word. Listen to Allistair Begg, David Jeremiah, here in N Carolina -Steven Davies, Alan Wright. There is a huge difference in their teaching!!
Thank you!!! Suggested on day one that Litton may not have been plagiarizing. Suggested it may be something more nefarious and earned myself some twitter rage. God bless you and the work your doing.
2 Timothy 2:1,6,15 NASB [1] You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. [6] The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. [15] Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Thank you for your hard work. I'm just a lay person but this is quite the rabbit hole. I knew the church had been (strategically) infiltrated but I had no idea...
Here I am in 2024 watching this again, as this information is EXTREMELY relevant. Hopefully this information can be HEARD now that the “noise” from the purveyors of CRT has been “quieted.”
Every Christian, especially those in leadership, who loves the Lord and His Word needs to be aware of what you document in this vital video. We are in the midst of a great falling away with many "angels of light" within "evangelicalism". Praying for you.
Shocking, but it sure sheds a lot of light on why all these preachers are preaching similar messages with social justice, liberal bent. How sobering God's word is warning about false teachers creeping in. They start out with what seems biblical, gaining trust, and slowly the shift begins. May the Lord expose them all for the creeps they are.
I wonder how many of the denominational publishing arms (eg Lifeway?) are using Docent? Maybe an investigation should be done on that? Could it be time for individual churches to start working on their own curriculum directly from the Bible itself based on doctrinally and historical reality?
This was eye-opening I read a piece by Larry Alex Taunton that talked about Tim Keller with some of the same issues but not the background you presented.
So we thought JD was sooo smart and biblically grounded & he was just regurgitating stuff from from here. He never really knew his congregation cuz Summit is too big. So why are we paying these pastors big bucks 💰 They aren’t leading their flock which is their #1 job
Providentially, for me, I never listened to any of these guys; and when I had the chance, they either didn't do it for me and/or I found out how wishy-washy they are. God's done that A LOT for me over the years, it's quite remarkable.
Good stuff. I used to listen to Keller, Driscoll, and Chandler before all this cultural disruption occurred. I felt uneasy with some of the content in their sermons. I initially passed it off as minor disagreements but it grew and finally I had to stop. I couldn't put my finger on exactly why until recently. I find MacArthur and Voddie to be the most accurate on doctrinal issues and what the Gospel is about. Keep up the good work. Thanks for the video.
Why is my Pastor, who has for many years very Biblically Conservative, will not preach on this subject? It seems we are being kept in the dark. Most people in our church do not know what our SBC is doing. Yet now, even lost people, public teachers, parents of public schools, even politicians are speaking out and openly coming out against CRT. WHY? I have spoken to him about this and recently he uses an example of slavery as being bad, and it WAS, but Noone in 100+ years has ever had a slave, yet CRT is raging ahead.
Honey, I sent my now-former church a strong rebuke for the pastors ignoring my warning in 2020, and not educating themselves on this issue. I basically had to spell it out for them, because they are grossly ignorant; thus, failing the flock in every respect.
that is just his take. i wouldn’t trust anything he says. wait a second, he saved the church money by not hiring a full-time research assistant. Even his brain says that is a win-win.
24:18 I fully agree with the error on the side of giving credit angle. I think it's clear that none of DG's clients read that memo. Would MC, JDG or TK share the sermons they used DG for and note that they told their congregations that they used an outside source?
I was in the try-out process with Docent about 10 years ago. I did not go through with it because it just didn't feel right. They were very demanding in their communication--purely trying to crank out content on an exact schedule (although they seem highly disorganized in terms of meeting their timelines with me). Obviously there is a lot of money to be made with this kind of thing. As a side note, I think people would be shocked at how far left things have been drifting in seminaries for a long time. When I was in seminary (DTS) there were many professors on board with the progressive agenda. So it's only natural that the people learning from these professors turn out to be deceived.
I would merely add that Docent probably didn't change any hearts or minds of these wayward pastors. Docent is just a collection of fellow travellers. The use of Docent for the 2010 SBC statement by Ronnie Floyd... that tells you all you need to know. To criticize Litton for his lazy sermon copying is too close to home for all these people.
Good idea and it's a tough topic. I thought a lot of these people were compromised and "squishy" a few years ago, but I didn't seriously question their faith like I'm doing now.
Back when I was in college there were similar businesses that operated based on the demand. Students (myself included) figured out you could pay for a 6 hour cram session that taught you all you needed to know to pass a certain accounting classes test. I am ashamed to admit this but I can't help but recognize the same mentality here...
True, but that's not nearly as bad or dangerous. Helping students cram isn't the most helpful way to learn, but it doesn't sound like actual cheating. These pastors aren't college students. They're ministers of God's word with a very high calling. Letting some woke, 22-year old Gender Studies major write your sermon is beyond questionable.
Wow if this isn't shady then I don't know what is. These dudes really do seem to see the church as a business strategy and I don't know, maybe that's a best case scenario for what they're doing.
@conversations that matter, thank you for doing this deep dive. This is exactly what I thought we would find. Docent is nothing more than a leftist theological think tank.
An SBC pastor in Charlottesville, VA has recordings of very similar sermons on Romans from BEFORE the Greear / Litton scandal leading me to believe there’s an underlying common source - like Docent!
What about "ghostwriters"? I have heard rumors that most of Ed Stetzer's books are "ghostwritten" by someone named Philip Nation? I've heard Lifeway does this often with ghostwriters writing books and "bigger names" putting their names on it. Can anyone confirm if these things are true?
Jon, did you get to follow-up on another group that I posted about in one of your comment sections....find them at "Hello Church" on UA-cam (including interviews with Ed Litton and likely others)? It's associated with Ministry Pass and Sermonary, all pastoral 'helps.' The online vita, although from 2018, of one of the Docent guys lists some of his work and how it was used for various well-known pastors. Adding a note..sorry I forgot to say, "Job well done" on this.
Proverbs 30:15-16 ESV The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, "Enough": [16] Sheol, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, "Enough."
Docent certainly looks like a hotbed of progressive unbiblical Christianity. That neo-Marxist academics in another city/state could help a faithful pastor better understand the culture and needs of his own congregation is an extremely unlikely proposition.
As with many things happening today, it's the tyranny of the 'experts'. "You don't need to read the scriptures and seek the Holy Spirit for guidance. You have us! The experts!"
“The tragedy is that we have too many dead men in the pulpits giving out too many dead sermons to too many dead people. Our seminaries today are turning out dead men.” -Leonard Ravenhill
Smaller churches that split and plant faster would seem to eliminate the need for pastors to be so busy they can’t do their primary job (preaching/teaching).
@@JenniferoftheSea But that makes their offense all the more disgusting! Megachurch pastors have large staffs. They have people who can handle administration, hospital visits, weddings, funerals, etc., so the senior pastor can devote his time to Bible study and sermon preparation. When a megachurch pastor is outsourcing these tasks, too, something is terribly wrong!
ESV Bible addresses civil laws as "social justice". I'm considering switching Bibles. Any recommendations? I was looking at NASB. Even Lockman starts to be "concerned" about gender issue. I feel like it's best just to go back to KJV.
Humbly submitting another comment as I listened to this again, as was distracted a lot the first time, and realized that you did, Jon, see some of the same vita info I read from one of the Docent writers, Brad Vermurlen. Sorry I missed that when I mentioned the availability of that info online. In fact, you commented about what he provided which was in the SBC Great Commission Resurgence Task Force report....in his vita it says who it was for as well, "Cross Church, Springdale, AR. Pastor Ronnie Floyd: I articulated examples from modern history and sociology of how extant social structures and systems change when the Spirit of God moves. The full report, which also included examples from the Bible, was used in the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force of the Southern Baptist Convention. March 2010. With Tim McConnell"
Chandler and Keller just smack of people who are completely in the world, of the world, and for the would. They serve their true master, the prince of this world. Honoring God isn't a secondary or even a tertiary concern. And, now with the Gordon revelation and the removal of the Jim Elliott plaque, it appears that Wheaton College is poisoned as well. Maranatha!
One idea I have and it may not be original: What if guys like Matt Chandler could find faithful men in their own churches, and entrust some of these research and sermon help tasks to them. In this process I wonder if they could find faithful and gifted teachers, and those men might even be able to teach others in the church.
![Method Writing: The First Four Concepts - Jack Grapes [FULL INTERVIEW]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ba9jAVzADY0/mqdefault.jpg)
Tolerance toward people is a good and biblical virtue, but tolerance toward false teaching is sin.
John MacArthur
My dear husband has spent roughly 35 to 40 hours per week for over three decades studying to preach two sermons every Lord’s Day. His weeks are still 60 to 80 hours , and he’s now in his 60’s. The church is about 120 dear people. I believe he will hear “Well done, good and faithful servant,” not because he has been “successful”, but because he has been faithful, slogging it out week by week, month by month and year by year. I am in disbelief at what I’m seeing in the above video. It’s heartbreaking.
Right before this I listened to a sermon by John MacArthur on Acts and how Peter and Paul specifically did NOT change their message to the culture. But that the gospel transcends culture. And here we have pastors needing “cultural research papers”. Awful
MacArthurites have their own set of problems. His teaching and that of his acolytes is best described as the Mariana Trench of milk. Faux depth and retreatist pietism. I'm glad they got me and many others into reformed theology but beyond that I was spiritually malnourished until I found a holistic Christian worldview, covenant theology(not paedo tho), better eschatology(we don't "lose down here") and a more gracious disposition toward our charismatic brethren.
@@AKhardcore1 I agree
@@AKhardcore1 salty much?
@@Josh.1234 yes sir. We are to be salt and light 😊
@@AKhardcore1 lol true but the expression salty means bitterness and discontent
I am open to valid criticism of any public leader or pastor including ones I follow. But you spent a lot of time attacking macarthur but really didn't articulate a compelling argument other than you really really dislike him.
I worked for Docent four years ago. I did Curriculum Writing. I got out quickly when I found out some researchers imported Bias into there work.. sometimes it’s just their sources .. but it was enough to get out
Seriously? You have any other info people should know?
Ok don’t know if your mocking me.. but it’s true. Unless it has changed - researcher are hired as contract labor thus little to no overhead (don’t pay SSI insurance etc.) you Get paid a good hourly price for time but must remain under 9 hours a week and must get work in on time.. put that together and you have rushed work often cut and paste from Logos - no time for nuance or explaining both sides - for example a resurcher is behind takes the word study from theological dictionary of the New Testament (blue book) on headship - it claims it means source which is an outdated (disproven at an ETS by gruddem years ago) yet no update in book.. good resurcher will uncover this and correct word study - or they just send the first deffiniton in the packet requested by the church team trying to write position paper on egalitarian-comp issues.. It’s not so much a plot to subvert traditional ideas. But the bigger problem of bad academic integrity in the references works and schools - in sociology and many other disciples the definition were changed years ago. So if you research without considering the fundamental categories of the work but assume what the textbook assumes your already thinking from a critical worldview.
Second example, Friend in education working on maters now (background in statical analysis) he tells me you have to go back 15-20 years to find good statistical work that is not agenda crowed in numbers. So if anyone just trusts modern scholarship they get dooped
Most of these guys and gals assume this is the best info out there and it messes up trajectory of their theological thinking.
You assuming conspiracy when it’s most bad info at least on research side. Because critical theory has a memetic effect yet it operates like a virus in how it spreads throug information systems it is hard to track.
Just wanting to point out it’s much more complex and not a simple cowboys and Indians scenario.. and if I may I have enjoyed your commentary from time to time but please stop playing identity politics with religious ideas and positions ..
@@johnjeremiah3437 thank you for sharing that information from your experience. I get what you are saying about incompetence over infiltration. But I would counter that there is usually a fine line between the two. Yuri Bezmenov (who was a defector from the KGB) used the phrase "useful idiots." He talked about how the KGB would use spiritual leaders and activists in order to pushed their own agenda. I think the segregation of integrity we are seeing across the institutions is a sign that many useful idiots are in power. I saw the same thing as a police officer, working in a gang heavy city. So many of these gangs are actually extremely ideological and learned these ideas in prisons (which are targeted by nation of Islam and other groups which seek to make converts). From studying what these gangs taught, I saw that communist ideology was central to many. It is not as simple as blue vs. red turf wars (though for some useful idiots, it is). I would have conversations with many of these gang members (before BLM was a national story) and they would tell me how China was the ideal place to live and look up to. Upon further conversation, they knew very little about China. But it got my attention. Where are they learning this? All this to say, I'm sure people at Docent don't see themselves as infiltrators. I'm sure many think they are doing good. The question is why are groups like these starting to have the influence they do, despite, as you have pointed out, their shody workmanship? I believe it is a sign of a weakening of our institutions which, either directly or indirectly, is always taken advantage of by US enemies.
@@johnjeremiah3437 I don’t think Jon was mocking you.
Also I think Jon did a good job making a better case for the motive behind many of the leaders and writers at Docent. I’m sure there are pawns who aren’t very good at their job who are not really helping, but nobody accidentally promotes a critical-theory approach to the Bible effectively enough to steer the church towards hell. Docent is deliberately doing this, your pints haven’t really made a convincing argument, although it may add to my concern the integrity of the company.
I will add one thing I worked under James G and he was a jerk. Never dealt with him face-to-face - email and phone and when I asked if I needed to sign another contract because all the contracts were yearly his first question was do “I really want to work here?” When I left I just stopped emailing .. no exit paperwork nothing..
i’ve always thought someone who works in accounting could gives some background to that .. all that to say - I can definitely see him as a bad actor in all this ..
Always appreciate the sources you present in your videos.
The liberals at Docent seem to be "pastoring" or "discipling" these so called "pastors." This is very telling about why the evangelical church is experiencing the massive mess we see today. Wow. It makes alot of sense actually... albeit incredibly tragic... and the horrifying fact is that alot of pastors look to these "successful" guys like Kellor and Greer in a sort of "Paul/Timothy" way.. Thanks John! The work you are doing uncovering and making this stuff public is so valuable to the church!
This is big. It's like pizza gate but in the church. So many connections. This is one of your best videos.
I just wanted to point out that you’re comparing all this Docent and leftward invasion conspiracy to the pizzagate scandal… which was a debunked conspiracy theory… so in your analogy you’re saying that Docent and all these leftward conspiracy allegations are also debunked conspiracy theories.
@@wyattharris6902 pizza gate was not debunked but I understand that is what we are told by the media. I looked into it myself and there was plenty there but the courts would never do anything about, of course. Just like this story there are tons of connections to "interesting" people and associations that are way to obvious to be a coincidence. Just didn't want to let you post that comment saying pizza gate was a hoax when I know from personal research that is was not.
Pizza Gate? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I hope you get to know Jesus. He is the truth.
@@Justinvestor_ thank you
I think a lot of thought, "This Ed Litton plagiarism stuff is not just plagiarism. It's plagiarism with a purpose."
Purpose Driven Plagiarism
Plagiarism is obviously just one small part of a much more complex situation. We should not "do nothing" but thankful we can rest in God's being Sovereign and Omniscient.
plagiarism with a purpose is called propaganda.... Rick Warren's mentor Peter Drucker concluded the best way to install a collectivist socialism was not through corporate human resources, as he initially believed, but through the churches..
@@CS-bn4un "we can *_rest_* in God's being Sovereign and Omniscient." rest??? really???
meh.....not according to Ephesians 5......and Eph 6 and just about every warning Jesus Christ gave us about wolves in sheep's clothing, the hirelings, false gospels and false christs, John's warnings to test the spirits, Jude instructions to pull some out of the fire... no...resting is not part of our labour in Christ...
Eph 5:Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
If he's going to plagiarize, why not plagiarize biblically sound sermons instead of heretical sermons?
Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 1King 19:18
For today it would be "whose knees have not bowed to BaaLM."
John, this is mindblowing. It explains so much.
Thank you so much for doing your research and exposing hypocrisy in evangelical Christians communities. Love your work, and enjoy your posts very much!
Tim Keller right from the start says the most asinine thing. Things are different today, we need to understand the culture blah blah blah etc.... NO TIM!! Like Solomon said. " There is nothing new under the sun''. The word of God does not change with the passing of time. Sin is still sin just like it was in the beginning. God's word is still effective in diagnosing the problem and diagnosing the cure. These guys are beyond belief!!!
I honestly don't understand why so many like him.
@@retrograd332 because he sounds all pias, and understanding. Unfortunately those who like him are un sound in their own theology and doctrine.
I did think Keller was so great...for a while... until... what you said
Amen!
Thank you for your work! I’m praying daily for eyes to be opened.
The idea that they think we need social, cultural, and demographic research for preaching God's Word is telling.
Yes, it reminds me of the whole "seeker friendly" movement back in the 90s, Willow Creek Community Church pastor Bill Hybels went into their community to find out why people weren't going to church, and asked them what would make church more appealing to them. They took the information they gathered and styled their church with it. Same goes for Saddleback's purpose driven life Rick Warren.
🙄
We need to be on our knees praying for the church (the bride), and praying for her leaders. 🙏
I remember having coffee with a young assistant pastor at my old church that's gone woke and when talking about why he got into the minstry he said, "I didn't want to work a 9 to 5.".
The whole shell game makes sense now and these types haved help to make a more punitive world.
When "pastors" describe themselves as "communicators"...😒
Thank you Jon for all you hard work, God has raise you up for a time such as this.
Jon, correct me if I'm wrong. I've been in the church (WELS as well as independent and SBC Baptist) my whole life. I've even attended Christian schools. Never once did I read, in the Bible, that the Gospel message was about social justice or about having "peace on earth." The Gospel message is about saving lost souls and for those souls to be in Heaven. Jesus even stated that they would hate us because of Him. This says to me that he clearly did not come to earth to create a social justice environment. I find it amazing that these "pastors," those with a LOT of theology and Bible education, don't see something that I learned in high school. It's sad.
I agree with you. It's not just you, because I haven't found one instance where Jesus concerned Himself with 'social justice'. It's disgusting to sit under any pastor spewing such bovine scatology.
Look up the words “justice”, “oppressed”, or “mercy” using a concordance and you’ll see that the Lord cares very much about these themes. What was the passage Jesus read when He started His ministry? Lk 4:18-19. Being “woke” doesn’t have to mean being Liberal or Democrat or socialist. Are either of you doing anything to help the blind, hungry, oppressed, lonely?
Tim Kellar, Culture,Culture and Culture.
satan approached these pastors with "wisdom and knowledge" just like he deceived Eve in the garden.
Wow. What ever happened to shepherds reading the word of God n listening to HIM in prayer!
The word of God is relevant yesterday, today n tomorrow… HE is the great I am!
If these pastors are saving all this time by having a 3rd party write their sermons, what are they filling that time with? Highly doubtful that it's tending to their flock.
Agreed!!
Had the exact same thought.
If they were tending the flock they wouldn't need someone else tell them what the congregation needs.
A lot of megachurch pastors delegate other tasks to their staff - hospital visits, weddings, funerals, counseling, etc. I can understand that, because a megachurch pastor simply doesn't have enough hours in a week to do all these things himself. He delegates these tasks to free up time for Bible study and sermon preparation. If he's delegating his Bible study and sermon prep, too, then something is seriously wrong!
@@worshambaptist4177 Something is wrong with "mega churches" in general. The Pastor is no longer a pastor, but an overseer...hired shepherd. He doesn't smell like the sheep, he doesn't fellowship with the sheep, his salary is higher than the average parishioner's salary; he uses the church platform to promote material etc... He becomes a celebrity of sorts. They all write books and they all must be on t.v.
A pastor can effectually shepard 200 ppl, after that he should plant new churches. Yet ego won't make room for that!
Thank you for putting all these modern false teachings into historical perspective. The battle for Biblical veracity in this fallen world is nothing new. We are all called to remain vigilant and faithful.
Like Bereans.
I praise God for the current (revealed) state of these organizations. This should cause Christians to refocus their attention and effort on the family and the local church.
We should all pray that a docent writer is convicted and shares the truth about everything.
Convicted for what?
@@lambo58 I think he meant convicted in his heart, not legally.
@@Bibleguy89-uu3nr lol!!!!!
Churches are basically just businesses now. This settles it for me. The way Keller and Chandler are doing a sales promo for them is over the top. It's such a reality check and incredibly disappointing to think you've been a part of something that was trying to teach people and share the Gospel but it's like everything else - all about the dollar and self promotion.
At least we have this info now.
@@forrestrhodes The New Testament teaches very clearly that Ministers should be paid for their work as ministers. Paul taught this specifically and he was paid in a couple NT instances . You should study it.
@@forrestrhodes: Paul also said there was nothing wrong with a pastor receiving financial support from his congregation.
that was the most disturbing part to me, too. some slick salesmen or professional consultants-getting paid. who knows what they believe about anything, butithink they are driving the topical demand and Docent just finds the staffing to get it done on time and on point. By that i mean that these ‘pastors” set the political agenda of the message and Docent gives them the “research” or somewhat polished product.
It's not enough to be woke, you also need to be Xerox-woke
Just wondering. Anyone notice neither Jon Harris, AD Roles, or Voddie Bachmann have been interviewed about their books criticizing Social Justice and CRT by most leading Christian Radio ministries or other media?
Yes. It's telling and very sad.
Voddie has mentioned that the machine (my word) worked against his ability to publish this book. He's also had trouble with distribution, but God made it a best seller despite the resistance.
Great work, Jon.
Thank you. This is crazy and makes my stomach turn. Good work.
The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. These pastors are hired hands, and care more about culture than the truth of the word of God. Keller’s endorsement was outrageous, in my view. Preach the word, in season and out of season.
Amen! Well said. Hirelings.
as i said in other comments, if you can’t come up with anything “original’ just read the sermon on the mound-it’s only the greatest teaching, from the greatest teacher in history, and word has it that He is okay if you don’t explicitly give Him author credits.
Sure does bring clarity to what's happened to the evangelical church. Thank you so much for exposing it.
Wow! This is crazy! But boy oh boy this explains a lot!
Great work, great research John.
I am seeing a trend clearly. It's horrifying, but when will the church really call these people apostates?
Well one things for sure, these pastors DON'T have the Holy Spirit guiding them.
Are they even pastors at this point?
Yea! Wonder why they don’t speak much about the Holy Spirit...maybe because they really don’t trust God or believe His Word. Listen to Allistair Begg, David Jeremiah, here in N Carolina -Steven Davies, Alan Wright. There is a huge difference in their teaching!!
@@katherinecornette5315 or Peter Masters, who preaches at Charles Spurgeon's church. He is so, so good.
@@misswinnie4.8 no, they are not. They’ve become your basic voice over actor.
more like the holy payday.
John
This is great work. It is sad for me personally but needs to come out. Thank you.
Lament 😢
This explains so much why we feel out-numbered IN the church...
"And I say this to the end that no one may delude you by persuasive speech."
Colossians 2:4
Wow! All I can say is wow!
Thank you!!!
Suggested on day one that Litton may not have been plagiarizing. Suggested it may be something more nefarious and earned myself some twitter rage.
God bless you and the work your doing.
Thanks John great info!!
2 Timothy 2:1,6,15 NASB
[1] You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. [6] The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. [15] Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Soooo, My pastor can outsource Holy Spirits direction to Docent?
And they will be multiplied like loaves a fishes.
That's a good way of putting it! Sad, huh?
Insightful and very disturbing!!
Thank you for your hard work. I'm just a lay person but this is quite the rabbit hole. I knew the church had been (strategically) infiltrated but I had no idea...
Here I am in 2024 watching this again, as this information is EXTREMELY relevant. Hopefully this information can be HEARD now that the “noise” from the purveyors of CRT has been “quieted.”
Notice a common thread in the endorsements. "Multiply my ministry", "Make me look good".
Every Christian, especially those in leadership, who loves the Lord and His Word needs to be aware of what you document in this vital video. We are in the midst of a great falling away with many "angels of light" within "evangelicalism". Praying for you.
This explains a lot of what is going on within evangelical churches
Shocking, but it sure sheds a lot of light on why all these preachers are preaching similar messages with social justice, liberal bent. How sobering God's word is warning about false teachers creeping in. They start out with what seems biblical, gaining trust, and slowly the shift begins. May the Lord expose them all for the creeps they are.
Amen.
It is "creepy" 😳😩
I wonder how many of the denominational publishing arms (eg Lifeway?) are using Docent? Maybe an investigation should be done on that? Could it be time for individual churches to start working on their own curriculum directly from the Bible itself based on doctrinally and historical reality?
This was eye-opening I read a piece by Larry Alex Taunton that talked about Tim Keller with some of the same issues but not the background you presented.
So we thought JD was sooo smart and biblically grounded & he was just regurgitating stuff from from here. He never really knew his congregation cuz Summit is too big. So why are we paying these pastors big bucks 💰 They aren’t leading their flock which is their #1 job
Providentially, for me, I never listened to any of these guys; and when I had the chance, they either didn't do it for me and/or I found out how wishy-washy they are. God's done that A LOT for me over the years, it's quite remarkable.
So true!
I understand that their clients pay a fee for the services rendered, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is some 'dark' money involved as well.
Pastor B.H. of RHC has a recent video on just that. "Subversion and Sabotage"
Bomb. Shell.
In my humble opinion
Good stuff. I used to listen to Keller, Driscoll, and Chandler before all this cultural disruption occurred. I felt uneasy with some of the content in their sermons. I initially passed it off as minor disagreements but it grew and finally I had to stop. I couldn't put my finger on exactly why until recently. I find MacArthur and Voddie to be the most accurate on doctrinal issues and what the Gospel is about. Keep up the good work. Thanks for the video.
Why is my Pastor, who has for many years very Biblically Conservative, will not preach on this subject? It seems we are being kept in the dark. Most people in our church do not know what our SBC is doing. Yet now, even lost people, public teachers, parents of public schools, even politicians are speaking out and openly coming out against CRT. WHY? I have spoken to him about this and recently he uses an example of slavery as being bad, and it WAS, but Noone in 100+ years has ever had a slave, yet CRT is raging ahead.
Honey, I sent my now-former church a strong rebuke for the pastors ignoring my warning in 2020, and not educating themselves on this issue. I basically had to spell it out for them, because they are grossly ignorant; thus, failing the flock in every respect.
Thanks Jon.
Thank you for this and the rest of your work, Jon.
Funny how most of these guys spew similar woke nonsense..
Interesting that Docent approaches pastors. Matt Chandler had it right at first impression. He should have listened to his gut.
But he didn't, he signed up, paid, continues to pay, and is spewing out this garbage from the pulpit.
that is just his take. i wouldn’t trust anything he says. wait a second, he saved the church money by not hiring a full-time research assistant. Even his brain says that is a win-win.
24:18 I fully agree with the error on the side of giving credit angle. I think it's clear that none of DG's clients read that memo. Would MC, JDG or TK share the sermons they used DG for and note that they told their congregations that they used an outside source?
I never had a Sunday night potluck. Was always lunch.
Well done. Thank you.
Thanks for the heads up.
Thank you for sharing. This has the creep factor. Disturbing for sure.
Wow! This is crazy but boy oh boy explains a lot !
Why are you spamming this?
@@Christian-vq8rd sorry 🤷🏼♀️ not spamming. Think it was issue with YT
@@katdav9601 just wondering. That happens. 👍
I was in the try-out process with Docent about 10 years ago. I did not go through with it because it just didn't feel right. They were very demanding in their communication--purely trying to crank out content on an exact schedule (although they seem highly disorganized in terms of meeting their timelines with me). Obviously there is a lot of money to be made with this kind of thing. As a side note, I think people would be shocked at how far left things have been drifting in seminaries for a long time. When I was in seminary (DTS) there were many professors on board with the progressive agenda. So it's only natural that the people learning from these professors turn out to be deceived.
I would merely add that Docent probably didn't change any hearts or minds of these wayward pastors. Docent is just a collection of fellow travellers. The use of Docent for the 2010 SBC statement by Ronnie Floyd... that tells you all you need to know. To criticize Litton for his lazy sermon copying is too close to home for all these people.
There is no point in hiring a minister. Special order a sermon from Docent and have someone get up and read it.
Jon, can you recommend a sound teaching on wheat from tares? If not could you tackle the topic?
Good idea and it's a tough topic. I thought a lot of these people were compromised and "squishy" a few years ago, but I didn't seriously question their faith like I'm doing now.
@@johnp7739 I appreciate the reply...I thought it was just me.
Back when I was in college there were similar businesses that operated based on the demand. Students (myself included) figured out you could pay for a 6 hour cram session that taught you all you needed to know to pass a certain accounting classes test. I am ashamed to admit this but I can't help but recognize the same mentality here...
True, but that's not nearly as bad or dangerous. Helping students cram isn't the most helpful way to learn, but it doesn't sound like actual cheating. These pastors aren't college students. They're ministers of God's word with a very high calling. Letting some woke, 22-year old Gender Studies major write your sermon is beyond questionable.
Wow if this isn't shady then I don't know what is. These dudes really do seem to see the church as a business strategy and I don't know, maybe that's a best case scenario for what they're doing.
That’s EXACTLY what my thoughts were when I started listening to this
Yes, i have hired consultants for projects and managed consultants and these guys’ comments remind me of consultants spewing their bullshit.
🙏 thank you for all that you do for the Body of Christ 🥰
@conversations that matter, thank you for doing this deep dive. This is exactly what I thought we would find.
Docent is nothing more than a leftist theological think tank.
An SBC pastor in Charlottesville, VA has recordings of very similar sermons on Romans from BEFORE the Greear / Litton scandal leading me to believe there’s an underlying common source - like Docent!
"Let me write the sermons (and songs) of a church and I don't care who writes their statement of faith"
Great work exposing this stuff!
Still love that intro music.. ; )
This is very insightful and useful.
I bought your book and about to read it
What about "ghostwriters"? I have heard rumors that most of Ed Stetzer's books are "ghostwritten" by someone named Philip Nation? I've heard Lifeway does this often with ghostwriters writing books and "bigger names" putting their names on it. Can anyone confirm if these things are true?
Jon, did you get to follow-up on another group that I posted about in one of your comment sections....find them at "Hello Church" on UA-cam (including interviews with Ed Litton and likely others)? It's associated with Ministry Pass and Sermonary, all pastoral 'helps.' The online vita, although from 2018, of one of the Docent guys lists some of his work and how it was used for various well-known pastors. Adding a note..sorry I forgot to say, "Job well done" on this.
Do we need to begin a investigative news agency for the body of Christ?
Maybe
The intro music is great!
Proverbs 30:15-16 ESV
The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, "Enough": [16] Sheol, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, "Enough."
Docent certainly looks like a hotbed of progressive unbiblical Christianity. That neo-Marxist academics in another city/state could help a faithful pastor better understand the culture and needs of his own congregation is an extremely unlikely proposition.
Never clicked play so fast 👀
As with many things happening today, it's the tyranny of the 'experts'.
"You don't need to read the scriptures and seek the Holy Spirit for guidance. You have us! The experts!"
“The tragedy is that we have too many dead men in the pulpits giving out too many dead sermons to too many dead people. Our seminaries today are turning out dead men.” -Leonard Ravenhill
Love the way you connected the dots. You sure you did not serve in the military as in Intel guy lol
Smaller churches that split and plant faster would seem to eliminate the need for pastors to be so busy they can’t do their primary job (preaching/teaching).
I was thinking the same thing. All these men are pastors of mega churches .
@@JenniferoftheSea But that makes their offense all the more disgusting! Megachurch pastors have large staffs. They have people who can handle administration, hospital visits, weddings, funerals, etc., so the senior pastor can devote his time to Bible study and sermon preparation. When a megachurch pastor is outsourcing these tasks, too, something is terribly wrong!
ESV Bible addresses civil laws as "social justice". I'm considering switching Bibles. Any recommendations?
I was looking at NASB. Even Lockman starts to be "concerned" about gender issue. I feel like it's best just to go back to KJV.
Humbly submitting another comment as I listened to this again, as was distracted a lot the first time, and realized that you did, Jon, see some of the same vita info I read from one of the Docent writers, Brad Vermurlen. Sorry I missed that when I mentioned the availability of that info online. In fact, you commented about what he provided which was in the SBC Great Commission Resurgence Task Force report....in his vita it says who it was for as well, "Cross Church, Springdale, AR. Pastor Ronnie Floyd: I articulated examples from modern history
and sociology of how extant social structures and systems change when the Spirit of God moves.
The full report, which also included examples from the Bible, was used in the Great Commission
Resurgence Task Force of the Southern Baptist Convention. March 2010. With Tim McConnell"
This is...BIG!
Chandler and Keller just smack of people who are completely in the world, of the world, and for the would. They serve their true master, the prince of this world. Honoring God isn't a secondary or even a tertiary concern. And, now with the Gordon revelation and the removal of the Jim Elliott plaque, it appears that Wheaton College is poisoned as well. Maranatha!
Thank God that Paul, John, John Huss, Martin Luther and John Calvin amongst many others, didn’t have it as hard as Tim Keller culturally.
Big Eva Ministry and Door Dash... For people who don't want a boring 9-5.
🤣🤣🤣
One idea I have and it may not be original: What if guys like Matt Chandler could find faithful men in their own churches, and entrust some of these research and sermon help tasks to them.
In this process I wonder if they could find faithful and gifted teachers, and those men might even be able to teach others in the church.