Methodist Minister Publishes Amish Writer's Book Chapter as His Own

This morning's DeSoto Sun carries a column under the photo and byline of Rev. Patrick Elmore, pastor of two United Methodist churches in a neighboring village. The column Rev. Elmore calls his own is, in fact, the copyrighted material of John Coblentz,, an Anabaptist who has made an honest living since 1992 by selling his book, Chrisitan Family Living.

Our local Christian Man of God does not attribute or acknowledge his source. The shirt-tail even promises Sun readers they can "read more of the Rev. Elmore's column in Nov. 8's DeSoto Sun." No: We can read more of John Coblentz. And if we don't want wait for the second installment, we can click the link and go straight to the source.

So, what exactly does god's word look like to a plagiarist? Sort of like Noah's ark: the paragraphs come in two by two. Here's the evidence, Coblentz first and the local preacher second.

John Coblentz in 1992: To say that the family is in a state of deterioration in Western culture is anticlimactic.

Rev. Patrick Elmore in 2008: To say that the family is in a state of deterioration in Western culture is an understatement.

John Coblentz: Many have said it. Many are saying it. And the family continues to fall apart. In spite of the multitude of books, seminars, and experts, husbands and wives are still alienating themselves from each other, parents from children, and children from parents.

Rev. Patrick Elmore: Many have said it. Many are saying it. And the family continues to fall apart. In spite of the books, seminars and experts, parents are still alienating themselves from each other, and from children, and children from parents.

Coblentz: Unfortunately, what many fail to realize is that the problem is not simply the Western family, but Western life. While millions are being spent on more programs, better methods, and clearer training for parents, the real problem is often unaddressed. The way we Westerners live--the things we think are important, the attitudes we have toward life, the very structure of our home life--renders ineffective much of the good advice we hear.

Rev. Elmore: Unfortunately, what many fail to realize is that the problem is not simply the modern family, but modern family lifestyle. While millions are being spent on more programs, better methods and clearer training for parents, the real problem is often unaddressed.The things we think are important, the attitudes we have toward life, the very structure of our home life renders ineffective much of the good advice we hear.

Coblentz: One example will suffice. While many Christian parents are wondering whether the music their teens listen to is suitable listening, and sometimes arguing about volume and forbidding this or that tape, few modern parents ever consider that today's music industry, including the Christian music industry, has virtually destroyed certain Christian values. Silence. The sheer noise (even nice-sounding noise) in many homes today would have driven many of our great-grandparents out to the pastures for a quiet walk. Worship. Where, in all the hullaboo of Christian music today and the idolizing of favorite groups and the scrambling for each new tape and bickering over how loud to play it, is the reverent sense of God? And how many thousand-dollar music systems (which are not worth a nickel in heaven) have silenced the voices of families singing simple but heartfelt praise to God?

Rev. Elmore: While many Christian parents wonder whether the music their teens listen to is suitable listening, and sometimes argue about the volume and forbidding this or that, a few 21st century parents ever consider that today’s music industry, including the Christian music industry, has virtually destroyed certain Christian values. Silence. The sheer noise in many homes today would have driven many of our great-grandparent out to the pastures for a quiet walk. Worship. Where in all the hullabaloo of Christian music today and the idolizing of favorite groups and the scrambling for each new release and bickering over how loud to play it, is the reverent sense of God? And how many thousand dollar music systems have silenced the voices of families singing simple but heartfelt praise to God?

Coblentz: The point is simple. There are many homes which can never be wholesome until some radical changes take place in the home structure. It would be foolish to try to build a house in a swamp on straw bales. And it is just as foolish to think we can build godly homes on the values commonly accepted in Western culture. If in Christian homes we find straw bales in the foundation, we cannot correct the problem by hiring some interior decorator to counsel us on paint. The foundation needs help first.

Rev. Elmore: The point is simple. There are many homes which can never be wholesome until some radical changes take place in the home structure. It would be foolish to try to build a house in a swamp on straw. And it is just as foolish to think we can build godly homes on the values commonly accepted in Western culture. If in Christian homes we find straw bales in the foundation, we cannot correct the problem by hiring some interior decorator to counsel us on paint. The foundation needs help first.

Coblentz: This chapter is about foundational things. From the Scriptures we want to see just what God intended the family to be. We want to look at concepts which are basic to the family as a social unit. And later we want to look at some of the straw bales which our culture is pressuring us to use in our homes, and which we must reject if we are to have wholesome families.

Rev. Elmore: The Social Unit. Let’s talk about foundational things. From the Scriptures we want to see just what God intended the family to be. We want to look at concepts which are basic to the family as a social unit. And later we want to look at some of the straw which our culture is pressuring us to use in our homes, and which we must reject if we are to have wholesome families.

Coblentz: The Social Unit. "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" (Deuteronomy 6:6,7). [...]

Rev. Elmore: The Social Unit. "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" (Deuteronomy 6:6,7).

Coblentz: From these and similar Scriptures, we can easily see that God intended the family to be the most basic social unit of society. It is the place where such activities as visiting, eating, instruction, work, and play have their center. God intended that we interact with family members more than with anyone else. And having ordained the home to be the primary place of social interaction, God laid down guidelines for proper interaction.

Rev. Elmore: From these and similar Scriptures, we can easily see that God intended the family to be the most basic social unit of society. It is the place where such activities as visiting, eating, instruction, work, and play have their center. God intended that we interact with family members more than with anyone else. And having ordained the home to be the primary place of social interaction, God laid down guidelines for proper interaction.

Coblentz: As a social unit, however, the family in Western culture is seriously deficient. Those who want to work go to the corporation. Those who want to learn go to school. Those who want to play go to the park or the recreation center. Those who want to eat go to McDonalds. Visiting takes place only in snatches. Many Christian families find it strange to have the whole family home for an evening. Monday night is practice. Tuesday night is a ball game. Wednesday night is prayer meeting (for some). Thursday night is office cleaning (second job). Friday night is a social planned....Run, run, run! Such social chaos was virtually unheard of for the family 100 years ago. And so, fathers must be told to do things with their children. Parents need to plan a "family night" or "quality time" because as a social unit, the family is falling apart.
Some of the pressures of over-activity will be discussed more later, but for now, let's note that every child and every adult needs wholesome family interaction.

Rev. Elmore: As a social unit, however, the family in Western culture is seriously deficient. Those who want to work go to the work place. Those who want to learn go to school. Those who want to play go to the park or the recreation center. Those who want to eat go to McDonald’s. Visiting takes place only in snatches. Many Christian families find it strange to have the whole family home for an evening. Monday night is practice. Tuesday night is a ball game. Wednesday night is prayer meeting (for some). Thursday night is choir practice. Friday night is TGIF night out ....Run, run, run! Such social chaos was virtually unheard of for the family 100 years ago. And so, parents must be told to do things with their children. Parents need to plan a "family night" or "quality time" because as a social unit, the family is falling apart. Every child and every adult needs wholesome family interaction.