Pulpit Crimes: The Criminal Mishandling of God's Word

by James R. White

James R. White, author of THE GOD WHO JUSTIFIES, and numerous other titles turns his attention to the Christian Pulpit in this hard-hitting book. It is the contention of the author that the pulpit in the average church is a place in which crimes are committed every week. White writes with a desire to expose false teaching but also seek to write in a way that will encourage those who are seeking to be faithful to God's Word each week. This is a must read for all who are called to stand behind the pulpit, as well as those who are called to sit each week and listen.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Church, Ecclesiology

168 pages, Paperback

First published October 23, 2006

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a professor, having taught Greek, Systematic Theology, and various topics in the field of apologetics. He has authored or contributed to more than twenty four books, including The King James Only Controversy, The Forgotten Trinity, The Potter’s Freedom, and The God Who Justifies. He is an accomplished debater, having engaged in more than one-hundred forty moderated, public debates around the world with leading proponents of Roman Catholicism, Islam, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Mormonism, as well as critics such as Bart Ehrman, John Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg, and John Shelby Spong. In recent years James has debated in such locations as Sydney, Australia, as well as mosques in Toronto, London, and South Africa. He is an elder of the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church, has been married to Kelli for more than thirty two years, and has two children, and one grandchild, Clementine.

Reviews

[William Dicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, James White was preaching to the choir (that is me). The book is about the fact that so many preachers mishandle the Bible in their preaching, demeanor, etc. He handles everything from bad interpretation of the Bible all the way to women pastors. The content matter is good, and if you are concerned with the level of preachers today, then this is the book for you. Also, if you are not concerned about the level of our preachers today, then you should also be reading this book, so you can learn how these preachers have been cheating you out of good solid meat from the Scriptures.

James White is one of my favourite authors, but I have to say that this book probably wasn't well edited. There are several grammar and simple sentence construction errors that were missed by the spell checker. Here are a few:

p108: "I had the opportunity to challenging him on a drive-time radio program."
p82: "He directly and asked this pastor about the exclusive claims of Christ."
p82: "He then spoke of traveling to non-Christian nations and how he could tell those of a completely different faith 'loved God' and were 'sincere.'"
p143: "So though Paul and provided the truth with clarity, his words are often hidden from sight..."

If you are willing to look past these types of errors, then this is indeed a good introduction to what a preacher is supposed to do and preach, and who may preach from the pulpit.

[Frank Rue · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent summary of the different "crimes" that take place behind the pulpit. Not crimes in the secular governmental sense, of course, but crimes when considering an elder's faithfulness to a biblical eldership. James White opts not to "name names" in this volume specifically so that we, as readers, do not get hung up on the defensive but, rather, evaluate each preacher as compared to the biblical mandate. Though that, at times, makes it difficult to get an idea of specific examples of some of the crimes, anyone familiar with the popular evangelical landscape should be able to discern the examples quite easily.

I recommend this book for anyone who is unfamiliar with or who may be venturing into the wider evangelical world for one reason or another (perhaps a recent convert who finds himself dissatisfied with shallow preaching, or a tenured parishioner who has struggled to "hold the line" against popular culture in his church relationships).

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gives new meaning to the search for a decent church.

[Eladio · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book by an excellent author. A must read for pastors and elders!

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book on the famine of true biblical preaching in the church and its causes.

[Todd Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really solid book meant to cause everybody from the pulpit to the pew to examine the teaching of God's Word in local congregations. White maintains a high view of God and His Word throughout this book. There is a heavy stress on the centrality of the Gospel in preaching. The primacy of the accurate, methodical preaching of God's Word is central to a pulpit ministry. Anything less is a pulpit crime.

This book actually looks at pulpit crimes from a number of vantage points. If this book doesn't challenge you to preach more boldly, accurately and clearly, you simply aren't paying attention.

Be warned, White isn't afraid to point fingers at major problems in churches today - highly unbiblical methods of preaching and teaching. You may find yourself cut by some of the statements here. But if so, you (and I) probably need it.

I'd definitely recommend this book to anybody in ministry, especially. However, there is also a great benefit to those in the pew.

[Laramie Gildon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the American Gospel handled in its documentary form, this book handles in book form. It’s very easy to read, pastoral but also firm when it needs to be firm. A lot of this was rehashing topics I was already familiar with but the gospel focus throughout this book was refreshing to my soul. I highly recommend this for those new to the faith or those who want a reminder of the type of “crimes” being committed in Protestant Christian pulpits week in and week out. Very well written.

[Robert Nelsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good and easy to read. It doesn't go super in depth but gives a good overlay of the problems the church is facing in regards to the pastoral compromise. It ends on a high note and Dr. White encourages believers with some simple, but helpful ways to make a difference and limit the pulpit crimes laid out in the book.

[Kingsley Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too many ministers or/and those asked to provide some kind of ministry simply do not put the work in that is required to handle God's Word. This book explains what happens when people do that, what the consequences are, and how to avoid committing 'pulpit crimes'. This should be required reading for every seminary/theological college.

[Ariel Fuentes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even I didn’t agree with a few arguments , still I believe it’s a great book. And it is easy to read.
I don’t think is only recommended for Pastors and elders , although is a must read. But I strongly advise that it should be read for any believer.

[Cameron Borders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. Boat Rocker.