"SHARING", "BORROWING", AND "STEALING"
You might wonder why I would choose to go on to this topic after spending the last two weeks discussing politics! Are they related in any way? In one sense we could answer yes, because all of what we hold to be true and false, right and wrong about the world comes from the same ultimate source: God's Word, the Bible. But in another sense, I have to tell you there was no connection in my mind between the topics of politics and pirated movies, music, etc. It was just the next issue that I thought might be relevant to go over; that's all.
So then, what are we to make of people "borrowing" or "sharing" music, movies, television, software, etc.that they have not been given permission to "borrow" or "share"? Does the Bible have anything to say about Computer ethics? Why, yes, as a matter of fact it does. Here it is, you ready?
"DO NOT STEAL"
(Exodus 20:15, Leviticus 19:11, Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 2:21, Romans 13:9, Ephesians 4:28)
I know, I know, so you're saying, "I know stealing is wrong, but is this really stealing? I mean they charge so much money for their music anyway, it's like they're stealing from us! Besides who's gonna notice?" To address this objection, let me dissect it a bit:
1. If you feel that the music, or movie producers are charging too much for their product, the great thing is you don't have to buy it! Guess what will happen if enough people don't buy their product? They will bring their price down to get you to buy it.
2. The "Who's gonna notice" argument is one of the worst ways to justify anything ethically. Whether something is right or wrong is not based on who's gonna know, but on whether it coincides with God's moral law. (BTW, in this case, many people notice, because as studios bring in less income, they then have to let go of employees at the lowest levels; it's not the "rich fat-cats" that get hurt folks, it's the Joe Delivery Driver types that suffer.).
If a person doesn't give you permission to eat out of their refrigerator, and you decide to take just a little nibble, because "they won't notice", you're a thief. The same rationale goes for what you download on the internet. If you have not been given permission from the producers to watch a film for free and you watch it for free, you are stealing. If you have not been given permission from the producers to listen to a band for free and you listen to it for free, you are a thief. What's the solution then? Two words; are you ready?
STOP IT
2 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Stealing stuff isn't you anymore Christian; get rid of it and don't do it anymore....
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Erick
RECEIVING FROM CHRIST....GROWING IN CHRIST....GOING WITH CHRIST....
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