What does the Bible say about software piracy? Part 2
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In my previous article of this series I concluded saying that software piracy is theft. Let’s pick up from where I stopped.
Now what does the bible say about stealing?
1. God commands that we must not steal.
“You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15. When we commit software piracy we break God’s law as well as the state law.
2. Software piracy is sin
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the Lord … through robbery…”
Robbing is a sin. Software piracy is robbing from some one’s hard work therefore it’s a sin detestable before God.
3. Thieves shall never inherit the kingdom of God. (see the underlined text)
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: ….nor thieves…. Will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Whether you are aware or not you take a risk of loosing your salvation each time you purchase, use or distribute pirated software.
What must we do as Christians?
God will forgive us if we confess, repent and stop sinning.
But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Last year I uninstalled all the pirated software installed in my Home and Office Computers. Remember God cannot forgive you if you don’t repent genuinely and stop sinning. You continue to sin if you don’t get rid of those pirated stuff.
Now how do I run my Computer without Software?
As I told you before you cannot use a Computer without the necessary software. But don’t worry. There are plenty of options available.
If you are a nerd and wants to get rid of a pirated Windows Installation settle for a Linux flavor like Ubuntu. You will be able to master it soon. I heard that the developers Ubuntu are working on a user manual also.
If you don’t want to use any thing less than Windows consider buying a “Starter Edition”. Starter editions of Windows Operating systems come with a lower price tag. In my Country a copy of Windows XP Starter Edition can be purchased at a price of US $ 40. Windows Vista Starter Edition is available for a price of US $ 60. Microsoft Office Home And Student (OEM) Edition can be bought at a price of US $ 80.
If you find it difficult to afford for both Windows and Office Package, you can purchase a copy of Windows and download Open Office which is a free – open source alternative for Microsoft Office. (Update: if you don’t like the less than professional look of Open Office, try “Lotus Symphony free Office Suite from IBM. You can get more information and the download link from PCMech’s blog post.)
However there are disadvantages too. You can not use Starter editions of Windows Operating systems in a corporate environment because they lack networking facilities. If you are using Windows Vista Starter Edition in your PC, you can access the Internet, send and receive emails but can’t print to a network printer. Furthermore you can run only 3 software programmes simultaneously and cannot use more than 1GB of physical memory. You can compare editions here.
Windows Vista Starter Edition can not give me everything like a pirated copy of Vista Ultimate could do but something is better than nothing and having everything and going to hell.
Jesus said,
If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell (Mark 9:47)
Here is a complete list of Free and Open Source Software alternatives for Commercial software.
Let’s get rid of pirated software and become real Christians.
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Thanks for bringing this issue to the attention of others. I represent BibleWorks software and we have had to spend thousands and thousands of dollars in program development and administrative effort to combat piracy. Sad to say that many (waaaaay too many) people worldwide feel it is not a sin to steal our (intellectual) property. I know I am not without sin, but our company does all it can to keep our software prices as low as possible so that Missionaries, Pastors, Students and Academics worldwide can afford it. Every time someone “steals” our software, it makes it harder to keep our prices down.
Blessings,
Jim
Thanks Jim. Thank you for appreciating our little effort to confront the Church of this sinful world-wide issue.
Regarding copyright law (Romans 13:1 arguments aside), sharing is hardly a sin. You must examine these issues much more deeply than you did in this article to come to any reasonable conclusion. I encourage you to educate yourself on the history and purpose of copyright law. More importantly study the effects technology innovations have on the application of law and understand that natural rights are unaffected by technology innovations.
Hi Eric,
I already did examine the issues…. Software piracy can’t be justified as sharing as long as it violates the law of God and the law of men.
As for educating my self on the history and purpose of copyright law plus the effects technology innovations have on the application of law and understand that natural rights are unaffected by technology innovations, it’s irrelevant.
I don’t want to quarrel with you on the issue of software piracy. The problem is in point #3 where you suggest that one risks losing their salvation. In Ephesians 2:8-9, we see that we are saved by grace and not by works. If you truly believe that continuing to perform good works (or abstain from bad ones) is the way to salvation then software piracy is the least of your concerns.
Good question… and my answer comes from Philippians 2:12-13.
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (NIV)
It’s true that we are saved by grace not by works. But we must not forget that our salvation is not complete rather it’s progressive. We are being sanctified every day.
Keeping that in mind let’s consider Paul’s words. He says here “Work out” your salvation. What does Paul want to tell? For instance what do we do in a physical work out? We work out not to get a body, but to develop the body we already have. We don’t work for our salvation, but we do work out the implications of it.
The next phrase says, “with fear and trembling.” What does this mean? It doesn’t mean we are to be afraid of God because God’s children never need to be afraid of their heavenly father. Jesus paid the penalty for all our sins on the cross and we’ve been given God’s grace so we’re now a part of His family.
What we should be afraid of is that we might miss out all God has done for us (in this case because of software piracy). This is why I say every one who pirates software risks their sweet salvation.
Remember Jesus’ words:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23, NET)
I think that this is a good article. One thing I strongly disagree “Whether you are aware or not you take a risk of loosing your salvation each time you purchase, use or distribute pirated software.” This can be a very dangerous statement ONCE YOU’RE SAVED YOU ARE ALWAYS SAVED AND STEALING SOFTWARE WILL NOT CAUSE YOU TO LOSE WHAT JESUS DID FOR US ON THE CROSS, WE MAY LOOSE REWARDS BUT NOT OUR SALVATION. I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH DOCTRINE THAT YOU DON’T CONDEMN PEOPLE FOR THEIR SINS. WE ALL SIN AND FALL SHORT AND ALSO READ ROM 7 IT’S LIBERATING. OTHER THAN THAT GREAT ARTICLE. Dr.Hunt
Hunt,
I will not risk my salvation based on the careless statement that we will not loose our salvation but rewards because of what Jesus did on the cross of Calvary.
I am sure that I am based on sound doctrine when I write these things. Not to offend the great theologian John Calvin (if you are referring to Calvinism…) but his conclusion that once I am saved always saved is a dangerous doctrine to follow and embrace…
Besides what shall I loose if what I have written here is doctrinally false (proving that your position is right…) According to your claim it will not effect me or my salvation at all.
But what if I am right and you are wrong???
I wish people will remember that no matter what, Jesus, the King of kings, will be the one to decide who goes to heaven and who does not.
We can talk, praise that “so and so” will go to heaven and condemm “so and so” will go to hell. None of it matters, because Jesus is the one with the power to grant a person life or death.
He sure as HELL isn’t going to base the entire fate of a person based on what any Tom, Dick or Sally says.
And to me, the “creative” industry are equal thieves as well. Who told you that you are entitled to earn a million dollars, just because you created something? And if you didn’t earn a million dollars, who said that you could bribe the government into creating special laws written for you, so you could collect free money?
Anyway, it’s all the same to me. If the industry and lobbyists had their way, they’d put a gun to everyone’s head and force every citizen, even if the citizen is not interested at all in their products to buy them, and as a bonus, murder all the pirates and if the pirates had their way, they’d steal everything.
All are sinners.
You failed to take into account that when the software created by the developer is sold to the punter, the punter owns a copy. That’s what he paid money for. If he doesn’t own the software there there needs to be a serious rethink about what it means to sell something.
Obviously since the punter legitimately OWNs a copy of the software, it’s his information to do what he wants with.
It’s because of people copying the Bible that the word of God is spread. If someone came along and said, well you have to purchase this Bible for $99.99, even though it’s the word of God and ought to be freely available, would you pay the $99.99? No!
Piracy is NOT theft, piracy is progress!!