The Christian Pirate: Virtual Sin?

Another one of these topics where most likely all of us are about to get convicted, but I praise God I had my fair share of conviction as well. Piracy is everywhere, and many Christians are considering piracy acceptable. So what’s the story?

Many times God’s grace has provided me with revelation about something I love, and God hates. I turn from it and can never understand how I ever considered it remotely “OK” to do. I’m sure you know the feeling. I have no idea how our mainstream Christian culture (never mind the secular world) has drifted so far off into the world that we even debate this topic. Is piracy a sin?

In our virtual world, a world that never existed when Yeshua (Jesus) was here – piracy is when you take the intellectual (“virtual”) work of someone without paying for it, while the author actually put it up for sale. Its like walking into a flee market and taking whatever you like for yourself, even though the seller expects you to pay for it. Worse than that, when I was a little boy, I downloaded music and sold it to my friends for a profit.

Regardless of how you feel about copyright laws, scripture makes it clear we need to be obedient to our governing authorities, for God appointed them.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

– Romans 13 –

When we download music or movies, content which we had to pay for, we are breaking the law of the land and taking something that is not ours. We have no business downloading or consuming content we have never paid for. Doing so is a sin, but how can I say such a thing?

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

– 1 John 3:4 –

Breaking God’s law is the very definition of sin, and breaking the law of the land; disobedience to the governing authorities, is breaking God’s law as well.

Brothers and sisters, allow me to illustrate my heart. I yearn for the Bride God is calling. A Bride set-apart and unstained by the world. When the world turns right, she turns left and never looks back. The enemy has disguised piracy as a “petty crime” that’s not too bad. In reality, this is a horrific sin. Many musicians and other content creators are suffering because we are not willing to pay $1 for a song. And whether or not it directly affects them, it remains a sin and unacceptable behaviour before our Father.

nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

– 1 Cor 6:10 –

I’m deleting all the piracy I have. Join me! Lets set an example of purity to the world, so the nations may come and ask; what is this hope, this purity you carry? Why are your ways so good, so righteous?

Much love
PD