[Linux4christians] The Moral Foundation of Free Software

[Howard Coles Jr.]

On Saturday 01 January 2005 11:00 pm, Mike Martin wrote:
> Don Parris wrote:
>  > Let me get this straight.  It's o.k. for me to make my software
>  > proprietary, charge a hefty fee (in spite of the low cost of
>  > reproduction), and tell you you cannot help your neighbors so that I
>  > can look good when I donate money to them?
>
> Yes!!!! You have the right to create your product, charge what you want,
> and do what you want (legally) with the profits, regardless how large or
> small. Not only is it moral, it is completely respectable! Thank God for
> America!
>
Well, I have to go with Mike on this one.  I do computer work, I get paid, its 
how I make a living.  I also preach, but that doesn't make me a living.  I 
would do it for free because that's my love.  However, God told the Church 
not to muzzle the ox.  Paul argued with the Corinthians about providing for 
the preachers earthly needs in exchange for the blessings he was working to 
meet in the spiritual arena.  That's the argument Mike is making.  Now, from 
what I know of Scripture if I find a brother in need and have the ability to 
help him, I show God's love by doing so.  God never will, and never has held 
me accountable for not being able to give away copies of Windows, unless I 
have to ability to pay for the license on his behalf.

I really enjoy being able to help my brothers and sisters in Christ with free 
software.   I am very grateful for the developers and documenters who spent 
hours putting this stuff together.  However, I would hate to think that I 
would demand someone work for nothing so I would not have to sacrifice to God 
in a way that would cost me nothing.  True, where we can, and have the 
ability we must help our brother, but we must at times do it at some cost.  
There are other times when even God recognizes there should be a reward for 
such service.

-- 

See Ya'
Howard Coles Jr.
John 3:16!

 "The act of faith is the obedience of the understanding
  to God revealing, and the product of that is the obedience
  of the will to God commanding."
  Matthew Henry, on Romans 1:5