wrote:>
Is piracy the act of making a copy to give to someone for free, or is that
>just sharing?
Morally, it could be either. You see, the idea of selling recorded material
in the first place doesn't have a direct analogy to selling a loaf or bread,
for example. If you buy a loaf of bread, it doesn't matter if you give some
of it away. The cost invested by the vender is the same. HOWEVER in recorded
media, the vender would like to realize their maximum profit of course, and
they have found that "sharing" does not use up the product at a sufficient
rate for them. :-) (It was better when everyone was buying cassette tapes that
get eaten by the cheap mechanisms, etc.)
LOGIC says, that as long as you are not acting as the owner of the recorded
media DURING the time you are 'sharing' it with someone else, it has function-
ally exchanged ownership, and it is quite LEGAL AND MORAL to exchange the
ownership of recorded media fortunately. So, when I lend something out, I
simply don't use it during that time and I feel fine. :-) (I'm pushing it
here to make a point. I NEVER USE or LET OTHERS USE my "archival copy" of a
recording if I can help it, because I BOUGHT THE RIGHT TO MAKE ARCHIVAL COPIES
for my OWN USE! So long as I do not access the archival copy while it is lent
out for any purpose, it really doesn't matter whose house it is stored in morally.
and I'm SURE that only some lifeless person on the internet would find time to
argue about such a non-sensical thing.)
NOW we could probe into matters like "But what if you listen to it in
the same room as someone else without charging and sending an admission fee
to the vender?" Again, I think ANYTHING is fine until you
1) Make copies for the purpose of allowing more than one person to enjoy
"ownership" of the disk at a time.
2) Charge people to make copies beyond a normal rate for copying service.
3) Claim you are the author of the disk's contents.
-Bob
God Breathed Communication
Where do we draw the line? Is a word truly from God?
If so, it is "God breathed". But so many claim to be speaking
the word of God, when obviously they are not. The thinking
surrounding these issues has formed a cloud in the minds of
most people claiming to know Christ, and I pray that we can
help clear up things today.
First of all, without the Holy Spirit dwelling in us,
we are lost. Jesus promised that this spirit would "lead [us]
into ALL truth"...and obviously never into deception. Since
God's thoughts are not ours, we must rely on his spirit to gain
a proper perspective on things.
Once we are filled with the Holy Spirit, what makes us
any different from the writers of the scriptures? For one thing,
these men wrote of some very fundamental things, regarding the
immediate application of what Christ had just done. They helped
set a perspective that will never be altered, nor need to be
added to.
Each day, we come across decisions which are not
specifically laid out in the scriptures. Furthermore, the way we
choose is on display for many to see. Many of these decisions
are not at all "amoral". It very much matters which way we
choose, and that we stand ready to explain why.
One such example recently caused a large amount of
discussion in a newsgroup. I took a firm stand, that it does
matter how we allow ourselves to project through mass media.
Others said "Oh no, these people are much too busy to even take
the time to read the article printed from THEIR interview"! I
was appalled at this lack of concern for the words we speak, and
are recorded to have spoken by magazines.
Based on James, we are to 'control our tongue'.
Obviously, this is true, whether James wrote it or not. James
was appealing on the basis or previously established truth,
rather than bringing forth any new revelation. (Actually,
this is true of everything after Jesus words "it is finished!")
The old testament and the Gospels clearly spell out the nature
of God, and man is without excuse when he speaks irresponsibly.
How much more so, when he allows his words to be
projected to thousands of people, and then doesn't even check to
see if the company printed his actual words!? This is silly.
Obviously, this person was either compromising by allowing a
publication to interview them, while not even having the least
bit of confidence in the publication, (i.e.. they did it purely
to bolster their image, figuring it didn't matter what they said
anyway...it was just having their face plastered all over the
magazine, as in "publicity stunt".) AND/OR they are allowing
themselves to be manipulated by the media.
As it turned out, the person said some very nasty things
about a fellow musician. The magazine printed it. Neither the
person nor the magazine wishes to comment further on the event.
They are both clearly living in sin. JUST because mass media
wasn't an issue with the early church, DOES NOT give people an
excuse to abuse it today! Each person must make use of the
provisions in law to insure that their words are not mishandled
by mass media agencies. Either DON'T submit to interview, OR
BE RESPONSIBLE to see that YOUR words are projected in a Godly
manner.
This is an example of being a "living epistle" to the
church today. Each of us are called to do this when we face
"new" issues. The character of God is already established, and
with his spirit in our hearts, we can go forth and demolish the
strongholds that are keeping others "pinned down".
Well, there is the foreground. The main point is now
quite simple. When God truly gives us something to express, it
often comes out as a complex thing. Our own personality enters
in to some degree, but the discerning ear can listen to the
spirit pouring through the work of art.
Most of the songs I do, for example, are the result of
years of waiting before the Lord. A "refining" process takes
place during that time. That which is impure gets taken out.
That which is pure is enriched all the more. My heart was never
satisfied just to throw out a bunch of "half baked" stuff. A
record contract is a very bad thing for most Christians to be
bound by, unless they just treat it like any other job.
Expecting God to work on that kind of time schedule is absurd.
And, of course, a person of integrity will tell people exactly
what is going on, rather than leading them to think their album
is "god breathed".
But if we truly wait before the Lord, he does speak. If
we record what he gives us, then our words are indeed "god
breathed". Problems occur, however, when people begin to look
at everything we do or say as "god breathed", just because God
did speak through us once or twice. But that is the problem of
the people listening, and it is only the responsibility of the
artist to rebuke them when they sense that this is going on.
Praise God, that he has made us more than mere slaves!
(Though we don't even deserve that!!) He has made us dearly
loved children, and he does tell us his business. When we
speak only what he has told us to speak, we are acting like
his children. I pray that each one who reads this will be
encouraged to wait on the Lord for his word in every area
of our lives. -Bob
What is Christian Music
(This is a reply to a discussion about whether U2 is a "Christian Band")
Subject: Re: U2 should it be considered Christian Music?
Newsgroups: rec.music.christian
References: <4f4432$185@news.bconnex.net> <4f4rc9$arf@acme.freenet.columbus.oh.us>
Distribution:
Andy Soell (asoell@freenet.columbus.oh.us) wrote:
: Dave (daveh@webgate.net) wrote:
: : I find U2 to be a band that produces great music that I enjoy
: : listening to. I find their lyrics to have alot of christian content.
: : I also hear people say the music is evil and wrong! As a christian,
: : should this be a band that I listen to? Why or why not?
: Why does everything have to be either "Christian" or "secular?" If there
: is nothing wrong with the message of the song, then there is nothing wrong
: with listening to it. Oh, yeah. I suppose you should also take into
: consideration the lifestyle of the artists, but as far as I know , that's
: not a problem in this case.
I've heard of people being saved through Chicago songs. I don't think
any of the members are, though it wouldn't surprise me if Robert Lamm
became one if he hasn't already. So it's a two sided thing. God can
use anything he want's, and "The earth is the Lord's and everything that's
in it". Yet, within those bounds are attempts to pervert what he has made.
Those paths lead to destruction of course for the independent spirits that
choose to manipulate things so.
But there is a real "cooperative anointing" on some music. It flows
directly from the spirit of God through the musician who is submitting
to him. Only a heart that is willing to submit also can truly enjoy
the phenomena. This is what I call "Christian Music". It's a lot
more rare than one might think today I'm believe. That's because
there is so much hype around the music scene, and so much entertainment
emphasis....and a God who has no interest in entertaining people....but
rather in giving them a vision for ACTION. -Bob
HISTORY LESSON
Christian Music, understanding what it is from the definition above, has had an
interesting history. Many of the old hymns were adaptations of secular tunes of course,
and this trend of at least copying some of the world's styles has followed to our day.
Many think this is lame, and in some cases, it may well be.
However, it seems to me that God's spirit is always working to associate familiar
aspects of the world with spiritual principles. So perhaps many artists simply use tunes
from the worlds' songs NOT because they can't think of their own melodies, but rather to
help the world associate the gospel message with something they are familiar with.
As I mentioned, I've heard of people beginning a relationship with God after being
spoken to by a song from Chicago. Therefore, the true history of the music Jesus has
claimed for his purposes might exceed our wildest expectations. (So will there be record
company lawyers trying to sue God for not getting permission in heaven? :-) )
Historically, most who wrote songs that got accepted and published were tightly
affiliated with some particular denomination, and if their works grew to great renown in
one group, another might pick the tune up and also begin to use it. Other songs were
written after the reformation, when there was a much tighter bond in the church at large,
since there was basically no man made structure, and the people were seeking God to give
them direction to walk away from the apostacy they were leaving behind.
Those old hymns, and the few current songs that came from heavily restrained
efforts within denominational systems formed the greater body of music people were familiar
with in most of the perceived church until recent years. For a detailed work on the music
of the Jesus Movement, visit the Jesus Music site!
Here is an excerpt from a question posted in rec.music.christian
which I replied to 8/20/96:
>However, when was the last time you heard or
>bought a CD that contained 100% scripture set to
>music, in a non-pop, non-rock, non-southern gospel
>format? No, I do not mean someone reading the
>scriptures in a monotone voice with elevator music
>in the background. And no, I do not mean one or
>two songs sprinkled among 8 or 9 other tracks.
I can think of several examples historically, of course. One
of the first that really struck me in that way was Petra's "Not of
this world". Keith Green's stuff, I believe, is very much that way.
Carman, when he keeps off the 'crowd pleasing' stuff, like greatly
overstating the current numerical standing of the FUNCTIONAL body
of Christ, etc....and Steve Camp, when he's not pissed off at the
sound man :-). Oh yeah, put Larry Norman in there too. Stonehill....
usually right in there I think, with an occasional stretch into
wondermanialand....Joe English's older stuff was pretty right on,
along with Brian Duncan and the Sweet Comfort stuff of course... and
on and on.
Trouble is, most of these have been affected at one time or another,
even, by the direction of the industry....which is to pump out albums and
make loooootttts of moooooola! THUS, the message is naturally diluted. Were
the motive "Godly communication", there might have still been the same financial
blessing for all,....but the message wouldn't have been diluted.
Anyway, despite the overbearing wickedness of the recording industry, many
good artists have functioned over it all. Larry Norman is, of course, the
premier example of a guy who persevered through the "tribulation period" of
progressive Christian music (as his first albums were boycotted by the ccm
labels of his day), and STILL managed to make some great music. It's a
good example of someone who made music from a heart that desired to share
God's love in a relevant form, rather than just making what was supposed to
sound like "Gospel music" so that a bunch of stuffy people could applaud him.
Still today, a challenge remains for any who would love God and desire to
share his love with the world through Artistic communication. Steve Taylor is
a prime example of a guy who has "crossed the lines" in more modern days. His
lyrics are designed to cut to the heart with people living today. His sound
has evolved with the communication trends in the face of the persecution from
those calling themselves "the church"....also known as "the frozen chosen". :-)
Many others are rising all the time, BUT tons of really bad stuff is there
too. Pray that the Lord will give you a line on what will build you up, but
most of all, seek him and ask how you can be part of reaching out to people
in live outreach situations. Don't patronize the sectarian rip-off shops,
as my friend calls them, unless the Lord leads you there. If he leads you
there, it's for a good reason; maybe to pick up something edifying for you,
or to share with someone else. But don't go there to get a fix of some kind.
It's like looking for the proverbial needle in a....pile of....you know. -Bob
Are YOU LEGIT!?
How can we tell if a recording company is really interested in seeing us succeed
in an artistic venture? How do we know if they care about ministry? A lot can be revealed
by just looking at the contract they offer.
If a company wants to take on the job of representing you, and wish to seize any
kind of control that you don't feel in your spirit is right for them to take, then they
are probably not a Godly company. (Answering your mail, for instance. There are practical
ways to see that your mail is handled in a reputable way if the volume gets too large.) If
they require front money from you, I would SERIOUSLY question their motives.
Many companies have made a killing in the Christian market by telling people they
have viable ministry "gifts" who, in reality, have serious problems that show no sign of
being overcomeable. They tell these people "Oh brother/sister, that's precious! We've
GOT to get this out there!! But, how will we do it? You don't happen to have 5 grand
laying around do you???"
Problem is, these companies have saturated the appearance of what the Christian
industry is! If a real artist wants to make connections, they are faced with discerning
just who these fraud companies are, because they will GREATLY hinder your progress, since
people have turned a deaf ear to what they put out due to their poor quality standards.
I recommend sending a form like the one below before signing anything with any
company. The big companies are mostly secular owned now. Michael W. Smith started his
own company, as have other artists in the past. Getting connected with real musicians
is the way to go. Steer away from people who deal only with the commercial aspects!
Fraud Detection Form
Promotional Company Performance Evaluation
I am interested in your services. Please complete this form
so that I can better assess the advantages of establishing a working
relationship with your company.
1) Has your firm/agency or any principal owner thereof ever been
convicted of a felony or signed a consent decree with any
federal, state, or local agency? Yes_____ No_____
(If yes provide details on back.)
2) Proved a complete fee schedule below, or on separate sheet.
3) Provide statement detailing the training requirements of
people who evaluate prospective clients.
(The following questions cannot include company staff in totals)
4) How many people are currently using your services?
5) How many have used your services since you began business?
6) Of these, how many have realized a net profit? (Gross
receipts have exceeded their payments to your company)
7) How many have been able to work full time while netting
over $800 per month for a six month average?
8) How many have secured full time "permanent" status?
9) What style classification do the majority of the financially
successful people of question 7 fit into? (The largest group)
10) Are there any things which any staff people are aware,
that might cause reason to doubt the accuracy of any of
the figures stated above?
I, _______________________, certify that this information is
true to the best of my knowledge. My position in the company
is ____________________. _______________________ _________
Signature Date