One of a series. . . by Charles Dailey, Northwest College of the Bible. Designed to be read in public.

HI-TECH CONSCIENCE

To find petty thievery practiced between members of the church is rare. We are opposed to taking either money or property. But high-tech thievery is creeping into churches that valiantly oppose thievery. There are three new ways to steal that didn't use to exist.

The cassette tape duplicator gets used to make another copy of copyrighted music. It seems harmless, but the author, publisher and retailer are cheated out of their just gain. It is also against the law. The photocopy machine is another center for Christian thievery. In the name of good stewardship, sheet music and song books are photocopied. Sometimes the "Unauthorized Duplication Prohibited by Law" is clearly visible on the photocopy. The author, publisher and retailer are again cheated. We then sing praises to the holiness of God in church with stolen music.

Perhaps those of us in leadership need to hear again the words of Paul when he was reasoning with the Jews:

. . . you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?
It is down right complicated to get permission to copy music. But that still does not make stealing it right. There is at least one company now that makes a blanket contract with the church on one hand and with the music authors and producers on the other. This seems to be the least complicated way to make copying legal. Their license is to be put on all copied music, including transparencies.

The third area for hi-tech thievery is the computer. Without software, it cannot run. Some software programs cost several hundred dollars to purchase. The same program may take less than five minutes to duplicate on the computer. This form of thievery is known as softlifting. It is now a misdemeanor and a bill before the President will make it a felony with up to five years in prison and $250,000 fine. Any organization, including churches, can be audited. The University of Oregon paid $350,000 in fines for several infractions.

Perhaps churches have slipped into the spot of saving God's gold by breaking God's golden rule:

Do to others as you would have them do to you.
To find thievery practiced between members of the church is rare, but to find it practiced in the church office by volunteers in a hurry is not rare. May we upgrade to a high-tech conscience.

PRAYER: Help us to keep the golden rule.

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