Southern Gospel Copyrights: Stealing Words Is Stealing

Copyright infringement is stealing. Exodus 20:15 says, "Thou shout not steal." It is very surprising the number of Christians who steal on a daily basis, have no repentance for it, and actually dare you to stop them. We would hope that Christians would not act like this, but they do. The size or form of a material does not exempt it from God's or man's law. If you walk into a man's carpentry shop and take the new chair he has just built without paying him and without his consent, then you have broken the law. In our industry, and many others, creative works such as music and words are the goods we produce. Taking them and doing with them as you choose without payment or consent is stealing.

It has been said that using legal action as a first measure is not the Christian thing to do. We agree completely. That is why people who accuse us or others in our industry of doing this are speaking without knowing the facts. Individuals who have been stealing and are in violation of copyright laws have been notified and asked nicely on numerous occasions to cease and desist. These "Christians" have told us what they think about us and have said they will continue to do what they want, when they want, and use our copyrighted material to do it. This is unacceptable by any law you consult, man's law or God's law.


Comments:

I agree completely! I am a proofreader for several Christian publishers and I am constantly amazed at the amount of song lyrics that are included in books--not only without permission but without even a credit line giving the author. Other offenders are the people who do church bulletins, and choir directors who make copies from sheet music or songbooks without a twinge of conscience. My nephew is a gospel songwriter; 29 of his songs have reached the #1 spot on the charts, and I even get permission from him to use one or two lines of his songs in something I've written. I teach at Christian writers conferences across the country and this is one of the things I continually stress: using words of songs is different than quoting from a book. Thank you for bringing this out again.

Donna

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Hi, Jerry!

It is a shame that Christians have to be told not to steal as it is part of God's Ten Commandments.

Christians like Christian music and would like to see it grow. When they steal words or music, they are breaking copyright laws that protect the work of writers and musicians. If these folks cannot receive proper compensation, who will write new songs? They need to be fairly compensated for their ministry and stealing words and music is stealing from them - their livelihood.

Christians need to realize that their integrity is on line anytime they break the copyright laws and should be guided accordingly. Maybe they should be asking themselves, "What would Jesus do?" Would he be dishonest and steal anything?

I'm a Christian minister, musician and vocalist, but I do not write songs, but I am indebted to those who provide such wonderful ministry resources. We have a spiritual obligation to follow copyright laws even in the Christian world.

God bless you!
Lloyd

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Brother Jerry,

I don't always agree with everything the SN does but you're right on the money here. It's amazing the number of people who would be appalled at the idea of someone stealing money from their employer....

...and have no compunction about copying CDs, making copies of sheet music from choir books, or distributing copyrighted articles.

Kudos for making a simple point clear.

Tony

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I think you should let them steal anything they want. After all thier just following the examples set by "MR. GOSPEL MUSIC". Chill out you ole grey headed fat [offensive word deleted].

James

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Mr. Kirksey,
I totally agree with your statement "Stealing Words is Stealing", but you could also include recorded music. I can't tell you how many times people have called our radio station and asked us to play a song so they could record it. Or they come into our Christian Music Store and ask if we have a copier so they may copy a song from a book! It doesn't stop there, but there is not enough space or time to tell it all. It is frustrating to say the least.

Amy

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Good thought. I've felt for a long time that copyright laws should be respected. We're called to obedience. Since I became a photographer, I've gained a greater understanding of what "intellectual property" is.

Serving Him,
Mike

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YOUR MESSAGE TO THE COPYWRITE THIEVES IS RIGHT ON THE MARK. EVIDENTLY CALLING THESE PEOPLE "CHRISTIAN" IS GENEROUS ON YOUR PART. LIKE THE BUBBLE GUM BETWEEN THE BOY'S TEETH AND FINGERS, (VERY GENEROUSLY STRETCHED.) THOSE WHO WON'T HEED TRUE CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION MUST REMEMBER THAT THE LAW IS FOR THE "LAWLESS." (1 TIM. 1:9)

Doug

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Jerry,
I just wanted to say thanks for the commentary on stealing copyrights. I've often thought it would be comparable to think of an artist......who books a date....shows up and sings his heart out ......then the promoter simply not pay the artist for his labor and decide to keep all proceeds for himself
Writers, publisher, producers, and all the folks that create 'works' and are sometimes not compensated for them feel exactly that way.

Thanks!
John

Posted by Jerry Kirksey at 1:02 PM - Send Comments - Email This Post