The title of this post is "Libre" which means "free." That is free as in "with few or no restrictions" not free as in "zero cost," which would be "Gratis". What sparked my interest in writing this post is some free software I learned about called "LibreOffice." It is the new project of the people who created "OpenOffice" which is more widely known. The two programs are essentially the same thing, a free alternative to Microsoft Office that is available on any platform (Windows, Mac, Linux). If you see them side-by-side they are virtually identical, because it is essentially the same program.
I have been using OpenOffice almost exclusively instead of MS Office for the past 6 years or so, and was curious to know why and how the people who created OpenOffice were now making LibreOffice, which just looks like a copy of OpenOffice. In a nutshell, the why is that there is some concern that Oracle, the company now sponsoring development of the OpenOffice project is eventually going to pull the plug on it as they have some of the other open source projects they aquired from another company. The how is really the amazing part to me. These guys are basically leaving the company and keeping OpenOffice going under the new name LibreOffice because they can without any sort of copyright infringement. That's because OpenOffice was license using something called a GPL (General Public License) which means it is legally required to be freely shared. No one can sell it, or own it, or restrict anyone from doing whatever they want with the software.
This is not a brand new idea, but one that the more I think about it the more I am amazed by and in support of as a way for Christians to share the Gospel in a more God-honoring way than we sometimes do. It is in complete contrast to the idea of someone licensing something they created and giving you permission to use it once you pay them a fee. There is something about that practice of creating something, anything, and then claiming personal ownership of it and selling the right for someone else to use it, that I have always been a little uneasy with, especially in the church.
I'll probably get myself in trouble with some friends for saying this, but when a Christian composes music or writes a book or goes somewhere to speak in the context of sharing some message from God's word or in fulfilling His commission using the gifts God has given them, why does that particular ministry require the people who benefit from it to pay for it in advance? In almost any other circumstance ministry is offered freely first then whatever compensation a person desires to give (if any) is given. Now I understand the practical considerations of the costs of producing a CD, or printing a book, or travel considerations, and the worker is worth their wages (Luke 10:7). I am obviously not opposed to a person getting paid for performing ministry. It's not even about the money as much as it's about the idea that a person thinks they somehow own these songs, thoughts, and words they admit to be freely given from God and make the leap that they can charge other people for permission to benefit from it.
Let me reiterate that I'm not trying to condemn Christians that make a living off of music, books, and speaking. I know, love, and respect many fellow Christians who do just that. I just want to test the motives of myself and other Christians when we presume that we are entitled to withhold the work God has given us to do until we can personally profit from it. Instead I would love to see more Christians take advantage of available technology to create and share freely the things that the world might expect them to withhold until they can get paid for it. If you have a great worship song that will draw people near to God, why not share it for free to the world as an MP3 instead of selling it on an album? If you have a powerful story or message to share in writing, why not type it up yourself and save a tree by publishing it as a free PDF instead of selling it as a printed book? If you have a message to preach from God's Word, just preach it in person, on video, on an audio recording for free to all who will listen instead of waiting to be booked for a lucrative event. You are free to do all those things, even though it may cost you some time, money, and energy.
Consider the fact that our Lord Jesus made the most valuable contribution to all mankind freely, without any expectation of compensation. God provided everything that he and his team of 12 needed for 3 years of ministry through the generosity of others who believed in who he was and what he was doing. His preaching and teaching was not only to those that could afford it but to everyone he had opportunity to minister to. Are we really taking full advantage of the opportunities available to us to show the world how valuable Jesus and the salvation he gives really is, or are we peddling the Gospel for our own gain to build our own kingdoms? Honestly, I don't know and it probably depends on the specific circumstances for each person.
All of this is as much a personal challenge to myself as it is to any other person. I just really feel like there is something valuable to see in how the so-called "gift economy" of the internet and open source community is a better model for the church to follow than commercialism. What do you think? Should everything we create be done using a GPL or is it OK to license and make money off of sharing the Gospel in some form? I'd love to hear your thoughts by e-mail or in the comments below.
I'll leave you with a great series of statements in Proverbs 11:23-25 about giving and freedom. It says:
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25 A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Hmm..well said sir. Thanks for sharing. Both Keith Green and Derek Webb have done the whole get the album for whatever you can afford style, as well as many other lesser knowns. It seems to work pretty well because it doesn't restrict the "Value" of a cd to just $15 dollars or so. Some people find it to be much for valuable and want to pay more for it. Others just take it for free or for pennies, it usually ends up evening out but the bigger effect is the word of mouth buzz and the testimony to the world that money isn't the main goal of these artists producing art. It's viewing it as a ministry versus a money making career. Anyway, interesting food for thought.
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