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erspectiveThe message, not the moneyBY KENT KINGSTONCHRISTIAN BAND SWITCHFOOT HASbeen in hot water recently for beinga little overzealous in helping fanscopy tracks from the band’s new CDto MP3-friendly formats. In response toInternet chat-room queries, Switchfootbass-player Tim Foreman provideddetailed instructions for overriding theCD’s anti-copying features. Sony, the band’srecord label, is not impressed and consideringlegal action. 1We live in the age of unprincipled bootleggerswho make small fortunes fromcopying and selling thousands of popularmusic CDs, DVDs and computer softwareat “bargain” prices. People generally agreewith laws designed to stamp out this kindof thing. But when the same laws do notdiscriminate between commercial piracyand small-scale copying for nonprofitprivate use, most of us roll our eyes in disgust—andkeep copying.So many people I know—Adventistsincluded—are happily ripping and burningtheir way through avalanches ofblank discs in the full knowledge that itis “technically” illegal. How am I supposedto respond when someone hasspent hours of painstaking labour compilinga music CD especially for me,even to the extent of colour-photocopying afront and back cover? Is it legalistic for meto feel uncomfortable with this, even as Iexpress my gratitude?Yes, much of copyright law is selfishlymotivated, anti-creative, hypocritical andjust plain stupid, but copyright law is stilllaw, and we have biblical injunctions to“respect the authorities” (see Romans 13:1).Were the Roman laws in Paul’s day any lessnonsensical?The only law-breaking permitted byScripture is when human laws come intoconflict with God’s law (see Acts 5:29). Atthis point I have a confession to make. No,not a confession, a declaration: I once distributedphotocopies of Matthew 5-7 (theSermon on the Mount) from the NIVBible, which is copyright and specificallyprohibits the copying of so many verseswithout permission. I have no remorseand would do it again.For me, this is an example of where thelaws of God and man come into direct conflict.The Bible is God’s Word, and Hewants us to share its good news with asmany people as possible. It has been copiedand translated over and over again throughthe centuries. To claim copyright overGod’s Word borders on contempt for itsAuthor and those who have died for itscause. I am sympathetic to those who standon principle and will only use the publicdomainKing James Version for this reason.A common argument in favour of copyrightlaw is that illegal copying “deprivesChristians should notbe motivatedprimarily by profit orrecognition, but by adesire to share God’slove and truth.the artist of income.” And yes, Christianartists and publishers have a right to aliving like everyone else. There’s a limit tothe romance of starving to death in a 19thcentury London garret while penning one’smagnum opus. But surely many artists,especially Christian artists, care more aboutthe message than the money. If they were init for a buck, they’d be writing advertisingjingles or Mills & Boon paperbacks.Keith Green, the 70s Christian singersongwriter,had a pricing policy for his concerttickets and record sales: “Whatever youcan afford.” Thus, if you were strugglingfinancially at the time, Keith didn’t wantyou to miss out on the message. However,if you were doing well, you’d be very welcometo mortgage the proverbial sheepstation in order to support Keith’s ministry. 2This was a challenge to Keith Green’scontemporaries, and it remains a challengetoday (sometime this week, wander intoyour local Koorong or Word bookstore andtry to purchase a Keith Green CD for“whatever you can afford.” You won’t getfar). Keith’s example is a radical lesson inliving by faith for us all, whether we’re anartist or a civil engineer. We live in amoney-oriented society, but as the apostlePaul warned, “Do not conform any longerto the pattern of this world” (Romans 12:2,NIV).Christians should not be motivated primarilyby profit or recognition, but by adesire to share God’s love and truth withspiritual seekers everywhere. Ministriessuch as Amazing Facts are to beapplauded for encouraging viewers tomake copies of their TV/DVD presentationsand distribute them as widely aspossible. And in terms of promotion and,arguably, profits, this can be effective—many people will hear a friend’s copiedversion of a song and buy or recommendthe original CD as a result.I challenge ministries, artists and publishersto maximise access to their message(God’s message) by removing everylegally possible barrier to the wide andcheap—or free—distribution of qualityChristian material. The technical means areavailable as never before—satellite TV,video streaming, music downloads,Internet radio, online magazines, e-books,and more. These will never (and probablyshouldn’t) replace “hard copies” altogether,but they maximise the opportunity to reachthe world with the message of Jesus forthese days. R1. Switchfoot—.2. M Green and D Hazard, No Compromise: The LifeStory of Keith Green, Harvest House Publishers, 2000.Kent Kingston writes from Cairns,Queensland.8December 17, 2005
Prayer keys forChristmasBY JOY BUTLERCHRISTMAS IS TRADITIONALLY Atime to think of, pray for and give toothers. So why not use this time topray for persecuted Christians?Many thousands of people will be inprisons around the world this Christmas,longing for the company and fellowship oftheir families and churches. Others will betoo afraid to worship openly, wives will betaking food to their husbands, familieswill grieve because they can’t find missingmembers. It will be a time of sorrow formany; they ask for our prayerful support.Remember Quang who, after his housewas demolished, is serving a prison sentencefor his consistent and bold stand onmatters of religious freedom.Think of the three mothers who are ontrial because they ran a Vacation BibleSchool for children.Pray for Berni’s widow who now hasfive children to care for on her own sinceher husband died in a bomb blast intendedto kill Christians.Pause to pray for Roli, an old lady, whohas a network of 70 churches and supportseight people in prison and remembersthree who were executed.Support Trieu, an ex-witchdoctor, as heshares the Bible under constant threat.Two organisations support persecutedChristians and you can contact them to jointheir network of prayer and letter writing.Be a proactive Christian and a pray-er.Open Doors is a global ministry thatresponds to the needs of persecutedChristians in 45 nations where Christianityis forbidden or restricted. Visit their website .Voice of the Martyrs works in morethan 50 countries. See their web site.As Hebrews 13:3 puts it, “Remember theprisoners as if chained with them, andthose who are mistreated, since you yourselvesare in the body also” (NKJV). RJoy Butler is prayer coordinator forthe South Pacific Division.UndeservedcomplimentBY CHRISTINE MILESIDIDN’T DESERVE THE COMPLIMENT. Ihad, after all, behaved like a bear witha sore head for most of the week, snappingat my children regularly and oftenbecause of tasks left undone or not completedto my satisfaction.My theme for the week had been“Hurry, hurry, hurry.” There was noreason to hurry. We made it to school eachday before the first bell rang, with lunchboxes filled and homework completed.Beds were made, curtains opened, thebreakfast mess cleaned up, and morningworship completed.Even though my children were easilydistracted from the small tasks allotted tothem, they didn’t deserve my terse commandsand sharp responses.On Friday afternoon, we had finishedSabbath preparation with the exception ofone task: to change a $20 note into goldcoins, suitable for offerings at Sabbathschool and church.“Come on,” I said. “Hurry up.” Severaltimes, in fact.The truth of the matter was that the childrenwere going as fast as they could go.But I was organised and they were not, soI snapped again, “I’m going. Get in the caror I’ll leave you behind.”My children got in the car and we drovethe short drive to the bank, accompanied bylots of chatter and a brisk “Pipe down”from me.At the bank the children proudlyfeatureexchanged the note for coins, pleased tohave some practice at being grown up.As we buckled our seatbelts for the ridehome, Miss 7 said, “You’re the best mum inthe whole wide world.”And I snapped, “Why?”Really, for an adult who proclaimed tolove God and her neighbour, I wasn’tdoing a very good job of either.“Because,” said Miss 7, “if we had a differentmum we might not know aboutJesus.”“Yeah, that’s right,” chorused the boys inthe back seat. “We love God and it’s allbecause of you.”I thought of Matthew 5:16: “Let yourlight shine before men, that they may seeyour good deeds and praise your Father inheaven” (NIV).My light wasn’t shining that week. Myexhaustion did not dissolve in that moment.Yet God in His infinite wisdom allowed mychildren to see past my frazzled temper andsnappy outbursts. He gave me a moment torefocus on the purpose of my life.We didn’t drive home immediately. Wesat in the car and we praised God for thegift of His Son, Jesus.Because if one’s light is dim, what betterway to relight it than to focus on God. RChristine Miles is a mother andfreelance writer in Auckland,New Zealand.December 17, 2005 9
Page 1 and 2: RECORDIn this issueAdventist school
Page 3 and 4: Adventist schools in PNG join NESLA
Page 5 and 6: New session election procedures fin
Page 7: New Ellen WhiteDVD releasedWAHROONG
Page 11 and 12: December 17, 2005 11shocked that he
Page 13 and 14: AnniversariesGotts, Phillip and Wil
Page 15: 15 AcademicExcellenceScholarships i

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