Downloading music, movies, and other media illegally is sin that many people overlook. I've heard it's one of those laws that "doesn’t count." And the worst thing about it is its prevalence—that so many people use and approve of peer-to-peer software. "Peer-to-peer" refers to a variety of programs (such as Kazaa) that allow the user to download files from another user's computer. People try to justify this in many ways, but they really can't. First of all, it's illegal, so we sin by disobeying the government. First Peter 2:13 says,

"Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake. . . ."

Secondly, it's stealing. It is no different than walking into a CD store, picking out a CD, shoving it in your pocket, and walking out. The only difference is that you must provide your own CDs to burn when you download it. So if this is stealing, is stealing even wrong? Of course it is! Jesus told the rich young ruler to keep certain commandments, and "Do not steal" was one of them. This event was recorded in three of the four gospels, so it's definitely something important. It's found in Matthew 19:18-19, Mark 10:19, and Luke 18:20, and this commandment was repeated in Romans 13:9. Likewise, Ephesians 4:28 says,

"Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need."

God says to labor for what we want rather than stealing it. If think you really need a new CD, get out and buy it, don't just sit at the computer and steal it. First Corinthians 6:9-10 says that thieves will not inherit the kingdom of God. You have no place in Heaven if you're going to take things without paying for them.

I've had someone tell me that it's not really stealing because the artists that produce the music don't hardly get any money from the CDs they release, but mostly they get it from touring. That may be true, but the fact still remains that they get some money from their songs, and we shouldn't steal what small portion they may receive. Also, the recording label gets money from those songs that people steal, so that should be all the more reason to stop, because you're not just stealing from one person, but many.

Let me also interject to say that downloading music is not the only sin that peer-to-peer software allows. Entire movies and video games can also be illegally (and thus sinfully) downloaded at no cost. This is a dangerous sin, because it is almost limitless in what one can obtain, and it is so incredibly easy to perform.

Let also say this: I used to have a peer-to-peer program, and I also used to download songs, even as a Christian. I thought it was no big deal because Kazaa was not under the jurisdiction of United States copyright law because it was in another country. I missed, however, the fact that I was still under the jurisdiction of U.S. law. I stopped downloading music, but it still took me a while to get rid of the CDs I had made that contained illegal music. I got rid of my sinful habit, and you know what? I survived. The lack of free music did not kill me, contrary to what others may feel. And now, if I want a CD, I can go to the store. This concept is lost on some people these days. I get off my lazy bum and go to Wal-Mart if I feel I need a CD—which, we must all admit, none of us really need.

So what have we learned? Downloading music illegally is wrong because you're sinning against the government and God by disobeying the laws, and your sinning against the artist, the recording label, and God by stealing. The best thing to do is to get rid of your peer-to-peer software and the temptation that comes with it. There are plenty of ways you can get legal music, so take that path instead. If you still want to do it on the computer, there are a couple websites you can go to and pay for songs. You can get a song for 99 cents or so, so try that.

Please. Get rid of your illegal music and movies and games. It's not right. It's a sin to keep those. If you have a problem with that, then you have a problem with the Bible. You cannot respect the Bible's authority over your life if you do not follow the ordinances it sets forth. You cannot call yourself a Christian if you're going to steal from others. Please, do as Paul said, and steal no longer.

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