Is It Wrong To Copy Computer Games?
Answer: If a computer game is copyrighted, yes. What does copyright mean? It means that the person (or company) who created it is the only one with the right to copy it.
People who write books, songs, magazine articles, and computer software often copyright their work so that other people can’t sell or misuse it.
The law says that anyone who does take or sell someone else’s copyrighted work is guilty of stealing.
With stealing, usually we think of taking an object (money, a toy, a pencil, a hat, a ball, etc.) that belongs to someone else.
But you can also steal information. When someone writes a song, the song belongs to that person.
When someone writes a book, the book belongs to that person. Other people can have copies of the song or book if they buy them.
Or someone could borrow another person’s copy of the song or book.
But it would be wrong just to take them-which is what happens when you make your own copies.
Remember, even if everybody does something wrong, it is still wrong because it still goes against God’s nature.
Key verse: If anyone is stealing he must stop it. Let him begin by using his hands for honest work. Then he can give to others in need. (Ephesians 4:28)
Related verses: Exodus 20:15; Romans 13:1-5; 1 Peter 2:13-14
Related question: Is it right to record tapes?
Note To Parents: Don’t accept bootlegged copies of software or music for your kids, and don’t make illegal copies for your own use.
If you’re unsure of what you can do with a particular program, check the license agreement that came with it.
Is It Wrong To Keep Money That You Find On The Stre Et?
Answer: An honest person makes an honest effort to return things to their rightful owners, even when no one knows about it.
With a wallet, the person could look for a name inside and contact the owner. With a large amount of money, the person could put up a sign or tell the police about it.
Where the money is found is also important. Money found on a classroom floor was probably lost by someone in the class.
Money found in a store was probably lost by someone who had just been in the store.
In those cases, the person who found the money should tell the teacher or tell the store cashier.
That would be the honest thing to do. The important thing is to do for the person who lost the money exactly what you would want them to do for you.
Sometimes it will be impossible to find the owner of the money.
For example, you would probably never find the rightful owner of money found on the street or a dollar blowing across a field.
But don’t make excuses for keeping what doesn’t belong to you try to find the owner if you can.
Key verses: Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and greatest command. The second most important is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)
Related verses: Deuteronomy 22:1-3; Luke 6:31-36
Note to parents: Kids have their own saying for this scenario: “Finders keepers, losers weepers.” Tell your kids that God’s greatest commandment gives us a different standard-one that respects people and looks out for their best interests.
Is It Stealing If A Poor Person Takes Food?
Answer: Yes. No matter what a person steals or why, it is still stealing. The Bible says a lot about poor people.
God’s people, the nation of Israel, were supposed to help the poor. And hungry people were allowed to gather leftover grain from the fields (called gleaning).
But the poor were never told that they were allowed to steal food.
There are many poor and hungry people in the world.
We should do whatever we can to help them (sending food, donating money to relief organizations) so they won’t be tempted to steal food.
Key verses: O God, I beg two favors from you before I die. First, help me never to tell a lie.
Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs! For if I grow rich, I may become content without God.
And if I am too poor, I may steal. That way I might insult God’s holy name. (Proverbs 30:7-9)
Related verses: Exodus 20:15; Leviticus 19:10; 23:22; Deuteronomy 24:19-21; Proverbs 19:17; Matthew 6:19- 21,25-34; Acts 2:42-45; James 2:14-16
Note to parents: When your child asks a question like this, it’s a great opportunity for you as a family to begin to support a relief agency or sponsor a child or family.
It is also a good opportunity to pray together that God will meet your own family’s daily needs and thank him for doing so.