Well, because.

The Holy Spirit led me to write Organic Faith and make it available for FREE to the body of Christ. Generally, it's best not to argue with God. Besides, the very nature of organic faith challenges the status quo, aka the traditional Christian publishing industry. In Matthew 10: 8, Christ issued the following command to His disciples, "Freely you have received, freely give."

God is raising up a band of believers that will continue the work of Christ by liberally sharing with others what Christ has given them. This is not to say that other ministers, musicians, speakers, teachers or writers who take money for their service violate God's will. The decision whether or not to take compensation for ministry must be left up to the conscience of each believer as guided by the Holy Spirit. But for me, I believe the Lord issued a direct challenge. He said to me, "Freely give to others and I will lead some believers to support my ministry through your writings."

Ordering Information
Organic Faith, Pulpit Life, and Broken by Design are available free for download or by sending a request to Chaille Brindley, 10244 Timber Ridge, Drive, Ashland, VA 23005. Please specify quantities in your request and honor God by using every copy ordered. Other resources are available for free from this Web site including Bible studies, meditations, teaching resources and more. (Because of the cost of shipping, these materials cannot be mailed outside of the continental US.)

Donations
If the Lord leads you to support this ministry, please make your check payable to Chaille Brindley, 10244 Timber Ridge Drive, Ashland, VA 23005.

Copyright Policy
Any portion of Organic Faith and/or other content from this Web site may be freely copied or transmitted to others as long as the original wording is not changed and it is not sold or included in work that is sold. Any request to use any part of this book in a work that is sold must be approved by the publisher.

Feel free to share any part of Organic Faith or other content from this site with others. The following must be added to any excerpts of this work: "Excerpted from www.organicfaith.com, Copyright © 2003-2024 Chaille Brindley."

Should a Christian Copyright God's Truth?
The idea of a Christian copyrighting and making money off books, music, videos and other media containing spiritual truths and "religious" content has raised objections from some within the Church. These critics contend that the copyright law hinders the free flow of the Gospel and God-given talents to a lost world. Are Christians trying to cash in on their work now instead of waiting for an eternal reward? Is there anything wrong with a believer earning his/her living from ministering to others?

Scripture clearly supports the idea of believers paying ministers and others providing valuable resources to the body of Christ. Those tasked with spreading the Gospel as a full-time occupation definitely deserve to eat and provide for them families. Notice the instruction of Jesus to His disciples as He sent them out to minister. Jesus said, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat" (Matthew 10:8-10). God called His disciples to travel light because He would provide for their needs through the generosity of those God called to give. The disciples were not to charge for administering the free gifts of God or spreading the good news. But this does not absolve the recipients and others from doing their part to support the kingdom of God. We are to recognize that "the laborer is worthy of his hire" (Luke 10:7).

Read the following Scripture passage and see what Paul had to say about paying ministers for their labor for the cause of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:3-18

3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, 4 Have we not power to eat and to drink? 5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? 7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

Paul outlined a defense for paying ministers even while he personally abstained from charging for his service. Although Paul did take support from those who willingly gave, he did not require it or try to coerce believers to pay him. Always focused on the call, Paul would rather go without than act in a way that hindered the spread of the gospel of Christ. Paul's letter does warn about abusing a ministerial office for financial gain. Some do look at ministry as a way to obtain the 'good life' - fancy cars, luxury watches and mansions. These people will bring judgment upon themselves if they act out of faithlessness. For the most part, Paul does not say that everyone must follow his personal example. Paul wrote, "The Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." Each minister must seek the face of God and listen for what the Lord would have him do. According to your measure of faith, God may require you to go forth with little to no support on the books. Others may be provided for completely without any expense unpaid. God will work uniquely in every circumstance.

The Bible established a responsibility for believers to labor and produce both money and resources necessary to meet needs within the Body as well as provide for full-time ministers. We are to "give to him that needeth" (Ephesians 4:28). We are to provide for those with needs so that they lack nothing according to 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12.

Paul never wanted to be burden to anybody, yet he had needs and trusted for God to provide through the generous gifts of fellow believers. Read the account that Paul gave to the church in Philippi.

Philippians 4:10-18

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. 15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

The gifts delivered by Epahroditus were a sweet smell, like a pleasant perfume to God. Stop and think about your giving as fanning the sweet smell of God's love to places without Him. Paul set an example for ministers that they should be content with what God provides. And the church of Philippi shows Christians today how they should provide for true ministers and support the work of spreading the gospel to new places.

How does this translate to the issue of copyright law? Well, it makes sense that those who labor to minister through writing or developing music deserve to earn a living from the gospel. One problem with copyrighting a work is that it might lead to a situation where one believer would have to sue another in court in order to protect the work from infringement. Paul forbids believers to sue each other in I Corinthians 6:1-8. This passage clearly shows how it would be better to suffer wrong than to cause harm to the reputation of the Church by airing disputes among non-believers. The copyright law basically sets up a situation where a believer might have to choose between obeying Scripture or defending a copyright.

One critic pointed out that if the Holy Spirit is the source or inspiration behind a work, does the person who writes it down or records it really have a right to copyright it? Should that act be considered profiting from the revelation of God? While some may look at the situation this way, it is clear that our very lives are a gift from God. We own nothing in the grand scheme of things. In a flash of light, we could die and lose all of our earthly possessions. We must look at receiving compensation for ministry with eternal eyes. If we are advancing the cause of Christ by being able to focus all of our attention on the ministry instead of having to work a second job to pay the bills, that may be the best thing for fulfilling God's master plan. Taking compensation from willing brothers and sisters may bring God maximum glory by helping the minister focus completely on God's call while giving others an opportunity to sow into the Kingdom of God.

There does not seem a clear cut mandate either way on the issue of copyright. It all comes down to faith and hearing from God. For me, I believe that God wants me to protect the integrity of the work while providing a free license for others to distribute it and offering free copies to those who might want one. I trust God to provide, and He has and will continue to do so. Whatever you do, make sure that you are walking in faith and radical obedience to the Word of God. Shalom!