Breakin' the Law, Breakin' the Law...
Ah, Judas Priest, we hardly knew ye...
Before I get into my "problem," I need to explain why I put "problem" in e-quotation fingers: My wife and I, after three solid years without, have finally decided to get a TV. The decision was in large part based on the fact that we were sick of watching movies on my laptop. Generally speaking, I hate television, though perhaps in the same way that a smoker could still hate cigarettes. Television's redeeming qualities are, for me, three shows. (I'll allow the reader to deduce which; hint: one of them is mentioned below). But I digress...
I'm a big fan of "The Office," and since I've been sans-TV for so long, I need to catch up through season 3 before season 4 starts in September. We've watched seasons 1 and 2 (thank you, DVD-inventor), but season 3 won't be out until September, but that's when we need to be watching season 4. Hence, my e-quotation fingers around "problem." It's almost embarassing to call this a problem, because it's such an American, spoiled-rich-kid kind of problem. Another post, perhaps, but for now, I shall press on...
My options for catching up are as follows:
1) Buy all of season 3 on iTunes (~$42)
2) Wait for the DVD's, buy them, and watch them all in one giant, 24-hour loser-marathon
3) Download the episodes from the internet
But, as a follower of Jesus, is option 3 really an option? As far as I can tell, it is legal to record television broadcasts for personal use. Recording for profit, or mass-distribution without permission from the owner (NBC, in this case) is the recording equivalent of counting to 5 with the holy hand grenade: "right out."
So we're up against a Napster-esque problem here, yes? A web-site that offers downloads of a TV show is illegal, as far as I can tell, and technically robs the network, writers, etc., of the monies they are due for producing and broadcasting the show. If I download from such a site, even though my intentions are purely for personal viewing, I'm supporting an illegal practice. Is this wrong?
Thinking Biblically about it, I understand the Scriptures to say that you should submit to the law of the land (e.g., Rom. 13:1-7), so long as it is not in direct contradiction to God's commands (c.f., Acts 4:18-20). As such, I feel that option 3 is truly a non-option.
Still, this is very convicting to me, because (perish the thought!), my law-abiding bent lacks consistency. To wit: I repeatedly and unashamedly violate traffic law on my way to work every day. I rarely observe the speed limit. I'm not dangerous about it, and I go with the flow, but aren't I breaking the law? Ouch.
Herein lies another spoiled-rich-kid "problem" for the Western Christian: drive the speed limit. As a Massachusetts native, this is especially hard. But is speeding not a sin? Let's assume we're not on our way to save anybody's life, nor was there a clear leading of the Spirit to floor it on the way home. Ouch, anyone? Or are my hermeneutics way off base?
Before I get into my "problem," I need to explain why I put "problem" in e-quotation fingers: My wife and I, after three solid years without, have finally decided to get a TV. The decision was in large part based on the fact that we were sick of watching movies on my laptop. Generally speaking, I hate television, though perhaps in the same way that a smoker could still hate cigarettes. Television's redeeming qualities are, for me, three shows. (I'll allow the reader to deduce which; hint: one of them is mentioned below). But I digress...
I'm a big fan of "The Office," and since I've been sans-TV for so long, I need to catch up through season 3 before season 4 starts in September. We've watched seasons 1 and 2 (thank you, DVD-inventor), but season 3 won't be out until September, but that's when we need to be watching season 4. Hence, my e-quotation fingers around "problem." It's almost embarassing to call this a problem, because it's such an American, spoiled-rich-kid kind of problem. Another post, perhaps, but for now, I shall press on...
My options for catching up are as follows:
1) Buy all of season 3 on iTunes (~$42)
2) Wait for the DVD's, buy them, and watch them all in one giant, 24-hour loser-marathon
3) Download the episodes from the internet
But, as a follower of Jesus, is option 3 really an option? As far as I can tell, it is legal to record television broadcasts for personal use. Recording for profit, or mass-distribution without permission from the owner (NBC, in this case) is the recording equivalent of counting to 5 with the holy hand grenade: "right out."
So we're up against a Napster-esque problem here, yes? A web-site that offers downloads of a TV show is illegal, as far as I can tell, and technically robs the network, writers, etc., of the monies they are due for producing and broadcasting the show. If I download from such a site, even though my intentions are purely for personal viewing, I'm supporting an illegal practice. Is this wrong?
Thinking Biblically about it, I understand the Scriptures to say that you should submit to the law of the land (e.g., Rom. 13:1-7), so long as it is not in direct contradiction to God's commands (c.f., Acts 4:18-20). As such, I feel that option 3 is truly a non-option.
Still, this is very convicting to me, because (perish the thought!), my law-abiding bent lacks consistency. To wit: I repeatedly and unashamedly violate traffic law on my way to work every day. I rarely observe the speed limit. I'm not dangerous about it, and I go with the flow, but aren't I breaking the law? Ouch.
Herein lies another spoiled-rich-kid "problem" for the Western Christian: drive the speed limit. As a Massachusetts native, this is especially hard. But is speeding not a sin? Let's assume we're not on our way to save anybody's life, nor was there a clear leading of the Spirit to floor it on the way home. Ouch, anyone? Or are my hermeneutics way off base?
posted by bmarchio at 11:12 AM
2 comments
