How Jeremiah 22:13 Changed My View On The Internet

Jer 22:13  Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work; 

This very Scripture has fundamentally changed the way I see the Internet, and all its content.  Please read on.

How It Started

I have made it a habit to read a chapter of Scripture a day, preferably in the morning.  I was on Jeremiah 22, when I came across the above verse.  I thought something:  What free online services do I use that I could be paying for, either through purchasing a subscription, making a donation, or watching an ad?

I have a confession to make (Proverbs 28:13):  I was a thief.  I pirated music via Napster, I downloaded video game ROMs, etc.  This was back when I wasn't a Christian.  I have since paid for a good number of the albums I once stole from, the rest I streamed on streaming services, there may be a few songs that have slipped my mind.  As for the video games, I have paid for a good number of them too, thanks to Nintendo's eShop.  It is likely impossible for me to make full restitution for the thefts (soft language calls it piracy) of software and media.  Still, I wanted to make an effort (see Exodus 22:12).  To any former thief who is now in Christ, heed the following:

Eph 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 

One of the biggest software thefts (of which I was also guilty until I paid for it), and the subject of many jokes, is the file compression software WinRAR.  Officially, you get 40 days to try it out for free, and then you are commanded to either pay for it, or uninstall the software.  Many people, including myself, have kept using the software without paying.  In 2021, after using other file compression tools, I finally paid for it. (I may have paid for it twice, there was also a registration key in 2023, oh well, perhaps it's for the best)

This YouTube video has more information on the WinRAR situation:

I just want to make it clear to everyone:  If you are still using WinRAR after the 40-day trial without paying for it, YOU ARE A THIEF, and thieves are among those who do not enter the Kingdom of God:

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

(1Co 6:9-10)

Back to those online services I've been using for free (of which the providers of the services allow at limited use).  I've been blessed in my job that I more often than not have extra money on my hands, and I've been able to compensate several software authors (individual or group) through a premium subscription, a donation (which I call a purchase, keep reading for more info), or watching ads.  Plus, on a mental level, I feel less restricted in using the software or online service when I have actual skin in the game.

2Th 3:8  Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 

(I'm not perfect in this, but I am making an effort to do this time and time again.)

As for this blog, it is powered by Google, which is compensated mainly through ads through other services I use, so it's not as if I'm taking advantage of this blog for nothing.  It may be "free", but it doesn't come without a cost.  (I may have to consider returning to paid web hosting and get a WordPress blog set up, mainly for the sake of independence)  Now, of course, for the sake of 2 Corinthians 2:17, I refuse to connect my AdSense account to this blog (or solicit donations, I have plenty, also see Hebrews 13:5), so I'll have to figure out other ways to compensate Google while being light on its use. (I recently asked Gemini, Google's AI, for an answer.  Using Google's other services, paying for content on their platform, is essentially the answer.  So we're cool.)

As for the "donation" I mentioned, I donated $50 to Linux Mint in order to justify using that operating system in my PC building project.  In my heart, IT'S NOT A DONATION, IT'S A PURCHASE.  I figured $50 was a decent enough price for an operating system.  It was cheaper than buying a fresh copy of Windows 11.  Some of you may be saying, "You have sinned, because you publicly acknowledged your donation in violation of Matthew 6:14!"  For reference, here is the Scripture:

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

(Mat 6:1-4)

My answer to such an accusation is this: THIS IS NOT ALMS. It's naming my own price, in the guise of a "donation".

OK, one more thing:  What about those who can't afford to compensate for online services?  Are such people sinning?  Of course not!  If the provider of such services offers them for free, to use it for free is not theft.  In fact, we ourselves are to do things for the poor for free anyway:

Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

(Luk 14:12-14)

 

How I See The Internet Now

Remember back before the Internet was a big thing, where if you wanted to consume ANY content, you either had to buy it, if it was music, books, etc., or watch ads if it was television?  Now, because of the Internet, there's a BOATLOAD of free stuff to consume, yes, many of which distribute it in the name of sharing.  Still, Jeremiah 22:13, whether I interpret it correctly or not, got me to thinking, "Am I too attached to this stuff?"  (loving the world leads to Hell says I John 2:15)  So, naturally, my Internet use has fundamentally changed; I am using it less.

What Now?

 So yeah, there's a little bit of withdrawal from reducing my viewing of content.  Still, it's good to reduce it, in order to also follow this Scripture:

"Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." --Proverbs 4:23

Hopefully, I will find other things to do with my life.  It may take some time, but maybe, just maybe, I can improve my interactions with others, that is, to seek them out more, something that Christians need to do anyway in order to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19).