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Selling Other People's Sermons - Ethics

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by mnw, Nov 18, 2006.

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  1. mnw

    mnw New Member

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    Recently whilst checking to see my churches ranking on some search engines I came across something that surprised me.

    Someone on E-bay is selling a CD with a collection of sermons from a Bible Conference I was in a few weeks ago. Now, the reason people will buy the CD is because of the known names also preaching on the CD. Now, looking at the bids so far you will see I am not worried about royalties! :)

    I don't care if someone spreads messages around, a wider audience to hear the burden the Lord has put on mine or any preachers heart can only be a good thing.

    What bothers me is that someone on E-bay may be selling it for personal profit. If the proceeds go to some ministry or something then that is great, but if not I think I have a problem with that.

    Am I right to be concerned about this? Is there something ethically wrong with personally profiting financially from the other people's sermons.

    Here is the e-bay item: http://cgi.ebay.com/2006-Fall-Bible-Conference-26-Baptist-Preachers-Amen_W0QQitemZ130047746182QQihZ003QQcategoryZ16710QQcmdZViewItem

    (What's worse, is he got the title of my sermon wrong! :) )
     
    #1 mnw, Nov 18, 2006
  2. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    Even if it is one of the other ministers on the CD I do think it is wrong to sell your messages without your consent.

    On the other hand, none of our messages belong to us. They are really God's messages that he was kind enough to let us deliver. It would be like Joel saying Peter stole his material.
     
    #2 LeBuick, Nov 18, 2006
  3. Pete

    Pete New Member

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    I'm in the wrong game.... :eek: :rolleyes: :BangHead:

    Here's stupid me going to be playing guitar and doing message tomorrow, recording it on DVD & CD, and giving the things away to whoever wants em....



    ....or is it just that I'm not good enough to make a $ on it? (DON'T ANSWER THAT :laugh:)
     
    #3 Pete, Nov 18, 2006
  4. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    *** post not included ***
    PJ, you told me not to answer that..

    As for the OP, I would be offended.

    WOW, this person has a lot of sermons for sell...
     
    #4 tinytim, Nov 18, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 18, 2006
  5. blackbird

    blackbird Active Member

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    Don't quit your day job, Pete!!!

    I've got several boxes of recorded cassetted sermons ---- you don't suppose I could profit on myself??

    I can see the big $$$$'s rollin' in now!!!

    A bigger idiot than the one sellin' 'um is the one buyin' 'um!!!!
     
    #5 blackbird, Nov 18, 2006
  6. J. Jump

    J. Jump New Member

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    I think the question needs to be asked where the CDs/DVDs available for purchase at the conference? If so then the re-sale of the material is nothing more than someone purchasing a Christian book and then trying to re-sale it after they are finished with it.

    Now if the person came to the conference and recorded the messages of his own accord and was selling it outright then one would have reason to be concerned/offended, but if he's just re-selling what was available for purchase at the conference or made available by the conference to purchase after the conference was over then there is no big deal.
     
    #6 J. Jump, Nov 18, 2006
  7. mnw

    mnw New Member

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    I want to clarify that I am not concerned about the money side of it. I know my sermons are not"good enough" to be sold or put in print and as LeBuick stated, the message is not mine, it is the Lord's. I am tool, and of course we all know the foolishness of praising the tool when really it is the One handling the tool that deserves glory.

    If it were a one off, then I guess that is the point of E-bay, getting rid of something you no longer use or want. But the seller in question seems to have quite a stock pile, I think he lists over 3000.

    Is it okay to collect a bunch of sermons, compile them onto CD and then sell them simply to pay for a Mcdonalds' Meal? (It looks like this seller may not even get that much! :) )

    Of course, I don't think a church should sell anything to raise money, that is a tithes and offering issue I guess. But to sell the sermons for personal profit in a way seems to be making merchandise of the Lord's message.

    Just had a thought a long the lines of the Pineapple Story. I am talking here about the Lord's Message, not mine. I am looking out for God. :) If you don't know the Pineapple story that will not make sense.

    I am not overly concerned, and not really thinking legal/illegal, just curious about what other believers thought about the ethics of it.

    Now, could someone place a bid on it, its gonna be disappointing if no one bids... :praying:

    If you want to hear me preach for free just go to fbcaudio.blogspot.com :thumbs:
     
    #7 mnw, Nov 18, 2006
  8. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    That's a deep thought, like praising the hammer for what the carpenter built. Or praising the potters wheel for the pottage that was produced. I like your analogy!
     
    #8 LeBuick, Nov 18, 2006
  9. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    I wonder how much we could get from that analogy Lebuick....

    Step into my office son... Have I got a deal for you...

    And if you act now, I'll throw in a commemorative Baptist Board bath towel.

    Come on MNW don't hold back, share the pineapple story, I have never heard it....wait... how much is that gonna cost me??!!!!
     
    #9 tinytim, Nov 18, 2006
  10. mnw

    mnw New Member

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    The Pineapple Story is very funny, but also has a challenging truth. If you google you may be able to get a copy on video or something. There is also an illustrated book, but the missionary, Otto Koning, tells it best himself. :) Here is a link to the book: http://www.thealertstore.com/1000468.html

    Right, for that much info you owe me, at current e-bay rates, um, wait, actually, I owe you $0.12.

    I started this day amazed, someone was selling a compilation cd with one of my sermons on it, it went to concern that someone was making merchandise of it, now I am ending the day disappointed that there has not been a single bid! :tonofbricks:

    And where can I get a Baptist Board Bath Towel???!!! Can I get it personalised with my sign on name and number of posts?
     
    #10 mnw, Nov 18, 2006
  11. blackbird

    blackbird Active Member

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    MNW---It took me a while to catch on to whats going on

    Lets see if I can explain it this way

    Lets just say that over the years I came up with a broad collection of Beatles albums --- fictitous---of course----but lets just say that I had them and now I want to sell 'um

    They're mine, aren't they?? I can sell anything that belongs to me, right???

    Now, lets just say that through the years I've been to the FBCJacksonville, FL Pastor's Conferences----lets just say I've been 10 years in a row and have bought recorded tapes, DVD's, CD's and etc----I bought them and now I want to sell them

    I don't have a problem with it!!
     
    #11 blackbird, Nov 18, 2006
  12. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    I'll trade you Tiny's towel for the book. I'll even give one of the kids at the Church a marker and let them monogram it free of charge. The post count might look messy cuz it keeps changing (and they don't do numbers yet) but you'll get the idea.
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    Oh, you may want to change your tag to MWM so it will match the towel. I guess they didn't do N either.
     
    #12 LeBuick, Nov 18, 2006
  13. mcdirector

    mcdirector Active Member

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    All I want to know is . . .

    What's LeBuick doin' with Tim's towel? I sure hope Tim doesn't get cold now when he gets out of the shower. I seriously doubt Mrs. Tiny is gonna share her's because us gals are pretty selfish with our towels.
     
    #13 mcdirector, Nov 18, 2006
  14. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Now where did I put that towel?


    LEBUICK!!!!!!!!
     
    #14 tinytim, Nov 18, 2006
  15. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    People have offered me $$$ if I DONT record my sermons:laugh: :D :rolleyes: :laugh:

    Salty
     
    #15 Salty, Nov 18, 2006
  16. Pipedude

    Pipedude Active Member

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    I can understand the ethical question, but things like this become moot when the dollar amount is so near to zilch.

    Technically you're not supposed to steal office supplies at work; but if you need to staple a personal item, the fact that it isn't your staple just doesn't matter.

    Sounds to me like the guy must be trying to operate a media ministry. It takes work to assemble and produce stuff like this and I'm sure he could make more money picking up aluminum cans.

    I'd say yeah, he shouldn't do it without the permission of the speakers (at least), and maybe even the host church where the speaking took place (since they probably did the recording to begin with). But in the final analysis, he makes four bucks a week off this hobby--so leave him to work it out with God.
     
    #16 Pipedude, Nov 18, 2006
  17. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    Sorry, used it for a floor mat... I was using mine.
     
    #17 LeBuick, Nov 18, 2006
  18. mnw

    mnw New Member

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    Thanks for the reply Blackbird. I can understand where you're coming from, and would agree. This is not something I am losing any sleep over. And thanks Pipedude also. :smilewinkgrin:

    I am interested only in the ethics of this, if I preached for money I wouldn't be a baptist... not in the UK anyway. :thumbsup:

    As for this elusive towel... Lebuick, why not put it on E-bay.
     
    #18 mnw, Nov 19, 2006
  19. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    There was a Baptist preacher named Spurgy,
    Who didn't like our liturgy.
    His sermons were fine,
    And often are mine,
    And many more of the clergy.

    I was taught early on that when we copy another's sermon, we often copy their shortcomings.

    If someone wants to sell my sermons, they are welcome. They must answer to God, not me, and how can they say that they trusted the Lord for the message of the day.

    Cheers,

    Jim

    I can't imagine me preaching Blackbird's sermons with my English accent!!!!!
     
    #19 Jim1999, Nov 19, 2006
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