COPYRIGHTED: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Cecil Hook

When I published my first book, I gave little thought to the obtaining of a copyright for it. As I continued to publish, various ones advised me on the advantages of copyrighting. I entertained the idea, but abandoned it.

The copyright notice would give some prestige to my book, I thought. It lends some sophistication, and that appealed to me as an unsure and unknown scribe. But who looks for the pedigree of a book before reading it?

A copyright requires that you not use my stuff without my permission. I may sue! And when permission is given to use it, give me the credit!

This leads me to question my purpose for writing. My intense desire to give redirection to my people moved me to publish my thoughts even though I knew I would meet the resistance of many of my brothers and sisters. Now that my material is in print, do I wish to restrict its use? Surely not. When people tell me they have reproduced a lesson of mine for use in a class or to distribute, I am pleased. The more it is read the better. That helps to accomplish my purpose.

I considered the point that, if they are not copyrighted, opponents may use my teachings against me by misquoting, changing my meanings, and quoting out of context. But a regulation of law cannot stop that. Or, should God have copyrighted the Bible to avoid such misuse?

If I do not reserve all rights to my material, someone may plagiarize it. It is true that we “borrow” the thoughts of others, but should I be concerned about who propagates what I teach? If I am concerned that the message be spread, why should I be jealous of whoever teaches it? Am I trying to make a name for myself? I’ll admit that it swells my pride a bit to be quoted, but I see my thoughts repeated by other in print without giving me credit. So what? My purpose is being fulfilled.

If I do not forbid the duplication of my material, someone may reprint and sell my product. Now we are getting down to the core of the matter! Money! I want to make money from my teachings. My books are going to make the best-seller list, and I am going to make a bundle!

This takes me back to my motivation: do I write to help others or to make money, or both? Books of a secular nature are written to make money. No problem. Is spiritual guidance for sale? Now we are lancing one of the pus pockets of religion—making a way of gain of spiritual things!

Do I not sell books? Yes. Being retired on Social Security, I cannot publish and distribute them free as I would prefer doing. But, being enabled by many concerned people who want the message of freedom in Christ to go out, we have distributed over 18,000 free copies of Free In Christ. A lesser number of my books has been given to persons who could not afford them. My nominal prices enable my operation but by no means pay for my labor; yet I do sell books. True to his promise, God has taken care of my needs.

Didn’t Paul write, “The Lord commands that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14)? Yes, but Paul took his message to those who needed it without charge to them. He did not say, “Pay me and I will share spiritual things with you” He proclaimed his message without charge, being enabled by his own tentmaking and the help of other disciples. Then those who received the gospel could enable him to proclaim it to others.

David missed out on a gold mine by his failure to copyright his psalms. Perhaps Jesus would not have had to rely on John to provide for his mother if he had reserved all rights to his Sermon on the Mount. And by copyrighting and selling copies of his epistles Paul might have been able to give up tentmaking.

But what were their motives? Are mine as pure as theirs?

The law recognizes my ownership of anything that I create whether it is copyrighted or patented or not. The copyright only identifies my property prior to the time it might be contested.

Well, even though this little essay may not be too convincing, we who copyright and retail the spiritual blessings that we would impart have some soul-searching to do.—1350 Huisache, New Braunfels, Tx. 78130