In my last post on this subject I explored some common beliefs of Open Source advocates and (attempted) to boil them down to their common points and make some assertions about those common points.
To re-iterate the basis for this particular point, there are some people who have a fundamental problem with certain business models regarding software or who have preferences to roll their sleeves up and dig into code and config files to get their computers running just so.
I have three things I'd like to examine in light of principles from scripture.
Firstly software is amoral - that is there are no moral bases for examining it. You could compare it to a train. A train is not moral or immoral its just a tool or an instrument. Software can be used for evil purposes - just as a train can be used for evil purposes, but they are still what they are, just being used for evil.
Secondly any opinion of software is just that - an opinion. Unless you can apply scriptural principles to the purpose of the software, there is no moral basis for condemning it or accepting it. As an opinion you have a right to your opinion, but so do others. Many advocates of Open Source software take it upon themselves to migrate every user they come across to their "side". As we already saw - there are no sides - software is amoral, and thus if someone is comfortable using what they are using, don't try to change that. If someone doesn't share your ideology, so be it. It is quite possible they just don't care about the cause like you do, they just want to get things done - let them. 1 Cor 13: 5 says "Love does not insist on its own way". More on this in a moment.
Third, there is often an attitude problem. Many times Open source advocates will interject in a conversation when someone says something that violates their ideology. For example someone endorses a software product build by a company that advocate doesn't like. One of the first things that is often said is "You don't use that stuff do you?". The question could equally be rephrased - "Idiots use that software - did you know you are one?". This is a mild reaction - often the reaction heaps insults on the software or the company that made it.
The Bible calls this slander or revile and has plenty to say on the matter - look for example at Titus 3:2, Matt 15:19, Eph 4:31, Col 3:8, 1 Peter 2:1. It is also divisive - as not everyone will share this ideology and some will react violently against it, so it sows seeds of discord among brothers (Prov 6:19). "God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body". In other words God made the church to be united, even at an individual level, and this attitude does not reflect a commitment to do that.
The last point on this is that the body of Christ today is worldly and lazy. We don't want to work for the Lord, we would rather spend our time in our trivial pursuits entertaining and amusing ourselves as we see fit to. Heb 12:1 tells us to "lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us". The authors is instructing the reader (you and me) to put aside anything that holds you back from working for Christ. The metaphor is a runner running a race - he wouldn't run the race with his business suit on if it will slow him down. We too should be putting aside the things of the world in order to achieve maximum efficiency for the Lord. I've recently written about this on my other blog too - read it here, here and here.
The point is this: there is no place for these sorts of extreme attitudes in believers. They are contrary to the nature of Christ and based in worldly cares and concerns. As believers we should be about pleasing Him, not splitting hairs over technology.
Technology is a useful tool. We should use it to grow in Christ and build up believers - technological bigotry is not helpful in this. Rather - turn that passion into a passion for the Lord and his glory.