[sword-devel] Doctrinal Statement

[Brandon Staggs]

> Contribution to the code, I believe, shouldn't matter a bit.  A die-hard
> atheist or buddhist could contribute to the code, as long as they do a
> good job and don't disrupt things in the mailing list, etc.

This is contrary to scripture, though. 2Corinthians chapter 6 deals with
doing the work of the Lord.

 2Co 6:1 ¶ We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye
receive not the grace of God in vain.
...
 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship
hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with
darkness?

So often v14 is quoted as something prohibiting marriage to a non-Christian,
but it's context is clear that it regards doing God's work. (A yoke is a
form of burden, if you view your marriage as such, you are bound to have
problems.) Now I don't think a Christian SHOULD marry a non-christian, but
that is not the issue here...

It is quite obvious to me that if you were to include non-Christians in the
programming of Sword then you would be going against Scripture. A good
example is Ian Vink and his BiblePro software -- he is Bahai and sells Bahai
software right along with it (if you know where to look on his website -- he
tries to hide it from the Christian audience because he knows it would
affect his sales).

Now, you have to draw the line somewhere -- (is your website hosted by
Christians? What about the CD replication? How about the post office where
you ship your orders?) -- but contributing to the code is clearly sharing
the yoke, and you should not want an unbeliever doing that with you.

-Brandon (really just a lurker here, but I want to see Sword do well -- the
more Bible study the better)