Hi Jimmy

I refer to your post of 22 November concerning the acknowledgement (or lack of it) of authors of articles. I understand the reasons why one of the Doves brought this matter to your attention and I do agree with him.  This is the first opportunity I have had to respond.  My reasons are as follows  and they just that - reasons: not a rebuke! 

 

1.    Identifying the author of any article (whether secular or inspired by the Holy Spirit) should not take away any honour from God.  In contrast, it gives the article credibility.   We know that all wisdom comes from God and that He can choose anyone He likes to express Himself.  Those who are "in tune" with the indwelling Holy Spirit will make a habit of honouring God and giving Him glory for any revelation and everything around them.

 

2.    It is most helpful to know the source of the article before we read it - whether the author is known or unknown. Knowing the source helps us to be selective in what we subject our minds to - no point in wasting time and energy, only to discover the article is written by some cult leader or follower.

 

3.    Imagine the jumble the Five Doves website would be if there were no identification for each post.  How uninspiring it would be. And although N F Paul's name is given every time in a post submitted under his name, he always acknowledged the author of the work. And the wisdom from those articles is certainly Holy Spirit inspired. But it helps to know that N F Paul went to the trouble (before he died) of selecting encouraging, suitable articles. We know what to expect. And he won't have to provide any apologies in heaven to the authors of articles he used!

 

4.    When photographers take pictures of God's magnificent creation, the pictures themselves stir a sense in us of the awesomeness of God - and we can respond to the Holy Spirit's promptings to give God praise.  However, that doesn't mean we should ignore the hard work of the photographer who deserves to be blessed for the effort.  It also helps to know who the photographer was, because if he (or she) decides to publish a book of his pictures, we can seek it out - and glorify God even more. 

 

5.    There are people who learn to see God's greatness in everything and there are others who don't want to: our accountability is for ourselves - not others. Leaving out authors' names/sources is confusing to both.

 

6.    To take someone else's hard work (and there is a cost to being used by God) and use it, without acknowledging the author is disrespectful:  in legal terms, it is called "stealing".  The Bible touches on plagiarism in Jeremiah 23:30-31 when He reprimands the prophets who "steal my words, everyone from his neighbour".   Then these people would say that God gave them those words.

 

7.    Caiaphas, the High Priest, standing in judgment of Jesus was used by God, without it being realised.  In John 11:50,51, Caiaphas said, "Why should the whole nation be destroyed?  Let this one man die for the people" .  .  . Then scripture goes on to say that Caiaphas didn't think of that himself: he was inspired to say it. [NLT]  In this case God glorifies Himself even more, by using someone who was opposed to Him.  But we need to know the identity of the speaker, in order to understand and appreciate that. 

 

8.    Any serious reader is going to check the author/source of an article before reading it.  Then, if more information is required - or authenticity of the information is needed, the reader knows where to go.  There is no point in reading an article if there is no source.  Even info on the Internet has to have a source, so a reader can substantiate its authenticity.  It is not enough to say, "I saw it on the Internet".

 

9.    If a person uses someone else's work and does not acknowledge the author, he is substituting himself as the source.  This is disrespectful to the author.  It is also dishonest.  It is taking someone else's work (regardless of where the inspiration came from) and using it as one's own (plagiarism).  It is also illegal.  There needs to be some check and protection.

 

10.    Legally, we are required to acknowledge the author of all original work and, where a book is published, generally get the publisher's permission before quoting from it. 

 

In summary (quite apart from the legality of the situation), I do believe that providing the name of the author/source of provides credibility to any writing  - both secular and spiritual - and that it is more glorifying to God to do so.  I need to know the source, before reading.  And God gets the glory for everything.  After all, wiithout Him there would be no authors.

 

Those are my reasons!

 

Yours in Christ

Abigail, NZ

 

[It is not that I spell words, such as "honour" and "neighbour" incorrectly - it is the Americans who get it wrong!  Sorry!]