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Originally Posted by kisstheson
to listen to most LSM conference and training audio messages, one must pay a monthly subscription fee. On top of that, one must pay for a license for most messages, and this license has to be renewed after a certain length of time.
Contrast LSM's approach with that taken by TAS ... "He [TAS] was insistent that his writings and tapes should not be copyrighted and as a result they are still freely available today and can be distributed in whatever way God leads." All the messages on this site can be downloaded for free. No licenses are involved. This includes both the audio messages and the written messages.
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I am concerned that a precedent is being set here which doesn't bode well for the long and illustrious tradition of selling the gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, good news in exchange for lucre even predates the NT gospel tradition -- it's roots can be seen in the blessings and cursings for sale by Balaam (Num 22-31). Then there is Simon the magician, who sees the opportunity for hucksterism (Acts 8). Then we have the nice rhyme by Johannes Tetzel, selling indulgences to raise money for St. Peter's in Rome, "When the coin in the offering box rings, the soul to heaven springs".
Of course, good news sold for cash really took off with the modern devices of dissemination, such as the printing press, then radio and television and now the internet. The televangelist was a fixture in the American culture in the late 20th century. Remember Oral Roberts? God told him that if he didn't raise $8 million quick He'd call him home. Roberts put out the plea and the faithful ponied up $9 million plus. Roberts' life was spared.
The LSM is merely continuing this long and venerable tradition. In fact, they have a nice improvement on it with the "one trumpet" scheme, in which only one ministry is allowed to disseminate good news for cash. All others are banned. So I think they are to be congratulated on a nice arrangement.
Now you have someone giving away the good news. Terrible! Brothers, I implore you to think about the ramifications of this activity. Think of the livelihood of all the "full timers" being jeapardized by such activity. God forbid that they should have to go out and get a job like everybody else.
"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." 2 Thess. 3:10