Why Free and Open Source Software?

We may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Paul • Ephesians 3:12

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Jesus • John 8:36

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Paul • 2 Corinthians 3:17

 

There is nothing that God values higher than our freedom. He created mankind in his own image (Genesis 1:27) and said: «"You are free"» (Genesis 2:16).

«And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die."» (Genesis 2:16-17) By obedience to God’s commandment, the first human beings could have been free forever. But instead, by their free will, they did that which caused them to certainly die.

We are also certainly dying, and there is no freedom in death. That’s why God had created us to live forever. And by his free will, God himself «gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life» (John 3:16).

«God is love» (1 John 4:8), and love depends on freedom. We are free to do absolutely anything. We may freely choose death. But if we belive in the Son, we will «speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom» (James 2:12).

In 2014 I was looking for a more flexible accounting software. I decided to use Odoo, since the licence is free and open source. The community is working freely together. And the software is developing to care for all the business needs.

To me, Odoo is a great illustration of my faith. I have decided to be a follower of God, and he has set me free from the burden of sin. His law is a licence to protect my freedom. His community is a fellowship of people who value freedom. And God is developing my character and caring for all my personal needs.

Henrik Norlin, founder of APPSTOGROW