What does the Bible say about hacking?
The Bible does not directly address hacking, as the technology we know today did not exist at the time it was written. However, the Bible does speak to principles that can guide Christians in thinking about hacking ethically.
At its core, hacking involves gaining unauthorized access to computer systems and data. From a biblical perspective, this raises questions about privacy, property, honesty, and the appropriate use of knowledge and skills.
The Bible upholds the value of privacy. Scriptures like Exodus 20:16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” and Proverbs 11:13 “Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered” speak to respecting others’ personal information. Unauthorized access violates privacy boundaries.
The Bible also teaches respect for property. Passages like Exodus 20:15 “You shall not steal” and Ephesians 4:28 “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need” condemn theft and underscore the importance of only using resources that rightfully belong to you. Hacking to steal data, credentials or computing resources would go against these principles.
Truthfulness and honesty are also biblical values. Verses like Proverbs 12:22 “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight” and Colossians 3:9-10 “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self” speak strongly to being truthful and forthright in how we represent ourselves and interact with others. Using deception or exploiting security flaws to gain unauthorized access violates the scriptural emphasis on honesty.
The Bible encourages the use of knowledge and skills to benefit others. Passages like 1 Peter 4:10 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” and Matthew 25:14-30 (the Parable of the Talents) speak to using our abilities responsibly. While hacking skills could be used for illicit activities, they can also be used ethically for things like security testing, making systems more robust and helping organizations fix vulnerabilities. The Bible would encourage finding positive ways to use this knowledge.
At the same time, the Bible warns against pridefulness. Verses like Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” and James 4:6 “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” speak against arrogance and an inflated sense of self-importance. Hackers should be mindful that skills may be a gift from God, not something that makes them superior to others. There is a temptation toward arrogance that must be guarded against.
In summary, while the Bible does not directly address hacking, it does speak to related issues like privacy, property, honesty, stewardship of abilities, and avoiding pride. Christians should thoughtfully apply these principles as they consider the ethics of hacking. Hacking to exploit, deceive or damage is sinful based on scriptural values. But hacking carried out responsibly to build security awareness, help others and test systems could be ethical. The morality depends greatly on motivation and execution. As in all areas of life, Christians are called to honor God in how they use technology.
Exodus 20:15-16
“You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
This key passage in the Ten Commandments forbids stealing and lying. It calls God’s people to respect others’ property and privacy. These principles would prohibit hacking into systems or data that do not rightfully belong to you.
Ephesians 4:28
“Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”
This New Testament passage condemns theft, calling those who have stolen to instead work ethically and generously meet the needs of others. It underscores the importance of only using resources that rightfully belong to you.
Proverbs 11:13
“Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.”
This verse emphasizes keeping private information confidential. Gossiping and revealing secrets is condemned. This principle applies to respecting the privacy of data we may come across. It should not be accessed or shared without permission.
1 Peter 4:10
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
This passage encourages us to use our unique gifts and abilities to serve and help others. For those gifted with hacking skills, this could include working to increase security, surface vulnerabilities responsibly and fix weaknesses.
James 4:6
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
This verse warns against pride and arrogance. Even gifted hackers should remember abilities ultimately come from God and should not become a source of inflated self-importance. We are called to humility.
While more principles could be explored, these key passages give a moral framework to begin thinking biblically about hacking. The Bible emphasizes love, honesty, integrity, stewardship of gifts, care for others’ wellbeing, and caution against pride, theft and deception. These values can guide ethical decisions related to hacking. Christians should thoughtfully apply them in considering what activities are morally right or wrong in this arena.