When I was a college student, one of the most dreaded hours of the week was Tuesday morning’s Sightsinging Class. Sometimes we sang as a group, but most often we were called on individually. Each of us was given a line from the textbook and a pitch, and then we were to sing the line correctly. A capella, of course. I can still hear Dr. Will saying, “Miss Austin, you are composing.”
Composing would have been fine in composition class, of course. But not acceptable in sightsinging class. This memory has often come to mind through the years, particularly on Wednesday nights in choir practice, and especially when there’s struggle over a section of music. I have often joked about it being “creative license”. After all, that sounds better than “mistake”. And I could often hear Dr. Will’s voice in my head. “You’re composing.”
Soloists often take some creative liberties with the music. (If you have ever heard a pop artist sing the National Anthem, you know what I mean.) But a choir, particularly when singing a passage in unison, has no such “creative license”.
Neither do we when it comes to the scriptures.
This afternoon, I am wondering how many of us are doing exactly that. Taking “creative license” with the Word of God.
We do that every time we pick and choose the parts we like, and ignore the rest. Every time we quote it out of context. Every time we make it about us. Every time we misapply it.
How that must grieve the heart of God.
In order to avoid “composing”, we must read the Word. Study it. Read all of it. Not just the favorite parts. And read the Bible itself, not just books about the Bible. Not just devotional books. The Book itself. The whole Book.
Let’s stop composing. Let’s honor God by honoring His Word.
“Be diligent to present yourself to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB)