I’m not a fan of commercials, either on television or radio. Why? Because, typically, they are designed to appeal to my human flesh. They rarely are anything but a well-packaged attempt to fleece me out of a few bucks for something I’ll later regret spending my hard-earned money on. Furthermore, I find most of them insulting to my intellect, as a Christian. But I digress…
So, I pay a small monthly fee for my wife and I to enjoy commercial-free music on Spotify. I like the service because there’s never any static like there is with a radio station, just endless, quality streaming of music. Oh, and because it’s all digitally managed, I can create playlists that suit my taste in music. There’s even an artificial intelligence feature called “DJ” that will play music tailored to my listening history. It’s no wonder Spotify is a thriving business.
The other day, I was listening to the Spotify DJ, and he introduced me to some new tunes from musicians I had never heard of. As it turned out, I liked his choices and have since branched out to listen to a whole new genre of Christian music. It got me thinking about the days of old, when customizable digital music stations weren’t even created yet.
With a traditional FM radio station, listeners were locked into a program. Different stations focused on different genres, demographics and languages. However, even one’s favorite stations would play music unfamiliar to its audience. Sometimes the music was well-received, sometimes not. Radio DJs are proxies for their listeners, hoping to please them, but also challenge them from time to time with new tracks.
The primary difference between Spotify and FM radio is that the prior is a much narrower approach to listening to music since it is customized for me, personally (even the “DJ” feature). Radio station DJs don’t know me from a hole in the wall, so I can only hope to hear what I like (in between the awful commercials, of course…sigh).
With all of that said, there’s a silver lining to radio stations and it’s this: they force you to broaden your experience. In other words, instead of possibly narrowing over time with a hyper-customizable Spotify experience, FM radio challenges you with new music. Even if you don’t always like all the new material, on occasion you will, and you’ll be grateful because new music breeds new perspective. Aha! This is why I cannot denounce FM radio altogether, the inspiration for this blog (as much as I despise the commercials – please excuse the incessant ranting – LOL).
Since perspective counts for so much in this life, it’s a good thing when you can get more of it. This is especially true when referring to God’s Word.
Can you imagine only reading the New Testament in the Bible? Some people do that. I just learned recently that someone who calls themself a Christian has never even read the Book of Genesis! Wha-whaaaaat?!! I can’t imagine how much they’ve missed out on all these years. The perspective alone, never mind the wisdom and knowledge left on the table is stupendous! Can you imagine just reading two or three of your “favorite” New Testament books and never reading the others because they “bore you”? Think about how much is left unlearned!
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
– 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The Bible should never be treated like we treat our music these days. If we’re going to construct “playlists” we need to ensure that the entire Bible is covered, not just our favorite “tracks”. To do otherwise is to ultimately rob yourself of the wisdom and perspective designed by God to edify you. Every last word from God counts!
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
– Romans 10:17
If faith comes from hearing the word of Christ, then may our Bible “playlists” include the whole of God’s Word!
The danger in creating truncated Bible “playlists” is we are effectively limiting our perspective. As we live out our lives, we are then lacking in wisdom which results in frustration and lack of peace. As Jesus said in John 8:32, it’s the Truth that sets us free (implying all Holy Scripture, not just our “favorite” portions of it). In the absence of Truth, we tend to rely on human wisdom, which always comes at a cost.
And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
– 2 Peter 1:19-21
Spotify is great for a commercial free, tailor-made music listening experience. However, the danger of limiting our experiences through narrow playlists is real. The same goes with our Bible studies. While we may have favorite “tracks” we like to read or listen to (e.g., whenever I need some quick encouragement, I go to the Book of Ephesians), we mustn’t confine our experiences, and ultimately our perspectives. We ought to listen to God the Holy Spirit (our spiritual “DJ”) to guide us, for He will lead us to plenary Holy Scripture, challenging us along the way, teaching us new perspective.
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
– John 14:23-26
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins