In the past, when I wanted to acquire a legal copy of a music artist’s song I could purchase a full “album” (a collection of songs) of the artist—whether in a vinyl disc, a cassette tape, or a CD format. That meant that if you wanted only one song, you still had to buy the whole album. Occasionally, a “single” of a song would be produced. If that song was something I wanted, then I could purchase the single.
But those days are gone. With the coming of the internet and the digital format, even though artists still produce albums, consumers now have access to songs to be purchased individually. No longer does one have to surf through a whole album to listen to one song. In fact, one can now make a personalized playlist of songs and artists. Playlists may follow a certain theme, or simply be a collection of favorites.
I’m not complaining. This allows me to make the most of my limited resources. Also, the playlist is a very helpful tool in preparing for some event that involves singing specific songs. For example, a music director can make a playlist of songs for a future family camp. Then she can just listen to the songs continuously to master them enough to teach them to campers.
That may work well in the field of music and my listening pleasure. But then, there are those who develop a “playlist mindset” which is extended and applied to every other area of life. This becomes especially problematic when the playlist mindset is applied even in matters of biblical truth. Scripture is treated like a music album. I begin to pick and choose the songs (truths) on the basis of my personal preferences. The ones that do not match up with my preferences are set aside or ignored. I listen only to the ones that affirm my preferences. And I end up with a kind of Christianity that reflects more my tastes rather than the truth of the gospel.
But “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3.16–17 HCSB). We can receive and enjoy the full benefit of this God-Inspired Word only when we learn to let “all Scripture” address our lives.
Oftentimes, it is those areas of our life that need rebuking and correcting that suffer the most when we “playlist” Scripture. Because we choose only that which we want to hear, we fail to receive what we need to hear. We become stagnant in our faith and ill-equipped to accomplish what the Lord requires of his followers.
—Keith Y. Jainga