If You’re Not Living It, You Can’t Teach It (Or Sing It) by Dylan Stewart

There’s an old saying that goes, “If you’re not living it, you can’t teach it.” This saying certainly has a Scriptural basis. For instance, Jesus condemned the scribes and Pharisees for teaching but not living according to their teaching when He said, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice" (Matthew 23:1-3, ESV). Similarly, Paul pointed out in his Galatian letter how false teachers were binding the Old Testament law of circumcision onto Christians although many of these false teachers were not keeping this law themselves (see Galatians 5:12). Additionally, Paul provided the following warning to those who would dare pass judgments on others when those judging practice the same things upon which they pass judgments: "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God " (Romans 2:1-3). What we may not realize is this notion of “if you’re not living it, you can’t teach it” applies just as much to our singing as it does to our teaching.

Since we are supposed to be "teaching and admonishing one another" when we worship God in song (Colossians 3:16), if we are not living the words we sing, then we should not sing those songs. Consider some spiritual songs that require extra self-examination (see 2 Corinthians 13:5) when we sing to ensure we are eligible to sing without doing so hypocritically.

Personal Evangelism

  • I Want to Be a Worker (L. Baltzell) – Can we truthfully say that we have been making an attempt to "lead the erring in the way" (see 2 Corinthians 5:11a)?

  • You Never Mentioned Him to Me (J.W. Gaines) – Can we truthfully say that we are trying to "spread the word where’er it may be heard" (see Acts 8:4)?

Prayer

  • What a Friend We Have in Jesus (C. C. Converse) – Can we truthfully say that we count it a "privilege to carry everything to God in prayer" (see Hebrews 4:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)?

  • Kneel at the Cross (Charles E. Moody) – Can we truthfully say that we ever "kneel" when meeting our Lord in prayer (see Ephesians 3:14; Luke 22:41; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:36; etc.)?

Godly Living

  • Stepping in the Light (William J. Kirkpatrick) – Can we truthfully say that we are "trying to walk in the steps of the savior" (see 1 Peter 2:21)?

  • In the Service of My King (Tillit S. Teddlie) – Can we truthfully say that we are wholly "guided by His word, heeding each command" (see John 14:15, 21-24)?

It is hard to sing "in truth" (John 4:24) if the truths contained in the songs we sing are not evident in our lives. Therefore, if we aren’t living it, we shouldn’t sing it.

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Patrick Donahue