Blog

The very talented photographer Linda Truong has kindly given permission to have some of her photos from the ONE event appear on our website. Very kind, thanks Linda!

This event featured John Piper and John Lennox at the Sydney Entertainment Centre). It was an absolute pleasure to work with our dear friends at KCC on this wonderful night.

Photos courtesy Linda Truong www.lindatruong.com.au

Next

We normally think about copyright as protecting authors' rights to cash. But there are two far more important purposes behind copyright law - the right to correct identification of the author, and the right not to have your work changed without permission.

I'm reminded of the story of 'In Christ Alone'. The organises of the Chelmsford Clergy Synod on 4th May 2006 changed one of the lines of In Christ Alone.

The original line was 'Till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied'. They changed 'wrath' to 'word' - 'the word of God was satisfied'. Rev Chris Newlands, the Bishop’s chaplain, admitted that it was changed to be more inclusive. Obviously speaking about God's righteous anger at sin rubs some people up the wrong way.

But the songwriters understandably objected - and since then requests to change the words of the song have been knocked back. They are, by law, well within their rights to decide what their song will say.

After all, it's their name connected to the song, their teaching authority behind the words, and their reputation at stake. To change these words is a bit like me walking into a book shop and substituting a couple of pages of Don Carson's latest masterpiece with some ideas that I think are better. Don would be, rightly, outraged. It's no different with songs.

Copyright can be abused, but I'm glad that people can't change songs without talking to the author. I'm glad that heretical groups can't take the NIV and publish a version which looks the same except for some 'improvements'. Copyright can serve us well in an era of mass production.

Of course, accidents happen. We realised recently that we have been singing the wrong words to Richard Bewes' adaptation of 'I Vow to You'.

"I vow to you, my Saviour that where your feet have trod
I will serve and always follow you my Jesus, my God"

The correct lyrics are:

"I vow to you, my Saviour, that where your feet have trod,
I’ll serve and follow faithfully, my Master and my God! "

I would like to thank Rev Bewes, Jubilate Hymns, and Hope Publishing Co. for their graciousness in helping us to rectify their oversight. You can get the whole hymn at www.jubilate.co.uk.