Identifying Truth: The Importance of Memorizing Scripture
It’s not a big secret, but there are a lot of quotes and statements that we ourselves have used/made or read, possibly even from a young age that are not necessarily true. I remember a particular poem from as far back as elementary school called, “Invictus” written by William Ernest Henley in the mid-to-late 1800s. It was something we had to memorize as a class. The last stanza has always stuck with me:
“It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.”
A good question to ask, “Is that really true?” I mean, it sounds great and very self-empowering, but can you see the problem with it? It’s easy to quickly glaze over statements without really understanding their meaning. I think of it like hearing a very popular song on the radio that is very catchy. I can hear it for months and not think twice about it, but then I actually pay attention to the lyrics and what’s being said and they’re actually talking about something (usually) pretty explicit. There is so much information and ways of thinking being presented to us 100s of time per day. I like to think I’m immune to it, but it definitely influences my thinking, sometimes at the subconscious level. How about a few more:
“YOLO”
“What goes around, comes around.”
“Why do bad things happen to good people?”
“Be the best version of yourself that you can be.”
“Follow your heart.”
“Time heals all wounds.”
And one more, it’s one I just read the other day actually:
“There is hope in men, not in society, not in systems, not in organized religious systems, but in You and me.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti
All of those statements are either false or partially true–depending on the context in which they’re used (except for the last quote, it’s absolutely false regardless of the context). The majority of the time, the context in which they’re used in our culture makes them all wrong. Discerning truth from untruth isn’t always easy–especially when it comes from credible sources or is a popular belief. Even the most credible people mispeak or are wrong sometimes; what’s always popular isn’t always right, and I know, this may come as a big shocker; what we believe, think, and say, is sometimes wrong. We must always be testing. Not just the incoming information, but even our own thoughts and beliefs. It’s a lot of work! And impossible to do apart from the Holy Spirit and the Bible.
What about popularized personas? We’re an entertainment-driven culture. Netflix, Hulu, etc. One favorite of mine is Parks and Recreation. My favorite character on that show? Ron Swanson. Ron is a Libertarian, Lagavulin-drinking, meat-eating, mustached-manly-man. He’s known to order dozens of eggs and bacon when he goes out to eat and he does woodworking at 2am. It’s kind of funny, but it’s easy as a man to adopt some of Ron’s ways of thinking, which is skewed from Biblical-masculinity. We may adopt some of these characteristics subconsciously. Something I have learned through study and good preachers, is the importance of memorizing large chunks of scripture. The point in doing that is not to be super-religious or to wooh and aww people with our knowledge of scripture. The goal is to get Truth “in us” so that it creates a filter within our hearts and minds; informing our conscience. It helps us to hear a statement or teaching and be able to quickly decipher if what is being said or taught is true, partially true, or false. Sometimes we don’t have the luxury to sit down and analyze something. Many of our decisions and actions in life are made in a few seconds or less. I must confess that I go through seasons of memorizing scripture, but I am not usually very diligent about it, especially in the last year. It takes a lot of effort and it isn’t glamorous, but the impacts on my spiritual life are profound. I have used the little bit of scripture I have memorized as weapons against the world, my flesh, and the evil one. I may not always remember the exact verse or book of the Bible the passage is from, but I know the important part–the passage itself.
I was blown-away a few years ago when I watched a teaching by John Piper, where he recited the entire chapter of Romans 8 (now there’s a chapter of the Bible worth memorizing!) completely from memory. His goal wasn’t to look impressive, but to show that he was putting in the effort and was trying to encourage his church to do the same. He was essentially practicing what he was about to preach. That is a guy I can follow! There’s a cool old proverb (not from the Bible) that I heard one time: “When is the best time to plant an oak tree? 25 years ago. When’s the second best time to plant an oak tree? Today.” Therefore, it isn’t too late for new beginnings. Afterall, that is the Christian life. I have made a list of at least 5 good reasons to start memorizing scripture today:
1. Always Ready to Give An Answer
“15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15)
It helps to know at least the basics. We don’t just tell our stories, but we actually preach truth, and it is from hearing that people start to believe.
2. Better Prayer Life
There have been many times where the Holy Spirit has spontaneously brought scripture to mind, both during prayer alone in a closet, and during prayer for/with a group of people. These scriptures were already something that were “in me,” except maybe in a rare case. Every time this happens in my own prayer life or in praying for others, it’s very encouraging and faith-building. It also helps guide you into Truthful prayers and knowing what and how to pray. Just don’t become the “prayer police” and correct every little thing if praying in a group. We all mispeak, especially if we’re nervous when praying amongst other believers. If it’s a big deal to you, just pull them aside afterwards and have a chat with the person. There has to be room for messy-ness, especially with young believers.
3. So you can “Preach” to Yourself.
There have been many situations where I have used scripture as weapons against my flesh, the world, and the enemy. I’m able to remind myself and guide my thoughts and emotions down a pathway of Truth–without despairing or feeling like the sky is falling. A few favorites of mine:
“14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Romans 13:14)
“1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1)
“2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4)
Entirety of Psalm 23
“20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20)
The first one, Romans 13:14, has helped me many times from giving in to temptation involving mind-altering substances and/or sexual sin.
4. To Live
“4 But he answered, ‘It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
God’s Word is a living and active Word, and it is life-giving. Over and over in the Old Testament, it went well for the kings that observed and walked in God’s commandments and statutes. How else do we know his statutes and commandments other than by reading and knowing scripture?
5. It’s a Great Way to Spend Your Time
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8)
Memorizing scripture requires one to think about and meditate on a passage. It fills our minds and hearts with true, pure, lovely, commendable words and thoughts. What a wonderful way to spend our time. Afterall, the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16).
There are way more than 5 reasons to memorize scripture. That’s just what I could come up with off-the-cuff, in no particular order, with minimal effort. There are probably even better reasons than these. Regardless, be encouraged. Don’t feel beat down about “how you should read your Bible more.” You probably should (and so should I), but let’s “want” to read our Bibles more and not just read them for the sake of it or because we probably should. Jesus loves it when we cheerfully spend time with him. I don’t always feel “cheerful” when I read my Bible, but I just pray for that to lift when it happens and press on. If you’re in a season of that, keep going and pressing and it will break. And when it does, I promise, it will have been worth it!