I recently overheard a group of folks engaged in an informal competition to establish who had the most knowledge of a popular series of books. It was quite impressive how information tidbits were somehow catalogued in the memories of the participants, who were quite adept in accessing the relevant info when their knowledge of the series was challenged. They knew the characters, the events, the storyline that spans seven books.
Then I got to thinking about how we approach Scripture. I was in charge of a recently concluded inter-church competition that involved memory verses and Bible trivia. It was encouraging to observe how the participants did their best to memorize the assigned verses and to remember tidbits of information from the assigned bible books. Also, there is our church’s quarterly “Intergenerational Sunday School,” when we conduct inter-class Bible knowledge competitions. Then we have memory verses during church camp. Those who are able to recite the verses help their team to gain points for their team’s overall standing.
Yet, sometimes I do wonder how much of the information is retained after the competitions. And I wonder how many of the participants recognize the enduring significance of each bit of information that they memorize. Or are they just random items remembered long enough to participate in or even win a competition, and then easily discarded as insignificant after the prizes are awarded?
The Bible is much more than just a book of random information or a catalogue of moral teachings. Its 66 books tell the story of a God who is at work to restore his creation to its proper condition. Sinful humanity corrupted what God intended, but in his love God is on a mission to restore all things under the headship of Christ (Ephesians 1.7-10). The details find their proper meaning and significance within the context of the whole story. And so those verses and other information that we memorize must not be divorced from the bigger story. For example, the significance of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20.3-17) is properly understood only within the context of the fact that “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, of the land of slavery” (Exodus 20.2). Similarly, the significance of the calls to righteous living in the New Testament is grounded on the saving work of Christ on the cross.
The whole of Scripture tells the story that would define all those who call on the name of Christ—who have become partners with God in the unfolding of the story. When we recognize the whole story of God’s work of redemption and understand our role in the storyline, everything else in Scripture becomes meaningful. And we will find the proper motivation to pursue the godly life to which we are called.
—Keith Y. Jainga