Pastor Walt just asked a great question in his blog: Why don’t we memorize Bible verses any longer? It seems to be a lost art. I’d like to take a stab at answering his question. Let’s start by considering your favorite movie, book, or play. Mine is probably the play “A Christmas Carol”. Take a few minutes and consider what yours might be.

Now, I want you to describe that movie, book, or play to yourself for a few minutes. Hit the important points, identify why you like it so much, come up with a defense of what makes it so special to you. As you do, here’s what I think about “A Christmas Carol”. Dickens put together a wonderful story that describes how insidious a descent into evil can be and how it can so dramatically affect one’s soul. At the same time, Dickens describes how the wonderful actions of a supreme being can bring us out of that darkness and despair. While he never mentions “God”, the analogy is clear to see. In addition to the plotline, this play is special to me because my family has made a point of watching (or, lately, participating) in this play each year during Advent. It’s a part of Christmas to me, reminding me of the good that lies within us and how, if we will turn ourselves over to God, that good can be set free. I also really enjoy quoting a few lines from the play, especially when Marley screams, “Scoooooooge!!!!!! Scrooooo-ooooooge!!!!!!” It’s always sure to make someone (ok, me) laugh. There are other lines I’ve memorized as well. The beginning starts with, “Marley was dead. There can be no doubt about that one thing or nothing good can from any of this. Marley was dead.” And, of course, many know Tiny Tim’s famous line, “God bless us, every one!”

By this point, it’s my hope that you’ve come up with the reasons you enjoy your favorite book, movie, or play. My hunch is that your reasons are similar and revolve around: pleasant memories of your family or friends, the plot, and also familiar lines that you remember.

Let me ask you something now: Did you memorize the lines first and then discover the pleasant memories associated with viewing or reading your favorite? Did you memorize the lines first and then discover the great plot? I bet you didn’t. In fact, my hunch is that you first fell in love with the plot, which dragged your family and friends into it as well, and then over time you discovered that you had memorized your favorite passages. Or, perhaps it was a family member’s joy at this production that dragged you into it, which caused you to grasp a great plot, and then finally resulted in memorizing passages.

So, back to Pastor Walt’s opening question: Why don’t we memorize Scripture any more? I’d submit that the answer is that we haven’t fallen in love with the plot and that those around us aren’t dragging us to talk about the plot and the great story associated with Scripture. What is true for our favorite movie, book, or play should also be true of Scripture. If you want to memorize Scripture, start by falling in love with the story. Bring your friends or family into it as well. Make it a joyful occasion. After you do this for a while, you’ll discover passages that roll off your tongue. And, better yet, you’ll also see how they fit into the big picture. You may still memorize silly passages like “Scoooooo-oooooge!!!!” but you’ll know the story around them and know why you’ve memorized them.

Don’t make Scripture reading an exercise in memorization. Let it become a joy that results in memorization! Thus I humbly submit my answer to Pastor Walt’s question.