It’s been 25 years since I started seminary at Perkin’s School of Theology. I remember wondering what seminary would be like. One of my friends, a good Southern Baptist, asked if there would be an emphases on memorizing scripture. I still remember smirking and feeling a bit superior as I answered, “Methodists are more interested in understanding what scripture means than memorizing it.”
Having been a Southern Baptist in my younger years I remembered how important it was to memorize as much scripture as possible. But, all too often I had seen people of faith (no matter their denomination) regurgitating scripture in ways I thought inappropriate. They would take scripture out of context not understanding the author’s audience, or what their intent was in writing a particular passage. I had a New Testament professor in seminary who used to say there were three things important to understanding a text…”context, context, context”. Then there were people who were guilty of what we call proof texting which means to pull one obscure scripture from the Bible and treat it like it is the whole truth disregarding hundreds of other passages which say just the opposite.
So there you have it. I would not be memorizing scripture in seminary. I would use my superior knowledge to interpret the scripture instead. Then I graduated. In my first appointment I remembered going to the hospital to see a very sick person. I wanted to impart some word of comfort. I seemed to remember some scripture that talked about God and refuge. I struggled to remember Psalm 46 and it came out… “God is really strong and He is at home where he is very strong.” No, that wasn’t it….try again. “God is a refuge and that’s trouble”…or as Harold Hill in the Music Man used to say, “Trouble with a capital G and that rhymes with P and that stands for pool!”
I quickly came to the conclusion that perhaps it might be helpful, after all, if I could commit to memory a few scriptures like the 46th Psalm…. “God is my refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.” Sometimes it takes years to realize we need a balanced approach in so many areas of life. On the one hand, I still believe we need to understand God’s word. That is why I continue to teach Disciple Bible Study. But I also realize the importance of keeping in your pocket some scriptures you can quote verbatim when you go to the hospital, when you stand over a grave, when you are counseling someone. I happen to like, among others, Romans 8:31-32 & 35, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 51:10-11, and John 14:1-3. And yes, I memorized the 23rd Psalm a long time ago after reading it a hundred of times at funerals.
You should find those scriptures that are precious to you and commit them to memory. You never know when you’ll need them.
Rev. Dave Poteet, Pastor of Congregational Care
