Monday, August 01, 2011

66.

The other day after service, we went to get Em from kid's church. A leader said, lightheartedly (not any other way), "Your kid didn't know the first 5 books of the Bible...I was surprised...I mean, she's your kid." I answered, without a beat, and not in defense, by any means, "I'm not really concerned that she have the books of the Bible memorized...I want her to know its content and message. She's had two different kids' Bibles read to her over 15 times in 9 years, I'm pretty sure that's more important."

As Jason, Em, Ry and I walked toward the car, I said, "Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy...wait, Deuteronomy then Numbers...no, that was right..." (And I was a Theology major.)

Jason said, "That's what a Table of Contents is for..."

Em chimed in, "Exactly!"

I know the leader wasn't being legalistic. That's not the kind of church we attend. However, could it be that one of the many reasons people stray away from God at an age of reason or when disaster, tragedy, complacency, or life strikes is because their foundation is only knowing the song, "Jesus loves me" or having all the books of the Bible memorized?

There's more to God than rote religious recollection.

He's intimate.

He's the Main Character of a True Story.

He's a really big deal!

Honestly, to be quite un-Christian, who gives a rip if you have all the books memorized? That is, if you don't know what the heck they convey!!!!!

66 chapters.

Do you have all the chapter titles of your most recent novel memorized? If you did, we'd all think you were weird. What we would want to know is how you liked the book? Was it good? What was your favorite part? What was it that kept you reading? Did it evoke emotion? Could you identify with any of the characters? Was it profound? Would you recommend it to your friends or even suggest it for your next month's book club? Is it one you would want to read again, maybe even three times?

Since Em was a baby I have read the Bible to her while she ate. It's almost like Pavlov's dog...she wants food and Food when she's hungry. Her "Beginner's Bible" we got through probably 10 times, to be conservative. In the last 3 years we've read "The Picture Bible" 5 times through. Last year in homeschool Em read me her "Beginner's Bible" from beginning to end. There have been a few other versions here and there that she and I have read excerpts from, but the point is, my 9 year old knows the message and the content of God's heart, relayed through scripture, keen observation and the lives of loving people around her on a daily basis.

I'm not boasting that my kid is smarter than yours...believe me, "bumper stickers" is a post for another day...what I am saying is that content is more important than a chapter title...and, if you were to ask Emily to recall a story from the Bible, she would do it with comprehension and heart.

And, what if you grew up in a church or even outside the church, where the message you have memorized is that God is a big, mean God...He's out to get you...He's keeping track of all your "rights" and "wrongs" and is gonna get you if you aren't a good kid?!

If those are the messages going through your head and heart, and you and I had a chance to sit down, heart to heart over a cup of coffee or a margarita, I most certainly wouldn't use that time to try to drill the names of 66 chapters into your life.

I'd cherish that opportunity to tell you that I actually know the Author of those chapters. He's Amazing. Forgiving. Gracious. And Big enough to handle all the crap of the whole entire world...and He's totally in love with you, no if's, and's or but's...and no strings attached.

Just Love. Free and Pure.

11 comments:

  1. AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  2. Well said. I agree with you.
    His LOVE is so amazing!!
    Coffee and conversation with you would be pretty amazing too.

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  4. That "church leader" sounds like a total misguided jerk... or she was just making an observation out loud? ;)

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  5. Amen, I teach the kids at our church so rather have them know what is in the Word the the name of the chapters!

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  6. Well said. I am convinced I lost my way with God slowly over time. I attended a Baptist school until I was in 2nd grade. I remember being smacked with a huge wooden paddle each time I couldn't memorize a bible verse. My mom took me out of that school and into a Catholic school where I wasn't beaten, but I certainly had beliefs pushed down my throat. Those experiences make me question God and those that follow Him. I grapple with my relationship with God, but still take my children to church, hoping they will gain their own experiences and see what happens in their own lives.

    Maybe someone like you can give me a better understanding of God and those who seem to have a good relationship with God. I just don't get how God has turned political, or how some that follow God take a moral high ground. I have family members who tell me I am a "degenerate" and I am going to hell for things like, allowing my child to have a lesbian teacher, interacting with gay friends (and their families), etc. It just frustrates me further and certainly doesn't make me want to know a God like THAT.

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  7. Anonymous6:55 PM

    Jesus himself hung out with thieves, adulters, and liars. What's important is how we love all people. That's the greatest commandment. He is our Abba Father. Someone each of us can know so intimately. He's not political. Some may make it that way. However, the best way to understand Him is read His Holy Word. Everything about God is unbelievably amazing. What He offers us is very simple. Not politics and judging. A better way! Life knowing the Savior. His grace is enough :)

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  8. beautiful beautiful beautiful!! amazing. Thank you.

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  9. Our church has a pastor who is constantly referring to Bible texts as he preaches. He encourages us to read along with him, and highlight certain words or passages. I am glad I know my Bible books- it would be very annoying to have to constantly look up each book in the table of contents! Perhaps that is why memorizing them is encouraged, especially when kids are young and can absorb things like that more quickly?

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