I’ve asked this question several times in sermons: “If I would call on you, could you recite the Ten Commandments?” I didn’t do it, but you could see the fear. One woman at the door said, “I got to the Seventh Commandment.” Was she above average?
Almost every day in Lutheran grade school, we stood at our desk and recited, Bible passages, catechism, and sometimes hymn verses. I assume that’s still the practice. Memory work is a biblical command. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children…” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7).
Reality check: After grade school, I forgot much I had memorized, and Seminary didn’t resurrect much memory. What resurrected old passages for me, and what got me to memorize new passages and hymns, was the work of being a parish pastor. Hospital visits, nursing home visits, leading devotions, teaching classes, preaching… Those aren’t times for opening a book and reading at people. Like a medical doctor, a spiritual doctor should look you in the eye and speak from his head and heart.
It’s not surprising we forgot what we memorized in youth. After all, we went on to live life. But our forgetting weakens personal faith and the vitality of the church. Without a memory soaking in Scripture, you have at best general truths, not the strongest defense against temptation. “Did God actually say?” (Genesis 3:1). Satan cast doubt about words from God. So also, he quoted Scripture when he tempted Jesus, “It is written…” (Luke 4:10-11). Why wouldn’t that be his strategy today, less to attack general church truths and more to undermine the biblical bases of faith?
Memorized passages are “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17). I wonder, how can the church make memorization a life-long spiritual habit? “Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that, by patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen” (Collect for Grace).