by Peter Downey
I have a confession to make.
But you have to know that this is easier said than done. You see, this confession relates to my Christian life. And it is not easy to confess something that you think might make other people think less of you.
But I am going to plough on, regardless, because I know that God’s people (i.e. you) will not hold this against me.
I have been a Christian since 1979. And since then I have taught Sunday School, lead fellowship and ISCF and Crusaders, run 16-20s at Beach Mission, given talks, Bible Studies and sermons, played in a Christian rock band for ten years, gone to Japan with OMF, got a Diploma of Biblical Studies and even taught a year of Christian Studies in an Anglican School.
I have run outreaches and concerts and have lead on Camp Howard and been to Men’s Convention and Summer School and too many camps and house-parties to mention and, for goodness sake, I have even just published a new book about the Bible.
But… here’s the thing.
I’m a bit awkward about writing it.
On the next line…
Ready?
Okay. Here it is.
I don’t know Bible verses.
There… I said it.
I-don’t-know-Bible-verses.
Whheewwhh!!! It feels good to get that off my chest.
You know those people to whom you can say, “Hey, where’s that part in the Bible where we are encouraged to be living sacrifices?” and before you can even blink, they spit out, “Oh, you mean Romans 12:1”?
Well… I am not one of those people.
And you know those people who, in a Bible Study when someone mentions Genesis 38, nod and mumble knowingly under their breath, “Mmmm… Judah and Tamar…”?
Well… I am not one of those people either.
You see… I don’t know Bible verses.
It’s not that I haven’t tried. I have. Many times. I’ve read and studied heaps of the Bible and know all the main events and people and themes and history and how all the bits fit together. I can talk to you about the journey of Israel, the life of Jesus and the theology of Paul till the cows come home.
But I can’t remember verse references. My brain is just not hard-wired to remember stuff. I’m not very good with phone numbers. I’m one of those people who will suspiciously call you “mate” socially ’cos I don’t know your name and if I didn’t have my own children’s birth-dates written on my desk calendar, I would be in big trouble.
Oh sure, I know those five or six verses that everyone knows: Genesis 1:1, John 3:16, Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 23:1, Galatians somethingorother (you know, the fruits of the spirit), the New Testament somewhere (armor of God) and that U2 song from the Psalms (40?) …but that’s about it. These are verses that everyone knows. It’s like knowing your own name. It doesn’t really count for much.
All I can say is… Thank you, Lord, for my concordance!
I’m sure there are others out there like me. I’ve never met them… but I’m sure they are there. And I just want to say to you, my brothers and sisters in the biblically illiterate underclass… rise up!
We are not second class Christians! Do not be ashamed of your scriptural deficiency. If you can’t pull a Bible verse out of the air, do not worry. God still loves you. Come out of the closet and stop pretending that you know what you are talking about.
And if anyone ever tries to make you feel bad about the fact that you’ve been a Christian for twenty years and you don’t know any verses, just remind them that they should judge not, lest they be judged… which is from… um, one of… the gospels… I think.
Peter Downey’s new book, Inspired Stuff: Everything You Wanted to Know About the Bible But Were Afraid to Ask (co-written with Ben Shaw) is available in Christian bookstores.
