I read somewhere that in order to enter certain seminaries in the Middle East such as in Yemen, Muslim men must have the entire Koran memorized which is approximately as long as the New Testament. This is something to think about. Do we as Christians have this dedication for memorizing God's Word? Out of all the ways we interact with God's Word such as reading, studying, listening, and meditating, I think memorizing is the one that is most overlooked. God's Word memorized is the weapon that defeats Satan. Jesus demonstrated this point in Matthew chapter 4. God's Word memorized makes it possible for us to know and appropriate God's promises. God's Word memorized is that which sets us free from bondage and sin as Jesus said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). Hence we need to memorize Scripture.Doing some further reading I found a documentary entitled "Koran by Heart" which follows three Muslim children as they travel to Egypt to compete in a Koran memorization contest. I have not watched the film yet but I include the link below:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptHdmw57rzM
This is nothing new. Many teenagers have to do this because Islam wants the text to be memorized. Can you imagine if this was required for the Bible? Would there be an uproar? If so why do you think there would be an uproar.The idea is noble for Islam but does punishment come when this is not accomplished?
_________________John
There are some contests that Christian students enter where they compete in events that require them to recite passages from the Bible. Tragically such events are dying out. So is scripture memory.Ministries such ax Bibke Memory Association and Navigators are not stressing scripture memory as they once did. Even the memorizing of scripture verses in Vacation Bibke School gives way to arts and crafts.There is a gradual turning away from the word of God to the distractions of this age. Even in this forum it is easier to quote in a cut and paste your favorite teacher or preacher than to turn to the word of God and let the Spirit instruct.It seems in a nation where Bibles abound we treat it with contempt. But in nations such as China or N. Korea where it is illegal to own a Bible and can even carry the death penalty, the saints revere the Bible highly. There are reports of precious elderly saints never having owned a Bibke recieving their first Bibke. When they get it. They shed tears if not and they will hug and caress their previous word. But then we are too sophisticated for that.Makes me wonder. Think I will go read my New Testament.Bearmaster.
Here is related documentary on Tarim, Hadramaut, Yemen. Watching this video is striking to see the unity that is involved in Islam. Unity and discipline, what the majority of Christianity in the West lacks. I was reading about the Salvation Army earlier in the day, things used to be so different then something happened, almost like Christianity has left in N. America/Europe and gone to other countries. To me Islam looks much more attractive than what is so called popular Christianity today. Of course the unity is part of their culture but it affects the religion and we instead of changing our culture, the culture has changed us, for the worst. Also their unity is what makes them the hardest mission field to reach and our lack of unity which makes us so weak.Watch below:http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=ef3iPBQHcHw
