The Pastor’s Pen (The Very Rev. Dr. Curtis Crenshaw, Th.D.) The Centrality of the Written Word
"(16) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The year was 1950. I was five years old, and we were anticipating a booklet. The booklet came from a friend who had enrolled me in Bible Memory Association (B.M.A.), and my grandmother brought it home with her. I was too small to read, but my grandmother told me what it was. She had made me excited weeks before with her excitement, for finally I could memorize God’s Word around various topics, such as who God was, who Christ was, sin, being forgiven, and so forth. We began immediately, and in those days there was only one version, the King James Version with its old English, beauty, and rhythmic style.
I can still see myself that day wallowing on the bed, putting my feet high up on the wall with my head down, walking the wall as it were, repeating after my grandmother the verses she said to me while she was ironing. The Bible was a wonderful book, she had told me, because it was God’s love letter to us. I wondered at its content.
As years passed, I went from children’s B.M.A. books to older categories, and I read and memorized then. Naturally there came a time when it was a duty, not a delight. There were times when I wanted to go to my other grandmother’s farm to spend the weekend to shoot my guns, play in the barn, and just enjoy the outdoors with my friend who lived down the road from my grandparents on another farm. I didn’t have to go to church either. By this time I was in Junior High School. My mother would say, “Do you have those verses memorized young man.” “No ma’am.” “You can’t go until you do.” And I would go on a crash course to hurriedly memorize the 20 to 30 verses for that week. By this time, I didn’t like memorizing anything, especially the Bible, though it still held high esteem. When I entered high school, I did not have to memorize anymore, and I surely was glad! I had some interest in girls, though not a whole lot, but I was mostly interested in hunting, shooting on the rifle team in my high school, and in general doing not a whole lot of anything.
When I entered the engineering college, I did not have much confidence. I was lazy and undisciplined. Fear of failure became somewhat self-fulfilling so my grades were mixed. It was at this time that I took up bowling. I lied a lot to my mother about what I was doing with my time, but when I went to work at the bowling lanes, she figured it out. After three years of electrical engineering, she wanted me to take a year at the local Bible College to be straightened out. I jumped at the opportunity, thinking it would be a Sunday school class picnic, like a year off. Was I wrong! They were talking about original sin, predestination, hypostatic union, the nature of being or becoming—I thought I was in Alice in Wonderland. I made three F’s, mainly because I stayed out late and bowled. I recall one professor after class bawling me out for playing, and I knew my mother was behind that! The draft board said I was dodging the draft, but I never really thought that my student deferment would be revoked for changing majors for a year. I had to go in the Army.
During those two years, one of which was in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive, the Lord completely changed my life. Facing death every day, I realized how fragile life was, and that in no time, I would be dead, even if I lived to old age. Once out of the Army, Ruth and I were married, and then I returned in earnest to study God’s Word at the Bible College. I graduated top in my class, retook the classes I had flunked, received the academic reward for my class, and for those three years made straight A’s. What was the difference? (Then I was off to seminary for another four years!)
I said all the above to make one point. God’s Word internalized by the Holy Spirit captured my soul. At a tender age God had claimed me for Himself through His Word. I strayed, but God drew me back. Parents, you MUST have your children learn the catechism I gave you and the verses with it. The best Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gift you will ever receive is covenant children who grow up to love our Triune God and present you with grandchildren who do the same. We are entering the worst times of our nation, and only the Word of God written will take them through. Amen. ?
