First of all, I just want to say that I’m new to this web site and I love it. My question to you is about going to church. I didn't grow up going to church. I’ve always heard about GOD and went to church maybe twice a year growing up but I never knew the story behind HIM. So I feel very behind and very left out because I can't say or quote pretty much nothing in the bible. I am very ashamed, but I do know right from wrong. When I met my husband, he started telling about different things in the Bible and he really made me interested in finding out the whole truth. Today, I am very nervous when I go to church because I feel like I do not belong there. I don't know any of the songs and when they ask you to turn to a page in the bible, I’m lost. How can I break this shame and feel comfortable enough to want to go to church with my husband's family. Even though I’m young I’ve realized that tomorrow isn't promised and I really want to learn everything I can, so I can teach my son and daughter about great gift that lies ahead for them if they believe.
Answer
There is nothing to be ashamed of. All of us have been in the same position at one time. It is just that some of us had the advantage of learning these things in childhood. We probably weren’t ashamed then, nor should you be as a newborn child of God. Fortunately, salvation is not based on what you know, but what Jesus did for each of us. “Knowing that a man is not justified by works of law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of law, because by the works of law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16) While Paul talks here about works of law, that would include what we know or don’t know about the Bible.
I know many who can’t sing the songs without a book, and some who don’t know how to read music, so they have trouble singing with a songbook. I also know some who, unfortunately, don’t sing at all. Just to try is better than doing nothing, and all God can ask of you. God does not require that we sing well. Otherwise some people could never be saved. He just wants us to praise him, and teach others, by our songs. “Teach and admonish one another in songs, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16) Fortunately, time will fix this problem. Repetition of the songs will teach them to you, and the average congregation repeats only about sixty songs in a year.
It takes time, also, to learn the order of the books in most Bibles. The usual way of teaching children is by repetition. One familiar drill is to have them learn the books of the New Testament, and then try to say them in order as fast as they can. Then do the same with the Old Testament (which is harder because it is longer and some names are harder to learn). Promise yourself a prize (or have your husband promise you one) if you learn the New Testament books, and then another prize when you learn all the books of the Bible in order. That way you have something to work toward. Once you have done that, then perhaps your husband or children can drill you by calling out a book or scripture reference and seeing how fast you can find it. This works best when competing with someone else, like your children.