Against Scripture Memorization in Youth Programs, a Counterpoint

@MattCleaver wrote a post a couple days ago on why he is against memorizing scripture in youth programs. He said he had his flame suit on… but as of yet, no one has really flamed him. Thus, I’ll give it a shot <cool looking flame thrower icon goes here>

Some positive aspects of scripture memorization:
Rightly handling the word of truth… if scripture is memorized, life is easier. Its not that one needs a photographic memory of the Bible, but being able to recall specific narratives certainly makes life simpler.

Testifying as to what one believes… who has more authenticity, the one who speaks from his/her heart, or the one who has to pause, look things up, and then read them?

Some scriptural admonitions

Colossians 3:16-17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Proverbs 7:1-3 My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

The underlying problem: Lame youth programming misses the point of nearly all aspects of scripture memorization, as it emphasizes head knowledge over heart knowledge, and competition over community.

Matt presented his objections to scripture memorization in youth programs in a series of 6 premises. While I disagree with his conclusion, ie I am for scripture memorization in youth programs, I do whole heartedly agree with his objections. I’ve categorized them into the following categories.

Head knowledge vs heart knowledge.

• Memorization does not equal maturity or discipleship.
• Memorization is not equivalent to “hiding your word in my heart.”
• Memorization removes scripture from historical tradition and literary context.
• Memorization is not a historical spiritual discipline.

Competition vs Community

• Most memorization programs are reward-driven competitions.
• Memorization elevates certain kinds of students over and above other.

The Challenge

How do we redo/tweek programming to accentuate the positive aspects of memorization, while minimizing the counterproductive nature of current programming.

A few things which we know from educational psychology:

• Short term memory, ie cram for the exam doesn’t lead to long term retention, nor does it impact the heart.
• Memorization of facts without relevant application doesn’t lead to very efficient use of time, nor retention, nor an impact on the heart.
• Some residual retention, even from exam crams, or theoretical non-application, almost always shows up, even in ones heart… but its a very tiny amount. Thus, even a minor tweak to “lame programming” may prove hugely beneficial.
• Evaluation and feedback is needed for learning, but whether its individual, competitive, or group wise is subject to controversy. Ultimately one size fits all doesn’t work, just as a single method of evaluation for all doesn’t work out too well either.
• Intrinsic Motivation almost always produces better outcomes than extrinsic.
• Rote retention of isolated facts, without understanding can and often does lead to errant application.

A few bits from scripture:

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

1 Cor 3: 18-23 18Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[a]; 20and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[b] 21So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, 22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[c] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

Romans 11:17-20 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root [1] of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.

Proverbs 1:2-6 To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— 5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 6 to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

Some ideas for change:

• Competition has to go, we don’t need varsity level competition in scripture memorization
• Focus on application of scripture, not just rote knowledge
• Community of faith involvement
• Need to shift more towards intrinsic motivation, rather than mostly extrinsic rewards… don’t throw all the little sticky stars away, they were cool but lets not just focus on the sticky stars.
• Provide for different methods of feedback
• The self directed concept may have value, albeit implementation is tricky… but if we can do it in flight training, by golly it should mostly certainly fit within Christian education.