seminary is a very spiritual place couched in a very academic structure. yes, the students are plagued by assignments and papers and tests.
lots of tests.
drew recently took a test that included a section on scripture memorization, referencing two VERY well-known passages.
somehow in the midst of the academania, drew forgot these verses were on the test and had to pull from a less-than-prepared memory. one he fumbled through completely, missing key phrases that capture the meaning of the passage. the other, a four-verse-segment, he started two verses too soon, completely cutting the last two verses!
but…
his prof gave him full credit for both verses.
full credit…
full credit??
FULL???
um. what??
when he told me about this i just shook my head and laughed. the student “versions” of these passages were either correct or incorrect. and his were, well, much more notably incorrect.
even still, his prof smacked a hefty dose of grace on his test score.
a heaping dose.
maybe a little too much grace.
maybe an overdose.
::
i’m not criticizing seminary professors, red-eyed from grading dozens of exams and papers and assignments at the end of every semester. i’m not criticizing our seminary, which holds firmly that the Bible is the living word from God. i’m not pointing out a flaw in my brilliant and handsome human-reference-bible-of-a-husband.
and i’m DEFINITELY not insinuating that there can in any way be TOO much grace in this world. y’all know i’m a big fan of grace.
but.
simply said:
if there’s anything -ANYTHING - that’s non-negotiable about Christianity, it’s the scriptures.
15 responses so far ↓
Pete Wilson // July 3, 2008 at 8:13 am
Agreed!
kristiapplesauce // July 3, 2008 at 8:17 am
You know…I don’t know why…okay, I totally do (because you keep writing fabulous posts) but I keep saying this: This is my most favorite post of yours yet. Well done.
jon mckanna // July 3, 2008 at 8:30 am
good stuff! very well put!
…can i get that seminary and prof’s name. i haven’t been blessed with a prof like that so far in my seminary… i could use the GRACE!!!
mandythompson // July 3, 2008 at 8:50 am
Pete: whew. good to know a preacher-man signs off.
KA: why the favorite?
Jon: LOL!!! move to massachusetts & i’ll tell ya who he is!
@ngie // July 3, 2008 at 10:29 am
Just dropping in to say hi. Hi!
JudiFree.com // July 3, 2008 at 10:47 am
Good stuff!
Heidi // July 3, 2008 at 10:58 am
Nothing is negotiable in this.
Agreement here too!!
Michelle // July 3, 2008 at 11:01 am
AMEN!!! No compromise on the scripture!!
Thanks, Mandy.
Becca // July 3, 2008 at 11:07 am
some of my professors gave us credit for trying. Sometimes you CRAM to remember your memory verse for the day (verses actually), and then you can’t remember a single word after that little test. Sometimes it bothers me that I’m tested, because I think of it as a test: you cram, and than it doesn’t matter what’s after the test. IT’s like I forget it’s scripture.
About two of our teachers don’t even look at the scripture- you get full credit for filling in the blanks. Sometimes this leads to apathy for the rest of the classes. Maybe the profs recognize some students think this sort of testing is ridiculous.
…But IS it ridiculous? Shouldn’t we know the scripture? Shouldn’t it be easy?
Thanks for writing this.
BuddyO // July 3, 2008 at 11:18 am
Not to be difficult, but which ones do you think it’s essential to memorize?
KJV
NKJV
NIV
Message
New Living
Young’s Literal
Haitian Creole Version
etc?
Or, is it enough (more important?) to memorize the intent of the passage however it’s worded?
BuddyO // July 3, 2008 at 11:22 am
Even if it’s your own words…?
Travis // July 3, 2008 at 11:35 am
I agree Buddy.
The scriptures ARE not negotiable.
But as far as quoting and memorization… what is the standard?
tam // July 4, 2008 at 4:37 am
i wont argue with you here.
surprised?
littlestepsoffaith // July 4, 2008 at 7:39 am
I agree 100%.
I think God would say as far as the test grade that Drew at least made the effort to remember….as little as effort as it was:)
Remember we are the ones with expectations…
kristiapplesauce // July 5, 2008 at 12:44 pm
@Buddy-Holman Christian Standard Bible.
@Mandy-Because this is a huge passion. Huge. Sticking, and staying close to the original text as possible.
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