Well, yes! To say otherwise would do harm to the Faith on a number of fronts, but perhaps most dramatically it would make the Faith (and it's corresponding believing) internal and subjective. In other words, we could never talk about "the" Faith, but only "my" faith or "your" faith. But just the opposite is true. We believe in something that is external to us, that is not dependent upon us or whether we believe it or not. The Faith is true by itself, without my help, even despite me and what I think. I cannot add anything to the Faith because it is already defined.
So, because it is external to us AND because it is already defined, therefore, not only is it possible to formulate a set of statements about it (like Scripture and catechisms), but it's necessary to do so. And if the Faith is expressed in statements, then yes! those statements can be memorized and recited.
The reason I write about this today is because I read a blog recently that made the following statement about using a catechism:
Don’t allow memorization to occur without understanding.
The gentleman who writes this blog is a modern evangelical-type (generic, American Christianity). He has written a few books and blogs on the side.
This statement that he makes is really not much of a surprise. Many modern evangelicals are descendents of a movement called Rationalism (whether they know it or not). The goal and main purpose of rationalism was to set faith/believing aside and . So even when these individuals (I'm sure you have friends in this camp) speak of faith and belief, what they mean is 'understanding'. They are not speaking of the true Faith, the connection to God through which God gives His gifts to us, that absolute trust and confidence like a child. They may even say "trust", "confidence", perhaps even "gifts" (probably not though), but if you dig a bit deeper into what they really mean, you'll find that the faith/believing that they are talking about is the work/action of man. So, again, it's not surprising to hear a statement like the one above "Don't allow memorization to occur without understanding."
As opposed to this, we believe the opposite. Memorize first! Why? Because the child already believes the "statements" of the faith. Baptism gives you the Faith. The child (including you adults) already believe the 10 Commandments, Apostles' Creed, and Lord's Prayer. The child already believes that Baptism saves, that the Lord's Supper is the true Body and Blood of Christ, that the pastor's forgiveness in Holy Absolution is God's forgiveness. What we are doing (in having them memorize and recite Scripture passages and the Catechism) is giving them the words to express what they already believe.
See how different this is between the Lutherans and the modern evangelicals? In summary, we take Jesus at His Word. They don't--they add stuff, like human understanding. *Blach*!! I'll take Lutheranism over that any day. We'll have our kids memorize the Faith first.
By the way, if you would like an example of how this memorization is possible watch this. This was Cade when He was 3 years old.
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