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speratus said:
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J_Edwards said:
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Additional questions may be asked based on popular heresies.
Without looking it up on the Internet, you are standing in front of the elders in a Florida Church (visiting from Luthersville, TN) and then they ask you to explain and defend why you would or would not entertain James Lovelock, GAIA WORSHIP. This is your examination question before allowed to take the sacrament, Speratus.

I know nothing about this James Lovelock. If he abides in the doctrine of Christ, he is welcome. If he brings not the doctrine of Christ, he is not welcome in my house. 2 John 10.
That reply would surely not get you through your sacrament examination, but thanks for making my point. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/rofl.gif" alt="" /> It is doubtful if any here have heard of this Lovelock or GAIA WORSHIP, however the idea of the Earth as a living, divine spirit ... may help ?

Speratus, the point on this issue is very simple, heresies are normally regional before they become wide spread (Lovelock worked at NASA and thus known by some here). If you were visiting a Church away from your locale you would not even know 1/2 the problems in the place you were visiting. It would be literally impossible for the elders to examine you on every heresy, et. al. Most Christians cannot even pass a simple test on the Trinity much less an examination on some heretical group in their area. Thus, your premise is very flawed.

Stick to the basics for the examination, if indeed there is any examination at all. I have visited hundreds of Churches and NEVER been examined once before the sacraments, not once. I am not saying this is the correct posture of the Church, but it is a reality in our culture. I wonder how many here have ever been examined on a regular basis when visiting different Churches? This may make a nice poll.

Reformed and Always Reforming,