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Puritan said:
So my question is why doesn't the church require the same thing? I'm not talking about seminary level in-depth learning, I just think that there should be certain requirements. So far I have not witnessed any church "requiring" it's members to attend certain classes. I have not witnessed any formal testing. There is no pass or fail. There is no set curriculum. Basically there are adult Sunday school classes that can be about anything and it's for only the members that want to attend.
Dave,

1) There ARE churches which "require" such courses, e.g., in some Presbyterian churches (individually not denominationally) prospective members must attend a beginner's class where they go through either the WCF or the WSC. There has been one Reformed Baptist church I used to attend that had a similar program for it's prospective members also. Of course, they didn't use the WCF for the curriculum.

2) Problem: Is there a biblical warrant for requiring people to be educated in the doctrines of the faith before they are received into the Church's membership?

3) Those who have truly come to Christ with a living faith will naturally, to varying degrees, fulfill what the Lord Christ said here:


John 8:31-32 (ASV) "Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, [then] are ye truly my disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (cf. Col 1:21-23; Heb 5:12-14; 1Pet 2:2)


The Church should offer "continuing education" classes to everyone wherein they may be instructed in the doctrines of the faith which I believe should be regimented, i.e., there should be a curriculum used, whether it is the church's Confession and/or Catechism, or one designed by the denomination, or the Eldership of the local church. This should be in addition to any Sunday School classes offered.


John 17:17-23 (ASV) "Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth. As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me. And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we [are] one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me." (cf. Col 1:9, 10)


In His Grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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