Did You Lie At Your Baptism or Confirmation?

This is a shorter reflection, and is certainly not going to be as voluminous as the last two, but it's really simple. I've been reflecting quite a bit on heresy and its prevalence in the Episcopal Church. So much so that a Priest could in good conscience deliver a sermon in which he asserts that Jesus Christ was a sinner in need of repentance, an assertion that is repugnant and abhorrent to scriptures and to the doctrine and dogma of the Church. Today, I thought of the Examination that is made when we make (or renew) our Baptismal covenant.

I think that there is a great theological significance to the portion of the baptismal rite that is technically referred to the Presentation and Examination (Book of Common Prayer pages 301-305). In this part of the baptismal rite, the Candidate (or his / her parents) are scrutinized by the Priest in great detail. The Church wants to be assured that she is receiving only those who have made a choice to become part of the mystical body of Christ and to follow the teachings of the Lord. The candidate must affirm faith in the principal doctrines and dogmas of the Church through the Apostles Creed and must further affirm their desire and commitment to continue in the prayers and the teachings of the Apostles. I don't know how people who deny cardinal doctrines of the Church can in good conscience lie, and dishonestly affirm belief in something they have set themselves against. I don't think the Church should be scrutinizing the truthfulness and commitment of those coming to Baptismal waters so as to be overbearing, but I think that we who have taken upon that covenant and those of us about to take upon our covenant should consider our answers to the questions of the Presentation and Examination.

Do you believe?