In a way, it is.

What I did was remove the monetary requirement that Aklim had in his example and made it more "real" in the sense that accepting the "car" didn't require cash trading hands...the "car" is totally free, except that you should/need to read the "owner's manual" - that's it...

Read into the "parable/allegory" what you wish...

( BTW: The "owner's manual" does not insist on the "new owner" going out and playing "cop" with everyone around him/her. It highly suggests that the "new owner" be an EXAMPLE for others...it does not suggest, nor demand, that the "new owner" make everyone ride in the "new car" - nor listen to its engine - nor kick the tires or anything of the sort...it suggests that the "new owner" take care of the "owner's manual" and the "body" and be an example for others to see. That's all. )

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M. G. Burg
'10 - Dakota SXT - Daily Ride / ≈ 172.5K
.'76 - 450SLC - 107.024.12 / < .89.20 K
..'77 - 280E - 123.033.12 / > 128.20 K
...'67 - El Camino - 283ci / > 207.00 K
....'75 - Yamaha - 650XS / < 21.00 K
.....'87 - G20 Sportvan / > 206.00 K
......'85 - 4WINNS 160 I.O. / 140hp
.......'74 - Honda CT70 / Real 125
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“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~

Absolutely not.
How about homosexuality?

It's just as wrong as the other sins, but God still loves us, and listen, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son."

Guys, he gave us Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins, and Jesus took on our sins so that we may be spared.

"Whosoever believe in him shall not perish, but have elverlasting life."

God recognized that we just could not do it without his help and recognized that we are not perfect and sin, he gave his son to take on our sins and bled for us.
I can't explain why, nobody can explain God's reasons, but we have heard his warnings.

If you don't believe that's your choice.

Do I wish harm on anyone that does not believe?...of course not, I wish you could be spared.

Do you non believers think I am a raving lunatic?...maybe, but do I care?...no.

I just hope you can recognize him when you se him, and not be fooled by the deceiver, whomever that may be, but he's coming too and he will come in peace and be Christlike when he comes and wil be loved by many.

One thing I do suggest to you guys that are so against believing the Bible is to try to study up and familiarize yourself with enough scripture to at least recognize some of the signs to come that have been predicted, just in case you decide to change your mind, then you can tell yourself, "Those crazy bastards were right afterall."

It's too bad the believers won't ever have such a moment. You won't know it, but you'll just be dead and in the ground when you die.

I guess we will see Mr. Positive.

Of course. But from what I've read even death row inmates accept Jesus if they haven't already accepted him. The idea is that they will be forgiven. If you can be forgiven for anything, why do anything good in life? I mean from the point of view of a believer. For atheists, doing good things for others is a more selfless idea since absolutely no reward is expected in the afterlife.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

people in cults always start spouting dogma when their core beliefs are threatened by facts, logic and reality.

cudaspaz: why do u care what gay people do? how does it affect your life? i live in a community full of gay people. they know i am straight, and i know they are gay. so what. their sexual activities don't really take up a large percentage of their lives, or our conversations. we have uh other fish to fry. i don't see them as evil or dangerous. why should they be told they are? they are not pedophiles (unlike the priests in our diocese -los angeles- who ran rampant for years and now have finally come clean, after destroying hundreds of childrens' lives) do you know or interact with any people who are not exactly like you? do you think that these "different" people around you mean you harm?

Of course, I think that I am correct, and neither of us will see. You won't even be aware of it.

Why does anyone need salvation? According to most theists, the whole shebang was created by God, so God is ultimately responsible for what is happening and what has happened since if God had not created, nothing would have happened. Given that fact, the need for salvation seems to be just a ploy by God, blaming humans for what God actually is actually responsible for.
I don't see why any human should take responsibility for his or her actions until God takes responsible for his or her actions. Once God takes responsibility, I don't see why we need to.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Except for few few minor sects, it seems to me that most Christians are not literalists. Even they have trouble communicating with each other, never mind communication with outsiders.

B

If it has the string attached, it cannot be totally free.

And if you decide to read the manual but don't agree with it or want to follow it, do you still get the car?

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Not true. I do good things not because I believe I will be rewarded in this life. I do good things because I have calculated that I will be rewarded IN THIS LIFE. I do something good for you because I think the odds are with me that you will do something for me. Tit for Tat.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

The human mind is wonderful; creative, able to reason, remember, learn.

According to Christian doctrine, the mind was also "bent" in the event we call the Fall--when Adam sinned. The mind is no longer able to perfectly know good from evil, but only relatively so.
Mankind is no longer able to simply know good from evil in the absolute sense. Therefore we seek God's mind as He has revealed it in His Word.
From your POV, probably not very satisfying, but it is what I believe to be Truth.

Feelings, IMO, are not to be trusted, Someone may "feel" it is right to commit a murder, but that does not make it right. Murder is wrong.

As for your question on the 10 commandments, yes I know them, but if i listed them, you'd have no way of knowing if I remember them, or if I am reading them.
A simpler formulation is found in the New Testament, where the commandments are summarized as just 2. " Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and mind, ( #1-4) and Love your neighbor as yourself "( # 5-10),
Also in the NT is a short definition of "true religion" which is providing for widows and orphans.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

You disappoint me here,
I used "tolerance" in a specific, technical sense, and you twisted it a bit to mean I "tolerate" friends, in a different sense.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

In what part of my comment did I say I cared what gay people do?

Someone earlier had a question about homosexuals and I was inferring that a sin is a sin, I just threw homosexuality in there as an example.

Maybe I should have explained myself better, to alleviate any preconceived notions that I hated homosexuals.
Do I know some? yes, do I condone what they do? no, do I ridicule and preach to them? no.
Do I hang out with them? no, why? because I'm not a homosexual and I don't think it's right to put things in a one way street, male or female.

X2....A man who knows the Gospel............

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Matt (SD,CA)

1984 300SD.. White/Chrome Bunts..Green

1997 2500 Dodge Ram 5.9 Cummins 12 Valve 36 PSI of Boost = 400+hp & 800+tQ .. ..Greenspeed

2004 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 Quad Cab Cummins 5.9 H.O "596hp/1225tq" 6 spd. Man. Leather Heated seats/Loaded..Flame Red....GREENSPEED

Global warming...Doing my part, Smokin da hippies..

Fight the good fight!......