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<DIV>I submit that both statments below are important parts of the truth. Jesus
said that all the law and the prophets hangs on two commandments. I am perfectly
willing to accept as a Christian anyone who accepts those two commandments,
while recognizing that none of us are able to perfectly conform to them -- which
leaves the rest up to grace, which we can aruge over (as Christians have done
for centuries) or let each deal with in their own way.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>One of the more useful explanations I have gotten from an orthodox rabbi is
that every action G-d takes, opens a sheaf of possibilities, which depend on
human choices, which in turn lead to inevitable consequences, and new
possibilities for further human choices, as well as further intervention by G-d,
which also leads to a new sheaf of human choices. Biblical history is one long
series of G-d trying to set things going in a certain direction, and humans
getting it all wrong for the most part. As Lance says, no doubt G-d knew all
along that this is how it was going to be. Or, as C.S. Lewis pointed out, G-d
doesn't see into the future what it GOING to happen, to G-d it is all one
unbounded NOW. G-d sees it all AS it is happening, and to watch a man do a thing
is not the same as making him do it.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Siarlys</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 10:51:51 -0800 "Discussion of the Good, Clean Funnies
List" <<A href="mailto:gcfl-discuss@gcfl.net">gcfl-discuss@gcfl.net</A>>
writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px">
<DIV>"<FONT color=#ff99ff>Who knows... He doesn't appear to have anticipated
all the stuff we argue over, split over, or wrap ourselves up
in.</FONT>"</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Christ knows all and there's no way He didn't anticipate all of this. I
think the heart of the matter is the basics, not what man has added to. We
could all list add-ons by religions so I won't go there. But it's the heart of
worship and basics of Christ's teachings that's so important. Not what man
adds. <BR><BR>Lance</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>