I posted this on another board and didn't get a satisfactory answer.

Anyone here want to try?

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I have always been puzzled by this apparent contradiction.

God has given you a "gift".
But you _have_ to do something to get it.

There's some buzz in the congress right now about prosecuting Clinton because he did something for someone, and they gave him a "gift", but it's being called bribery. That, since he did something for them, it can't be a "gift" by definition. Now that's what we call it when the person giving the gift instigates it. Conversely, when the string attached represents a withholding of the gift, then we call it a threat, sometimes.


I have always been puzzled by this.

The concept of Eternal Life is designed to bribe the doubting sheep into remaining in the fold while damning the straying sheep to the wolves in hopes that they will return to the flock out of fear.

Remember: it takes a village to raise a child and a sheep flock to raise a Christian .

I suppose the Christian response would go something like this:

God is offering the gift, but it has to be received. It is your choice whether or not to accept it.

What's sad is that the forgiveness of sins is not needed, the gift of eternal life doesn't exist, and the giver of the nonexistent gift doesn't exist himself. Merry Christmas.