1. Yes. Although I have never actively prayed to or consciously worshipped any other god, I have engaged in idolatry via putting things before God. In many ways, with many different things, I have done this.
2. Yes. Of course I have. Any time my anger got the better of me. I've never blasphemed the name Jehovah nor Yahweh. I have let loose the occasional JC, and of course many times GD somethings, which I see as the same thing.
3. Yes. There are many times I have not kept the LORD'S day holy, and not by skipping Church. Working is not the only violation either.
4. Yes. Of course I've broken the 4th Commandment. I've done many evil things to, and said many evil things about, my parents. God forgive me. nb. This is the only commandment with a promise attached.
5. No. My first no. Not only have I not murdered, I have never killed another human being. By this, I mean that I have never committed culpable homicide, nor have I committed manslaughter. I am not referring to the Butterfly Effect nor any like philosophy.
6. No. That being said, I have broken this commandment in the eyes of Jesus, who believed that if we lusted after another, we have committed adultery, an impossible standard. I can say with misplaced pride that I have never touched another woman, nor kissed her, nor fornicated with her. And, if you consider premarital sex to be adultery, then change my answer to yes.
7. Yes. I have, during my lifetime, taken things that did not belong to me. Once in particular, I took a wrist watch from another when I found it in a pocket of a shared coat when I was a child. I try not to take what does not belong to me. As an adult, I'm 99% successful. Again, no Butterfly Effect here.
8. Yes. Not simply telling a lie, but the more severe and specific bearing false witness, yes I have. There is always the temptation to lie to protect ourselves and to better ourselves. Lying about somebody to achieve this end has happened, of course. I try not to lie, especially about someone. However, I have wandered far from the truth--more so as of late as I have embraced Utilitarian ethics and abandoned Kantonian ethics--where I feel that the truth would do more harm. Once again, that being said, I am telling the truth in this blog post. You'll have to trust me. You can choose to believe me or not. I am confessing for the benefit of my own soul, less so for your admiration.
9. Yes. Who doesn't want a three car garage and an Olympic size swimming pool?
10. Yes. See #6.
20% isn't good. Not at all. Not a passing grade. Let's add the Lord's commandments.
1. Yes. I have sinned against God. See the first three commandments above.
2. Yes. An impossible standard. I have sinned against other humans. See the last seven commandments above.
Does it mean that I'm not a good Christian? Of course it does. There are no good humans. That is why we need the Lord.
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Please don't censor me; I am trying to be honest and it is not my intention to offend anybody. If I have offended you personally, I ask you to accept my apologizes, forgive me, and consider not visiting my blog for my benefit.