This exemplifies your extremely flawed Catholic upbringing...A Catholic is born a Catholic...And then a baby is baptized a Catholic...But somewhere along the line, you have to cooperate with God to finish your calling as a Catholic...
And that's not Christianity, that's religion...
Let's go to your socks analogy...In Christianity, nobody gives you socks for Christmas unless you first ask for them...The socks are payed for...They're free if you want them...There is no cooperation of your part...
Jesus doesn't go out and buy the socks to give you once you make the committment to wear them if he does...Jesus doesn't cooperate with you and buy your favorite color 'if you're good...HE'S ALREADY BOUGHT THEM AND PUT THEM UNDER YOUR TREE...THEY'RE THE RIGHT COLOR AND THEY'RE YOURS...JUST HOLD OUT YOUR HAND...
HE'S ALREADY BOUGHT [the socks] AND PUT THEM UNDER YOUR TREE...THEY'RE THE RIGHT COLOR AND THEY'RE YOURS...JUST HOLD OUT YOUR HAND...
Amen! I agree. If I don't hold out my hand, I won't get the socks. If I do, I will.
That's cooperation.