A Hans Conzelmann Quote, Christianity and Being Christian

Current mood: cultured
Category: Religion and Philosophy

"The church lives on the fact that modern research about Jesus is not known amongst the public."
Hans Conzelmann (German theologian and New Testament scholar.)

"Good Girl...", the church lives on a lot more than that. In fact modern religion, ANY ONE (Tagalog, or that one with the puppies), lives off the people's lack of esteem. Knowing the real Jesus would be like knowing the real Buddha or Mohammad. The truth will set you free but free people don't build churches.

We just spent lent improving ourselves. Some of us finally went to church for the year (at least until Christmas) two weeks ago.

Now what?

If we continue the journey we began, it's entirely possible we could leave our churches. Jesus did.

So they pimp us. From the pulpit, from the prayer/chanting meetings, from Venice Beach to Miami, from Jonestown to wherever people gather claiming to have the key to life; the goal is a captive audience. CAPTIVE.

If we accept the common rhetoric - "Man is weak", "We are all sinners", "We are not perfect"; we begin to internalize these shortcomings and lose self esteem. With low self esteem, we go right back to our religion, or we back slide and self destruct until we end up back to religion.

Take a look at the different clubs and groups within any religion. The focus is temporary fixes, socials, Vegas Trips, and investment clubs so we can get more money give. Show me the focus on lasting joy and life satisfaction. In virtually every modern religion a focus on getting the bills paid has led us away from learning to be complete individuals.

We are broken and leaking dollar signs and all the "modern gurus" are chasing after our pockets.

Just a thought.


It's rare that I comment on blogs anymore, given that I dare not do it while working, and if by some abnormal way or reason, a coworker winds up reading this comment, uh...I'm on a late lunch.

So I'm compelled to respond, not add to some would be list of haters. Thanks for your insight with this one (you know i do enjoy your blogs, even when i don't comment :)), now here's two cents worth of mine just for the sharing. I'm inclined to defend the church. Not "THE church," MY church and others and Christianity, even as our "Next Step Sunday" approaches in two days - "Next Step" representing the next step my church has taken towards their land fund, which is hiring the architect, and "Next Step Sunday" being the one Sunday that the church's members, myself included, have prayed will be the Sunday that the church will have 100% member participation with the offering, all to go to the land fund.

Anywho, LA brings up valid points here, so readers, especially those unfamiliar with God, church, religion and denominations, take it and heed, but don't necessarily group these points into all religions and churches. Seekers and lost ones and buyers beware. These systems and cycles exist and lead to questioning are they really for the greater good or their greater pockets. But don't be led astray from the bigger picture. The bigger picture being that we need to be saved. God commands us first (and I'm not talking literal Commandments, so please, no corrections), rather teaches us in His Word, that YES, man is weak and are not perfect, and we ALL are sinners, and that in addition to that FACT, we ALL will go to HELL. Yes HELL is real. It is not a gimmick. Along with that, He teaches YES WE ALL WILL GO TO HELL unless we accept His son Jesus Christ as the savior that He is, not by works of righteousness, thus us being saved. (I am more than willing to share the Gospel and its detailed information for anyone who wants to hear it too)

Once saved, we are commanded to be baptized. If you are Catholic and more than likely at this point disagreeing with me, read up on the Word, not the missilettes. God says obey His Word and His only, only the Bible, the Living Word, aka Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life and no other doctrine. He tells Christians to test the spirits and other religions in this world against what the Holy Bible says. Do that. Anywho, once saved, be baptized - Baptism, being fully dunked in water, not trickled with it. Baptism being an outward expression of your inward decision of salvation. (Read the Bible.)

After baptism, we are to Go and spread His Word, as commanded in the Great Commission - look it up - it's in the Bible.

ALONG with, not before or after, but ALONG with all the aforementioned, God says.........da da na na........find a local church. Given LA's blog, how do find the right church and a good church. First pray. Prayer works and God answers. There's churches everywhere. Research them and test their doctrine against the Bible.

LA says to "Show me the focus on lasting joy and life satisfaction." I profess, you can find it in church - don't mistake my words - you can find that in a strictly Bible believing church that puts God first before it's needs, it's Pastor, it's money, it's members, because that church will in fact show you how God can be the key to all of that in your life. They exist. Las Vegans, visit mine - www.sh-baptist.com - Southern Hills Baptist Church.

I got more to say but "lunch" is over so if I get a moment, I'll continue. Until then, LA you know I love you. Readers, LA too, God Bless, and I pray you know Christ. I pray you are saved. Feel free to message me, if you have questions or concerns with your own salvation. I promise, I'll direct you to scripture, not my own opinions or ideas.

2k's for actually pulling me to write this time.

I didn't want to start rambling but I was headed there. There will be in any religion or belief system a right way and a a right assembly. I also believe that my church has gotten it right. The key in this blog is to be careful. The bible warns and its true no. The false prophets outnumber the trues. And they are EVERYWHERE! In my church (a la the pope [Yes I'm a catholic who doesn't believe in the pope]) In Christian churches. In Moslem temples, In synagogues. At the Kingdom hall. There is even some wiccan broad out there stealing money from her coven. I saw her on Maury!

We have to believe in something, just be careful

Read more: Dave Ramsey is the Man. I should devote a blog to promoting him. SO many of us need him

I'm not anti-religion but I agree with the idea that many people cleave to religion for all the wrong reasons.

And I especially zoned in on these phrase

"The truth will set you free but free people don't build churches."

I thought this was apt after seeing the news clips and photos of the HUGE white temple that the FDLS built on their compound guarded by armed security.

"the goal is a captive audience. CAPTIVE."

Yep, there are many religious captives in this country. There are the obvious captives like the adolescent girls of the FDLS. There are the captives of guilt. There are the captives of fear.

Religion should be about freedom, not captivity.

Hummmm, I dont know where to start, especially being that me and L.A. are good friends and we have never had a conversation about religion. Personally I think that salvation and what L.A. would refer to as lasting joy and life satisfaction(great quote) comes from within. Church attendance can be an excellent vehicle to self-realization of this concept. At the same time I dont think its the only way to grasp this concept. We have to look internally to find whatever it is that tells us to be good human beings(not just Christians, etc). Once this is accomplished then move on into the world accordingly, weather it be at church, the workplace, at home, with friends and family, etc. Gods word resonates in all of us from birth, not just when u become baptized(BTW im non-denominational). We have been systematically taught that salvation comes from going to Church every Sunday and that is not true. U can be saved at home, or at work, or on the corner. NOT JUST IN CHURCH! When I have more ill post a comment!

That's MY DOG!