Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices | 
|  | | | Title: | Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices | | Author: | Frank Viola
George Barna | | Publisher: | BarnaBooks | | Type: | Book / Hardcover | | Publication Date: | January, 2008 | | ISBN / ISBN-13: | 141431485X / 9781414314853 | | List Price: | $17.99 | | You Save: | $5.76 | | Amazon Price: | $12.23 | |
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Product Description
Have you ever wondered why we Christians do what we do for church every Sunday morning? Why do we "dress up" for church? Why does the pastor preach a sermon each week? Why do we have pews, steeples, choirs, and seminaries? This volume reveals the startling truth: most of what Christians do in present-day churches is not rooted in the New Testament, but in pagan culture and rituals developed long after the death of the apostles. Coauthors Frank Viola and George Barna support their thesis with compelling historical evidence in the first-ever book to document the full story of modern Christian church practices.
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Customer Reviews:
• Pagan Christianity 03 June, 2009
I really liked this book :) . It gave me a new perspective on how we do so many rituals in the church. My favorite chapter was the "church dress" because at that time dressing up was reserved for the royals.
Don't judge A BOOK by its cover.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1NEWKCP414P6J
• Radical Christianity Is Different 02 July, 2009
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RD0N6B2PD8MVL The book Pagan Christianity raises issues that call us to re-evaluate where the church is and what it needs to be. This video is about that: the modern version of Christianity is far different than the original.
Radical Christianity:Peace and Justice in the New Testament
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1ZLQNLP350OB1
• A Good Start For A Long Study 30 June, 2009
Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola and George Barna was first introduced to me during a conversation with friends who thought the book brought up some pretty intriguing points. They were subtle in describing a few of the points, and the conversation was not lengthy, but left enough of an impression for me to order it. Little did I know that when I received the book I would take only three days to finish it. That isn't because the book is short (it is over 250 pages) or shallow, but because what was being presented challenged my perceptions of "the church" at every turn. I had to keep reading even though it is weighty stuff. While I could quote line and verse as to the fact that we (believers in Jesus Christ) are the church, and not the building or denomination, I was further challenged by the unveiling of a historical overview of "church history" that deviated significantly from the life of the New Testament church as presented in the pages of the bible. This deviation, while not necessarily taking away the truth of the message of believers in Jesus Christ being the body/temple, may make it more difficult for the Body to function as it should.
Having gone to seminary (one of the targets in the crosshairs of the writers...and I mean in the crosshairs in the best possible way...they are not attacking, but encouraging), I've had plenty of time studying books of the New Testament, and have focused quite a lot of time on the Pauline epistles, where we see Paul over and over expressing the message of the cross and Christ's substitutionary death for our sins, justification by grace through faith in Christ (apart from works), being made a new creation, having escaped the condemnation of the law, being sealed with the Holy Spirit, and having "Christ in us" among numerous other New Covenant ideas. However, in terms of understanding the life of the New Testament church and how they met, interacted, and lived life together, I had a significant blind spot. The writers express how differently the early church operated than what has evolved since the early 1st century, and do a fantastic job of explaining how various practices (the sermon, the Lord's Supper, Christian Education, paid clergy (and the division created between them and "laity"), creating church buildings, service orders, etc.) have been influenced from the pagan culture around them, which have all made an impact on "the church" (the people) acting as such. For example, a normal Lord's Supper was an actual supper and included a specific time to reflect on the bread (body) and wine (blood), and included sharing life with each other. The implementation of the sermon (rather than common sharing), the professionalization of the pastor, and numerous other practices have aided in burning out pastors, and allowing the Body to maintain passivity and confusion over their true identity. Basically, they argue, it is difficult for the Body to act as the Body when the structure and form so affects the function (I use the word difficult, not impossible).
You may not agree with everything in the book, but it is, dare I say, revolutionary. It challenges the church to really start questioning who they are as the church. I said "start" because I am just starting and plan on continuing the examination with three of Viola's other books. In order, I plan on reading "The Untold Story of the New Testament" (more NT background), "Reimagining Church" (apparently a good follow-up to Pagan Christianity, since it asks "If not the old institutional way, then what?"), and "From Eternity to Here" (for a good overview of God's eternal purpose). I could always change course and think these guys are crazy, but I freely admit I'm stubborn and it's hard to change my mind, so when I am challenged this much, I tend to think "they might be onto something." We'll see...but for now, I say "5 stars!"
As an addendum, I will always have reservations with just about everything, even with a 5 star review (I can reserve the right to change my mind/repent down the road...especially as I see things play out with the follow-ups!). However, I have read some of the one star reviews and have the following thoughts toward some of the negative comments: 1) many answers regarding what a home church could look like are not found here, and are apparently addressed in Reimagining Church, 2) I don't think the authors would argue that church form solves all problems (i.e. sin issues such as in Corinth (what didn't they seem to get into) and Galatia (return to legalism), and others shows whether a home church or institutional, it can be messy. 3) I did not get the impression that the authors were overly negative toward anything but home church. I did feel they were fair in their assessments, and willing to challenge where and why practices came into play. I have read the preface to Viola's Reimagining Church and he comes across very kindly to those who fellowship in a church building/congregation (which so far, I would have to say is still my present "form"). 4) I am aware that using 1 Corinthians 14 repeatedly feels like proof-texting, even though they emphasize proof-texting is a poor theological method. However, my impression is that the textual examples they use against proof-texting (i.e. wherever 2 or 3 are gathered) are accurate in how they use them. I'll grant a little grace if they do use a text repeatedly if it is accurate and supports their point. I do it all the time with Galatians 2:15-21 in explaining justification by faith in Christ (apart from works of the law).
Obviously, most of us who review books such as this, like to make our point. I could belabor mine, but this should suffice for now!
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1COAJGARRBLOW
• Pagan Christianity - Now What Are You Going To Do? 12 June, 2009
After reading this book you have to answer a question and that question is "Now what are you going to do"? If you are a pew sitting "Christian" and can read this book and not have your attitude towards the institutional church changed then you need to seriously pray. It will make you think again how you worship.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A3TAAH7M61F9XD
• Biased Research 17 June, 2009
My Pastor suggested a book to me the other day that sounded like a good read. It was Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola and George Barna. I'd never read any of Barna's books before, but have used his research on many an occasion. Barna and his firm The Barna Group specialize in sociological and statistical research on religion. He is well-known as "the most quoted person in the Christian Church today." The other author Frank Viola is a well-known author and expert in the house church movement. I borrowed my Pastor's copy of the book and read it within a week.
The book focuses on contemporary church practices and examines the roots of those practices to see if they truly come from the New Testament church or from other sources, most often pagan religious customs and traditions. The book did an excellent job exploring historical sources for modern traditions, but I think it went too far tearing down the contemporary church. It seems as if both authors approached the project with a preconceived bias and discriminatory attitude before the research even began.
The bias begins early with the definition of the word `pagan'. On page xxxi it's defined as "a practice or mode of thinking that has been adopted from the church's surrounding culture." Hence, by that definition almost everything we see in the church today comes from a pagan source. This would apply to any Bible not in the original language, rolled up in a scroll or on papyrus sheets; allowing attendees to wear synthetic fabrics; carpet; electricity; and bathrooms. We find out that both chairs and carpet "were invented by pagans". I'm sure a lot of things were. The authors go on to say that "some pagan practices are neutral and can be redeemed for God's glory". That's good, because I don't know if Henry Ford was a Christian. For that matter, I don't think Bill Gates is, but here I am typing onto a PC. Apparently it is only up to the authors what can be redeemed. Using the word `church' for a building or the common term "going to church" is also a little too pagan in their eyes.
After deciding that church buildings, bulletins, liturgy, sermons, pastors, dressing up for church, music ministers, tithing, church offerings, our way of administering the sacraments, Christian education, Sunday school, how we read and use the Bible, and even how we see Jesus are all pagan and therefore wrong, what are we left to do? The authors don't leave us hanging long without an answer. They are quick to point out that their way of doing church in home settings is the only right way to do it.
Though after reading the book, one might think some modern practices don't belong in the church, the reader is more apt to believe that the authors are nit-picking and trying way too hard to attack everything in sight. They simply try too hard. One such example is the use of a raised pulpit. Their primary view is that it is meant to elevate the clergy above and over the people. The truth is, in most modern churches, having a raised pulpit and stage is necessary so everyone can actually see the speaker. They counter this by stating that it "calls excessive attention to the preacher". Don't worry though, since they already had us fire the preacher.
It's clear to many people at some time or another that how we do church needs to adapt and change. It occurs for various reasons. The culture around us changes. New technology becomes available. Old ways of doing things become outdated, like the shag carpet in the auditorium. The authors make no provision for change within the church. They claim that church should be exactly as it was within the New Testament, but the New Testament church ways existed in some part as a product of that culture.
If you can read a book and absorb what's good while throwing out the rest, then this makes an excellent Biblical history book. If you can't stand to read a religious book because it's caustic, divisive, and makes you madder than a Greek Sophist at a science fair, then don't even bother picking this one up. On the other hand, if you totally agree with the authors and have space in your living room to host a religious gathering, it will suit you well.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A7KJWPMHM4WJW
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