Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola and George Barna...

In reviewing this book I have to state that I fall into one of the categories it challenges! I am currently training for Ordained Methodist Ministry, and as such I see the value in Ordained Ministry, I also see the value in many of the historical practises of the Church.

Like the authors of Pagan Christianity however I do not hold these rituals, and practises to be either authentic or irreplaceable. One of my passions is enabling local congregations to discover what gift they bring to the local community, sometimes that gift is best wrapped in what we now call traditional church, sometimes the whole thing needs to be repackaged. One thing I believe we cannot do is to return to the New Testament model- why because there wasn't one model- New Testament Churches were often pragmatic and almost always reflected the culture they were planted in, whilst living out the tension of what it meant to be a Christian in that place even when this meant persecution.

Pagan Christianity raises healthy and helpful questions about the practises we take for granted, or jealously guard without understanding the roots of those practises. I think the questions are good, but wonder whether the authors feeling that we should rid ourselves of these is almost moving too far in the opposite direction.

I would want to bring questions about whether what we do is healthy, and promoting growth in the knowledge and love of God, yes our practises should be viewed with a hermeneutic of suspicion, but we should also be prepared to see the positive!

That said I believe this is an excellent book, with some excellent questions..... we would do well to read it.

Comments

[Joe Miller]

Hi, an excellent alternative to Viola's book is "The Ancient Church As Family" by Dr. Joe Hellerman. His work is well researched and addresses many of the "pagan" influences on our faith. Dr. Hellerman's contribution is a blend of good history AND respectful discourse.

I do have a review of this on my blog if you are interested.

[Neil]

Frank Viola has captured many truths about the biblical church but when it comes to the role of the elder he throws the baby out with the bathwater. He is correct to want to jettison religion. The religion that calls itself “Christian” (both catholic and protestant) is not the true church. The rightly divided word gives wonderful direction for the true church. The true church does not have a denominational name: It is the body of Christ. No middle men, no popes, no go betweens, just the one and only Jesus the anointed one as the head. Members of the true church have Christ in them (Col 1:27) and have an unbreakable relationship with God through Christ.

Will there soon be yet another new denomination based on Violaism? It like the rest of the modern ”emerging church” has a strong emphasis on social gathering with all who come welcome to spew their weird religious doctrines while the bible is avoided? We need the rightly divided word of God now more than ever. In 1 Peter 5:1-3 elders are exhorted to “feed the flock of God.” There is only one source of food for the flock of God: The Word of God. See chapter 4 Partnership One With Another: Neil Tolman 1993 at: http://www.neilshouse.com/POA4.html#4 neilrn@maine.rr.com