Controversial Book Review: "Pagan Christianity"

Okay, HERE'S a book that's getting attention.  It's called Pagan Christianity, and the authors are Frank Viola, a guy from Gainesville, and George Barna, the famous Christian pollster-guy.

I'm actually kind of amazed this is getting published.   I'm GLAD it's being published -- I love ideas that are challenging, and make us think and re-think about what it means to follow Jesus -- but it's bound to start some arguments.

The authors say a lot of our church traditions -- ones we hold dear and think "this is what makes the church the church" --actually aren't what makes the church the church.  They show, historically, where a lot of our traditions come from, and say they weren't part of the very early movement of Jesus -- they're actually from pagan traditions.

We're talking everything from steeples to pews to seminaries to choirs to weekly sermons to dressing up for church...about which that people might reasonably wonder:  What's so wrong with that?

Viola and Barna don't say it's wrong, per se, to borrow something from pre-Christian traditions.  Not at all.  They do say, though, that we've managed to turn following Jesus isn't a spectator-sport, where we train people to be passive observers, people who consume products and worship services, rather than actively BEING the church.  And to justify practices saying, "This is the way it has to be," just isn't true, when those practices aren't part of the first century church.

Personally, I think they have some great points.  (I shouldn't need to include the caveat, "I don't agree with EVERYTHING here, but here you go:  I don't agree with everything here.  I rarely do, when reading a book.)    But if you're someone who's a new believer, or someone who doesn't want to be challenged on this kind of stuff, seriously -- I do not recommend this book.  Skip it.  Seriously.

If you have been a Jesus-follower for awhile though, and are open to being stretched, challenged, and made to go, "Hmmmm..." you may want to check it out. 

You may even be someone who's wondered, "Hmmm...why do things have to be this way?" -- and you may really enjoy it.

There've been thoughtful people who've reviewed this book with completely different opinions, and that's cool.  Unfortunately, though, there've been critics who actually haven't read the book, they've just reacted to the hot-button issues.

Both authors take the Bible very seriously, and following Jesus very seriously.  If you read it, let me know what you think.

Comments

[Jeanette]

There are some new interviews with George and Frank at http://www.ptmin.org/answers.htm along with questions and answers.

[Sara]

The church has evolved into something completely different than our Father intended it to be. Yes we do need to be in constant fellowship and be fed, but WE are not acting as the church anymore. Instead we think of church as the building we go to to sing songs and listen to a sermon. The church is so much more than that! We should be Christ-followers and take His example. I'm not saying that going to church is wrong or bad, it's what we have made the church that is not great. Also, we think that 'worship' is the simple act of singing songs on Sunday morning and raising our hands. WHAT?!?! Worship is so much more than that. Worship is an act, it's us. Everything we do in reverance to our King is worship. I could be playing ping-pong with you and that could be worship if my Father is in the front of my mind. We need to get past going through the mere actions of living for our Lord and really mean them and then we will be the church again.

[Jeff P]

Did you say the word challenge ........ ummm...I'll pass. But hey, maybe my pastor will talk about the book on Sunday.
Just kidding. I probalbly won't get aroud to reading the book; however, my pastor preached for a number of weeks about "BEING the church." You can listen to the sermons online at www.fbjb.com The Holy Spirit definitely use him to convict me of some faults. It was also very tempting to point the finger at others and not even consider where I am slacking. In other words, I agree with you and Sara.

[Matthew van Voorthuijsen]

Hey Brant,

Thanks for the info--I'll read it if I get around to it. In the meantime, I'll just ponder the subject.

Since Pagan Christianity is not for everyone, I thought I would suggest a book that is for everyone whose friends have ever had a boyfriend or girlfriend.

SEX GOD (ISBN 0-310-26346-8), by Rob Bell, is about the relationship between sexuality and spirituality. It is a must-read for anyone considering going deeper in relationship with either God or people.

In Christ,
Matthew

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[Ken]

I have been searching the word of God for over 5 years as I want to draw nearer to Him and learn His ways. I have always been shaken by what is commanded in his word and what the church does. One example are the festivals He commands us to observe emphasized with the words "FOREVER". These festivals point to Jesus. WHY don’t we celebrate those in remembrance of Him? However, we are quick to celebrate the Christianized pagan days (i.e., Easter and Christmas). The other day I was reading Deuteronomy 12:30-32, where God commands us not to worship Him in the same ways as pagan religions worship their gods. Let's remember that with God, obedience and adherence to His word is key to showing our love for Him. I am no preacher, but it seems to me that although we are saved when we come to faith in Christ Jesus, we loose out on the many blessings available to us because of our laziness and complacency with the status-quo, following man made traditions without questioning why these things are done and where they came from.