Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices

Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices by Frank Viola is a book that claims what Christians do in their church is not embedded in the New Testament but is rooted in pagan culture. The book asks the question "Are we doing it by the book?"
I found a new book that helped me find hope in this world of such uncertainty, entitled "The Enlightenment, What God Told Me After One Million Prayers: A Message for Everyone," by John H. Eagan. I just finished it. It's really great and deals with God, the creator, Jesus' teachings, and His Passion. It brought me to tears. I think the readers of Viola's book will really enjoy The Enlightenment

Let me see the best way to describe 'pagan Christianity':

It brings to mind the old story that we have all heard about the great granddaughter asking her mother why they cut the end off the ham. It isn't until they ask the great grandmother the question that they get the answer, `that was how big my pan was." We do things because we don't know any better.

The journey that Frank Viola and George Barna take the reader through deconstructing the `institutional church' is to me like great chefs, trained by the Master, showing the wait staff that they not only have the right to just serve the food, but be in on the whole process of creating each delectable dish and feasting on it's overflowing abundance. It shows us that the kitchen is not just relegated to `those that have been trained' in the art, but swings wide the doors to the least of us that wish to get our hands dirty trying.

I'll go one better, Frank and George deconstruct the `kitchen', and everything that goes on in it, so well that it no longer has 4 walls with pots and pans all over it and utensils in the drawers, but lets us see that we can `cook' anywhere, with anything, at any time; just as long as we have Fire.

They show us that the Master has always desired to reveal to each of us what our specialty is and, using the help of a trained chef, guide us through the initial apprenticeship. Afterwards, the chef leaves us to use our newfound `talents' to let us see the Master at work creating those dishes for us to feast upon.

For those of you that have ever thought about why the `kitchen' operates the way it does or desired to get your hands dirty trying to cook, I suggest strongly that you read this book. For all you chefs that are tried of doing all the cooking, it is a must read. You're not supposed to be doing it all by yourself. For all of you `master chefs' that think that you are the only ones that are supposed to be in the kitchen, stay away; it'll only make you mad.

If you want to see just what a `kitchen' is supposed to look like, read Frank's follow up book, `Reimagining Church'.

I picked up this book because i am a christian and i want it to confirm what i already knew for several years:the incredible amount of paganism that exists in a lot of churches.I was not dissapointed.The authors expose with precision and research how many religions adopted pagan beliefs and systems.The chapters that talk about bishops clothing and about the set up of the altars were iluminating.However, as i kept reading i realized several things.Number one, some of the most important pagan festivities and belief such as Christmas,Easter,Trinity,Hell and St Valentine's day are not even mentioned.It is widely known that these celebrations and beliefs are pagan in nature and are very important to most christians.The second thing that dissapointed me was that it appeared to me that the authors were placing too much emphasis on the work that as christians they do and that they were trying to lead me to believe that their religion was just better.Altough i commend them for the for this work and for making a lot of people think harder about paganism in Christianity, they fell short in presenting the scope of the problem.For example, in the question 1 on page 218, the authors implied that the christians need "on the job training" to be better christians.Altough in dont dispute the benefits of practicing what you learned,the authors does not bother to even mention the Bible as the primary tool for christians.Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16,17 that "ALL SCRIPTURE is...beneficial for teaching..for reproving, for setting things straight..that the man of God may be FULLY COMPETENT".The authors are right in saying that seminaries are worthless, but they leave completly out the most important part:The Bible.Jesus himself said that "your word is truth" (John 17:17)We all know that the Bible is God's word.The second thing i disagree with the authors is about the organization in the "ecclessia".The authors argue in page 87 that "interruptions by the audience were common".Again, i agree with what they say in the "sit and listen" atmosphere in main stream churches.Paul clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 14:27 that everyone "should take turns".Something the authors leave out in their commentaries about 1 Corinthians 14.Also in that same book,Paul lets us see that christians did not had a free for all participation when he says "God is a God NOT OF DISORDER but of peace (1 Cor 14:33) and "let all things take place "DECENTLY AND BY ARRANGEMENT" (1 Cor 14:40) It is clear that christian meetings were active but it wasnt a free for all either.Everything was made in an organized form.The third thing i disagree with the authors is about the sense of urgency of the christians in the fisrt century.The authors argue that "christians did not appear to be pressured into trying to get the entire world".Nothing could be further from the truth.Altough i recognize that they have to start with the people of Jerusalem, Jesus conveyed in them a great sense of urgency for the work ahead.In Matthew 9:37,38 Jesus said "the harvest is great the workers few, beg the Master to send out workers".Also in Matthew 24:14 Jesus said "good news will be preached....and then the end will come".Paul said to Timothy "preach the word, be at it URGENTLY..."(2 Timothy 4:2) If that is not urgency, i dont know what it is.Finally, something that i complete disagree with the authors is about how much attention they pay to Jesus Christ.They imply that Jesus should be the whole focus of meetings and services for christians.Again i agree with the fact that Jesus is our way to God and the mediator, but the Biblie teaches us clearly that God ( and by the way his name is Jehovah, something that you will not learn in this book since the authors dont even mention it) is the one who should be worshipped,praised and be dedicated to.Not to Jesus.To do Gods work ,Christians have to be in sync with Gods purpose.And the Bible tells us that his name ( or reputation) was tarnished in Eden and his purpose is to clean his name forever.Thats God's purpose and he is going to do it with or without us.In 1 Corinthians 15:24, Paul says " when he(Jesus) hands over the KIngdom to his God and Father, verse 28 "the Son will also subject himself to the One (God), that GOD (not Jesus) may be all things to everyone".Again, this book is a very good start for people who want to think about their beliefs.The authors do some amazing researching but they fell short in many areas including doctrines that are a integral part of a christian.

Viola and Barna stir the waters in this important, yet challenging reading. Pagan Christianity provides an in-depth look into the history of current church practices, analyzing whether these traditions are edifying to the body of Christ and necessary today. Go into it with an open mind, and prepare to be challenged. Be sure to follow this reading with REIMAGINING CHURCH, Viola's follow-up book that provides the second piece to the puzzle.

Three stars for the history lesson. The title seems to be wrong. Maybe it should be something like, "Why I Do House Church" or better yet "Why I use a corn cob instead of t.p." If you didn't know, Viola and Barna are advocates for small house churches. Nothing wrong with that but making a case against current church practice is simply silly. Thank God church practice has evolved to meet the needs of current Christ seekers and followers. Next Barna and Viola will call guitars pagan. Where does it end? My point is how can we best share Jesus to a 21st century person? Church is meant to evolve - not to be stuck in the 1st Century. I'm wondering if women are allowed to speak in Viola and Barna's house church. Do they wear head coverings? How boring! If not, how hypocritical! This is a book that gives people a reason to be suspect of Jesus Christ and His people (aka The Church).