Pagan Christianity: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices

Abstract

PAGAN CHRISTIANITY: EXPLORING THE ROOTS OF OUR CHURCH PRACTICES. Frank Viola and George Barna, Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2008. Hardback. Pp. 295- $17-99ISBN 978-1-4143-485-3- Reviewed by Geoffrey W. Sutton (Springfield, MO). What would worship look like if you did not enter a church building, follow a typical format, listen a sermon from a seminary-trained pastor, or listen special music? Viola and Barna dedicated Pagan Christianity to exposing the traditions that have been tacked onto God's will for His Church (p. xx). Further, We are also making an outrageous proposal: that the church in its contemporary, institutional form has neither a biblical nor a historical right function as it does (p. xx). Both authors are nationally known. Frank Viola, an active church planter, has written several books that challenge the traditional church. George Barna is the chair of Good News Holdings, a multimedia firm in Los Angeles and the founder and directing leader of a research firm, The Barna Group. Despite the bold title, the authors do not advocate the overthrow of existing church communities. They are not out inspire rebellion. Rather, they want us be aware of the humanly devised traditions that have come mean church for so many contemporary believers. Once alerted these issues, believers are encouraged either leave quietly and find a New Testament church or live peacefully in their present faith community. After introductions, the authors reveal pagan traditions behind several aspects of modern church life in chapters two through ten. The next time you go church, you might wonder when people began going church. Given the extant information, it seems church buildings did not appear until about the year 300 CE. For more than two centuries, Christians worshiped in small groups. In time, the church qua organized religion began the construction of sacred buildings with special physical (pulpit, pews, balconies) and cultural trappings (special priests, choirs, incense). Aside from the unchristian origins of these developments, the authors punctuate their criticism by noting the high cost of such religious overhead. They estimated the value of church real estate as over $230 billion (that was before the financial crisis of 2008). Mortgages and maintenance requires a substantial portion of the $50 $60 billion churches garner from tithes and offerings. What makes their critique of the traditional Sunday morning worship sequence interesting is their review of the origins of the familiar service outline. Aside from the pagan origins, they note the missed opportunity for spiritual transformation that could occur in a more active and participative format. The next pillar fall is the holy sermon, which has its roots in Greek oratory. They note the limited examples of speeches in the Old Testament and New Testament before suggesting how the contemporary sermon hinders growth. They also point research on the ineffectiveness of sermons (see page 104). Where did the pastor come from? …

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