Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices Paperback – February 1, 2012

I got this book not sure what to expect. I had been wrestling with the whole "church" thing. I did not see people (myself included) coming out any different then they went in. A lot of it just did not make sense to me. I believe in the Father and his Son. I just didn't see the love that was always talked about. They would break off into little sub groups, if you quite going they did not even notice or call. It just seemed like a business.I don't think this book is going to change the world, I don't even think it puts that idea forward. It does however teach you to not be afraid of striking out on your own to find Christs love. The idea of a smaller more nimble church is a great one in my opinion. It's the same as government to me. On a small scale it can be controlled and used to advance a cause. On a large scale it gets crushed under it's on weight and useless.I for instance am one who does not believe in tongues. Not the gift in the Bible but the sensless noise some people will spout out, scaring children and what not. I brought this up to my preacher. Looking at the translations the KJV adding the word "unknown" for some reason. His answer was "well I can speak in english anytime I want why can't I speak in tongues" In effect no answer at all. I have seen this all to often in so many churches. No ability to account for there faith, it's how I was raised so it must be right type answers.The book boils down to this for me.The are alot of things in the church today that should not be there. When I look at Christ as a whole I can understand where 2 or 3 gathered in my name makes more and more sense. The church today seems dead to me, like going to work, listen to what ever they say no matter how insane it really is and go on about your business. When I did a study on Christ (the man) I came across an account of early church service, it said they gathered and sang hymns onto him as if onto God, then they made oaths to not sin and ate a meal together.It had nothing to do with what I was studying but it stuck with me. It sounded so simple, it seemed like they could really fellowship and share there faith. Open further study I am convinced that the luther and Calvin inspired churches do not even know the are Catholic. As far as there beliefs there are a few things you must understand. THESE THINGS ARE FACT.1. Both Luther and Calvin were unrepentant murderers. It for for some reason you doubt this look up the Anabaptist. A group that was not Trinitarian, believed you could only get baptised on understanding , had a fierce sense of communtiy(they would shun outsiders), saw themselves a citizens of heaven, and had a creed of non-violence.Lets break that down for a second.1.Trinity can only be said to be implied at best. Christ said himself there was 1 father, in the Old Testament the Father says I alone can save.(No one can say here Christ said I am God, it is all inferred)Fact is when he asked Peter who do you think I am, Peter said the Son of God.(Not the essence of God, or equal to God)I think the easy way to figure this one out is this. Can the Father exsist without the son? Can the Son exsist without the Father? If the Father is superior in anyway, they are no longer equal.2.When someone confessed there faith, thats when Paul said to baptise them not before.3.Paul says if someone comes with a different gospel to not bid them fairwell, nor Godspeed.4.Turn the other cheek is what the really practiced.Luther and Calvin hated these people (to death) they had as many of them and as many of there scholars killed as they could get there hands on.( I am not an Anabaptist, I do think however they carried far many more of the Christ traits than the "major" chruches did)2. Luther and Calvin hated the Jews. (Your theology comes from people who hated the choosen ones.I'll seek my lessons from the Son of God over these 2 tyrants anyday.The fact you must understand is that the church did not rise to power in the current form it is in. These "home churches are the very thing that forced the empire to notice them. You cannot control an "earthly" group the has no head. They felt Christ was really there among them, they gave him full control of there services. They had to consolidate, to control. Every kingdom of man has sought to do this. Everyone has heard of divide and counqer, it seems more correct on the macro scale to say combine and counqer.It seems to me the early church was more stable, the y could gather more with little hinderance. They were a real community. They lived in walking distance of each other. When one was suffering they could all pitch in and help right on the spot. They weren't just memebers in a "church". They were "brothers and sisters".The true essence to me of Christ teaching, you are not seperate at all but have the same Father. True brothers and sisters. If someone dies in a church body today, it's I'm so sorry, my regrets. The people closet to that member would be the only ones to really "feel" the pain. Now imagine how it was for them. To truly lose a Brother or Sister, even those who were not close(which would be hard to believe in that type of setting) Would mourn for those who were mourning. They would feel the pain that there brother felt. Why is it different when someone in your family dies and someone in church dies. It's simple really, we have not gotten to the point of family in the church. I long for that, to get past the world and be part of a true body of Christ each memeber a mother,brother,father, sister and shephard of the other. I don't care how small the group is, as long as the spirit is present and faith guides us.Preachers do not have a lock on how to get to God, that is why Christ died. So each man could be forgiven and seek him out. This would bring him to people who had a better understanding than they did. They would grow and learn from each other daily. Today's church is a sad shell of what was intended I think.Like Christ said, his church would never be overcome. I think these are the curches he was speaking. A formless body that could only be controlled by Christ himself.Look nothing is perfect when people are invloved. Even chruch. I think the model of church we are using now is not that healthy for us. We need to learn and exercise or faith. Like some other reviews have said, if you don't already like the "church" system you will jump on the band wagon. This will not do you much good. Don't believe that the Church is bad and I'll study on my on thing. That is not what this book is saying either. It saying there is a better way, that I do believe. A perfect way, no. That won't exsist on earth.A church filled with love and the direct lordship of our Lord and Savior Yeshua, yes. We can get better and hold each other accountable and tend to each other on a personal level. This book is just a sign on the way in your studies. I have read up on what they had to say about the Romans inparticular. I can see no evidence to the contrary that Christianity was not hi-jacked around Nicea. My goal is start a church in my home, where Christ can freely come in and gide us. Church today makes the Father look alien and out of reach, Moses and Paul said they wished all members could prophesies.We are all "ministers" in one form or another, this book helps you see that again. In church, much like the woman who put purfume on Yeshua'a hair. Any gift you bring to Father out of love for him is a good gift indeed!!

"Pagan Christianity? Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices," may very well be the most important book written on the Christian church in the last two millennia. Frank Viola and George Barna team up to give their readers a critical examination of the last 1700 years of church history. Does the institutional church have any biblical and historical right to exist? "Are the practices of the institutional church (the clergy/laity system, salaried pastors, sacred buildings, the order of worship, etc.) God-approved developments to the church that the New Testament envisions? Or are they an unhealthy departure from it?"The first edition of this book entitled, "Pagan Christianity: The Origins of Our Modern Church Practices" by Frank Viola... is the third book written in a set of five books on church restoration and organic church life. Viola and George Barna, Christian pollster and author of the book "Revolution," have co-authored the newly revised and updated "Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices." Barna brings to the book a fresh look and a polished language that improves on the delivery of Viola's original work. Barna, who has caused no small stink upon his recent confessions regarding the church, makes his decision to leave the institutional church complete with the publication of this book. If it wasn't clear in his book "Revolution"... it is certainly clear now.I enjoyed the new format of this book. At the end of each chapter, the authors give the reader a "Delving Deeper" section which lists common questions with answers in return. I felt that this helped to clarify what the authors were truly saying in order that fact might be separated from fiction. I also enjoyed the updated references and the plethora of footnotes listed at the bottom of each page. These references may be in a smaller font, but they are the entire foundation of historicity which resulted in the penning of this book. Therefore, the serious reader will not want to overlook the footnotes. The reader will also find the "Summary of Origins" and "Key Figures in Church History" in the back of the book a great help as well. The book may look like a long read... yet, you will find that your interest is peaked beyond that of any other historical book you have ever read. You will read until you are done... or until you have thrown it out the window.The serious questions raised in this book will give the Christian reader more than enough to wrestle over. Viola traces the pagan origins of almost every church practice that institutional Christianity holds dear and holds it to the light of the New Testament. I remember first reading the original "Pagan Christianity" over a year ago. I had spent 6 years of my life in "vocational ministry" within the institutional church and I had a degree in Religion/Biblical Studies. I had just resigned from my position as Minister to Students/Education because the church's leaders were opposed to fundamental teachings of Jesus. My wife and I saw that we could no longer serve among them. It was during this time that I began to read and study like never before. I was seeking to be a senior pastor in a church somewhere in the United States. I studied church history, ecclesiology, Christology, etc. I was seeking the Lord's will for his church. I compiled a list of what the New Testament described the church looked like in fellowship and among the world. With the help of Viola's book, I quickly realized that my list did not reflect the church I knew and that that church could not be seen in the model of the traditional church. I had to rethink my understanding of it all.I know how hard this read will be for many people, especially clergy members. "Pagan Christianity?" will, no doubt, be a most uncomfortable read for all those who believe the Body of Christ is an institution. For the clergy member, the read will almost be impossible. At every turn of the page... the flesh will flare up in a horrible display of arrogance and pride. Many will scoff at its claims and discourage others from reading it before an honest examination can be made. If the reader is not prepared to reexamine his faith and practice for a paradigm shift... he or she might as well leave this book well alone. If the reader is not yet at the end of their rope in frustration against the church practices and shallow conception of Christ that is believed and taught within the institutional church... this book will only breed anger and confusion. But, if you were like me a year ago... you are tired and want answers... and you want more of Christ... then please read this book and allow yourself to be moved by it. I encourage you to have an honest conversation with the Lord as you read. And listen to his still small voice.To the rabid opponents of this book, I strongly recommend you speak to no one before you have done truthful research concerning these matters AND have had an honest conversation with Jesus first. Many will argue that this book only proposes another "form" or method of church. This book is not about forms, but about principles. To argue forms... is to miss the point of this book. Many will make preposterous claims that this book seeks to tear down the church of Jesus Christ, when in all reality... this book exalts Jesus Christ of Nazareth and submits that we return to simple community gathered around his headship free from the inventions of man and religion that hinders the Body from every-member functioning. This book does not propose we mimic the model of first-century Christianity, but that we mimic our Lord. Out of our Lord's commands and the principles of his person and work (i.e. life and teachings) will come normal Christian church life!Why has this book been written? The authors write, "we have written this book for one reason: to make room for the absolute centrality, supremacy, and headship of Christ in His church." (p.250) This statement alone should be enough for any true follower of Christ to pick up and read. But unfortunately, many people, for whatever reason, will choose to accept slander about the authors (even from trusted pastors) as enough reason to discredit and discount them as credible voices of truth in mainline Christianity. This is an incredible action considering that many institutional churches in the last decade have built their entire plan of attack off the statistical findings of pollster George Barna. On top of that... both of these men boldly proclaim Christ in way that is undeniably and unmistakably from a spirit of love and edification. The premature responses of the majority prove how mankind is driven by mere human emotions and tradition... instead of biblical truth discovered through a consistent and verifiable method of biblical interpretation that seeks to exalt Christ above all things.This reviewer and ex-clergy member challenges you to consider the message of these men. Compare the claims of this book with the Christ and the church of the New Testament before you decide who and what are truly following and being a reflection of pagan Christianity. All of us must choose between spiritual revolution (i.e. return to Christ) or religious reformation (i.e. tweaking the old pagan systems). One of these will release the church from her chains and free her from the bondage of man's religion to experience the natural faith of Christ. The other will only prolong God's people from beholding Christ in majesty and splendor to the world. There is only one life to live. Choose wisely.I also recommend reading:From Eternity to Here: Rediscovering the Ageless Purpose of GodThe Centrality of Jesus Christ (Works of T. Austin-Sparks)Going to the Root: Nine Proposals for Radical Church RenewalGod's Ultimate Passion: Unveiling the Purpose Behind EverythingChrist the Sum of All Spiritual ThingsThe Release of the SpiritPaul's Idea of Community: The Early House Churches in Their Cultural Setting, Revised Edition