pagan christianity
I received a review copy of Frank Viola and George Barna’s Pagan Christianity. This feisty book attacks the incipient paganism that has been absorbed into historic Christianity over the years. It exposes the syncretistic weak spots in what we assume to be basic in our way of doing church. Thoroughly iconoclastic, it is also at the same time a good apologetic for the house church movement which has strong restorationist impulses. My guess is that it will anger some readers and thrill others. I am one of the latter. 
Whatever, it won’t be too easy to dismiss as it is really well researched and substantiated. I think it is definitely worth the read even if I do think it is a tad purist in tone. Just don’t drop it–it is likely to explode.
Frank is answering questions and responding to objections to the book over here. Also, there is a free chapter available to anyone here.
Forgotten Ways, The: Reactivating the Missional Church - Alan Hirsch
Forgotten Ways Handbook, The: A Practical Guide for Developing Missional Churches - Alan Hirsch, Darryn Altclass
ReJesus: A Wild Messiah for a Missional Church - Michael Frost, Alan Hirsch
The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21 Century Church - Michael Frost, Alan Hirsch
There are so many blogs flapping about this book! I think it’s great to have folks willing to call a spade a spade, as it were, and own our historical stuff. That’s the only stance from where we can begin to make choices about how we believe the Body of Christ should function…I’m with you, mate!
looks interesting, have added it to my list of books for 2008.
This does appear to be an interesting read….
Not sure if I created a word or if I borrowed it from Big Al, but I was talking with a friend recently about particular ‘norms’ in church and I said ‘paganization of churchianity”…Perhaps this book unpacks that notion?…..
You da man Chuckeroo. No doubt about that!
For the last three years this book is in my top 5 reads - because of the (practical)influence it had on my life (just like your books did, Alan). When Barna told me last year that he was doing a re-write with Viola, I was thrilled. But just watch - they are going to be crucified by the institution. So far the fiercest criticism in the bloggosphere has always been from…. pastors. Say no more.
Matthew 10
: 24 “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!
26 “So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs….
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
” ‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law -
36a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[e]
37 “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Well… let the crucifixions begin… they’re in good company
I like what I’ve read so far…
Love that chapter, now I’m going to have to fork out for the book! Curse those handsome devils!
I read the first edition last year and thought it was really good. Frank Viola has discounted group prices on his website if you buy in certain quantities. Through a friend at work I was able to jump in on a real steal, $10.00!
While waiting for my copy of “Forgotten Ways” a friend loaned me, “Revolution” by Barna. Had never heard of George Barna until a couple weeks ago. Looking forward to seeing the mix on these 2 authors.
Speaking of mix! Alan, your book has been worth the wait. I’m taking this one slow and trying to grasp the terms. Awesome job explaining them!
I read “Revolution” and thoroughly enjoyed it. It had a lot of appologetics for house churches and other non-traditional forms of church. However, he seemed to stretch a few good stats to justify printing a book, which made for a quick read.
Agreed Brian! Speaking of house churches and books, I’ve always wondered about something in the scriptures.
When Luke wrote the book of Acts, Why did he include the part about Eutychus,(a young man), sinking into a deep sleep and falling out the window to his death?
Whenever I read stats on participation in mission and worship, I will laugh ironically and think, “Our leadership is taking Paul literally!” Can’t help thinking that’s Not what Luke had in mind.
Frank Viola should also think about possible pagan influences in housechurches. Pagan influences in the past is more easy to discover than in the presence. The housechurch-mode does not ensure, that you are on the right side. This is also a lession of church-history.
Fair comment Ulrich. But the simple church concept is less likely to absorb many rites/rituals that may be drawn from other religions. Mostly, its a group of people meeting in a house.
It’s a good book in many ways. I think the issues need to be discussed. They overstate the case sometimes, and I don’t think they completely make the case that the institutional church has no right to exist…BUT the issues they raise are important.
Hi. Found your review at the Pagan Christianity website. Just thought you and your readers might enjoy reading a new interview with George Barna and Frank Viola. I just posted it today: The “Thin Edge hosts joint interview with Barna & Viola.”
Coming back to my post above: christians, achieving the great command, have to be always in a dialog with the culture, they are surrounded by. So, there was a time, christians found expressions of the ancient world simply “cool”. Leaders strive to communicate the good news in a way, secular people want to listen. Today christians altercate with postmodernism. In particular housechurch-leaders hope, that postmodern lifestyle will help to live church closer to the new testament patterns. But, if we want to learn something out of history: the spirit of time hasn´t helped christians to much in the past. But christians often are occupied by secular concerns. Constantin is a example for that. Let the word become flesh will always claim to take a risk. But to ignore the influence of the present culture to our worldview (and our comprehension of the scriptures) is a danger. In my experience, the housechurch-movement is threatened by individualism. Foremost in the western world. They celebrate the increase of christianity in India and at the same time exculpate their own fruitlessness.
(perhaps my english sounds not very good. My first language is german)