Matt Mings on Book Comments: “Pagan Christianity”
I just finished “Pagan Christianity: Exploring the Roots of our Church Practices” by Frank Viola and George Barna.
My, my, my … many theoretical problems with this book.
The historical study is very accurate and quite fascinating. The analysis and synthesis of the authors’ conclusions lead to a fallacy in method. They are prescribing a practice of the Church (and church, little “c”) that essentially does what they have accused the Church of historically doing: erecting human practices on scriptural grounds. Their methodology is flawed.
Though they argue for the full tenor of scripture, they do not grasp how that understanding is put into practice.
The authors’ criticism is leveled primarily at low-church Protestantism. And unfortunately, there is no talk of the redeeming and reconciling nature of the work of the gospel through Christian practices.
Everything they describe as organic church, I experience in my faith community. Yet, we own a building, we have paid staff, etc. We don’t play dress up on Sunday, nor some of the other things the authors find non-Biblical. But we do intend toward community: meaning our community is intentional.
Many of the criticisms of the book did not hit home with me. It seems that Viola and Barna have found a wonderfully subversive way to sell a lot of copies of a book. But in so doing they are misconstruing the analysis and pigeon-holing the possible practical implications their historicity affords.
For my part, I just listed the book in brand new condition at half.com … though I feel a bit bad to have someone else pay for it. At least it won’t continue to line the authors’ pockets.
SO TELL ME SOMETHING:
Have you read the book? What are your thoughts on the authors’ methodology?
——
Brian Niece
www.brianniece.com
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Category: Book Comments, Christianity, The Church 3 comments »
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 am
Organic churches, huh? Do I suppose that all other churches are lifeless and inorganic? No, I do not.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:43 am
As a follow up to this post …
I peek in every once in a while on a great site at http://www.housechurch.org. The blog there has a much better review of this book. You can read it at http://www.housechurch.org/blog/2008/02/18/pagan-christianity-real-hope-or-shrill-hype/#comments.
I am still intrigued that I consider what we are doing in my faith community to be organic church (that’s why so many people left my first year, even). And then when I read Pagan Christianity, I was confronted with the possibility that organic church is about forms separate from content. This is a possibility I staunchly disagree with. Content and form are interlinked. And organic church comes in many forms all derived and producing similar content.
Shalom–
Brian
June 16th, 2008 at 1:01 am
Interesting perspective considering your background. I will have to read more of your stuff. Meantime, if you are interested, I am posting a 5 part interview with both George Barna and Frank Viola. Please feel free to pass the word and share your thoughts.