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  • Pagan Christianity

  • By: Frank Viola
  • Narrated by: Lloyd James
  • Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (21 ratings)

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Pagan Christianity

By: Frank Viola
Narrated by: Lloyd James
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Publisher's Summary

Have you ever wondered why we Christians do what we do for church every Sunday morning? Why do we "dress up" for church? Why does the pastor preach a sermon each week? Why do we have pews, steeples, choirs, and seminaries? This volume reveals the startling truth: most of what Christians do in present-day churches is not rooted in the New Testament, but in pagan culture and rituals developed long after the death of the apostles.

Coauthors Frank Viola and George Barna support their thesis with compelling historical evidence in the first-ever book to document the full story of modern Christian church practices. Many Christians take for granted that their churchs practices are rooted in Scripture. Yet those practices look very different from those of the first-century church. The New Testament is not silent on how the early church freely expressed the reality of Christs indwelling in ways that rocked the first-century world.Times have changed.

Pagan Christianity leads us on a fascinating tour through church history, revealing this startling and unsettling truth: Many cherished church traditions embraced today originated not out of the New Testament, but out of pagan practices. One of the most troubling outcomes has been the effect on average believers: turning them from living expressions of Christs glory and power to passive observers. If you want to see that trend reversed, turn to Pagan Christianity...a book that examines and challenges every aspect of our contemporary church experience.

©2008 Frank Viola and George Barna (P)2008 christianaudio.com

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent examination of what we ‘do’ in church in the name of Christ.

This book has a question mark in the title that is very important to notice.
The author simply questions what we do in and because of ‘church’. Most responsible people should always do the same in whatever task they may their hand to.

I have been wrestling for years with church structure and how we ‘do’ church. I have been sensing God calling me to a new pasture but struggled with ‘abandoning’ the flock, so to speak.
But this excellent examination of all the tasks we do because of ‘church’ has been such a wonderful blessing to me.
We don’t need to throw the baby out with the bath water, but sometimes God asks us to take a fresh look and be revolutionary in our approach to following Him. Just like He asked Jesus to do.
Although I feel terrified of the next steps in my journey, I have to follow Him by faith and trust that His conviction to me, as I read this book, will eventually bring freedom and liberty as i head towards worshipping Him in Spirit and Truth, with others.
Excellent read that is definitely not for the faint-hearted.
Be strong and of good courage, for I am with you, says the Lord.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Christianity Taken Back to its Simple Roots

This book beautifully reflects the essence of the New Testament. The traditions that so many (mainly) Westerners have tacked on are clearly dismantled - if we only have the courage to let God build his church instead of relying on our beloved programs and systems. A very challenging and liberating read.

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Was a bit scared at first but glad I read this book

I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to challenge everything I thought about the modern church. But I also want to know God and his church without any denominational slants etc

This book has boosted my faith and helped me get a deeper understanding of the importance of equipping people to do the work of the ministry opposed to making them pew sitting consumers.
I’ll be reading more books from these two authors that’s for sure

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Straight talking, well researched book

The author went to great lengths to prove just how far the church has strayed from the original model. It therefore gives freedom to get rid of pretty well any church tradition if it's not producing fruit.

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Sounded more like an Anti-Christianity

Having heard and read this book twice, I must, first of all, appreciate the hard work and research done in bringing this reflection. The author has conveyed an essential message through this book for all the Christians to reflect, regardless of their denomination. The book reveals the evils in structure and practices of practical Christian faith (when you lead people in false pretension of doing by the scripture). But I feel in revealing these practices the author has gone anti-Christianity. Just like any faith, Christianity was a new faith for the people during that time, and they tried to develop by contextualising to their culture. The author also uses the scriptures same way to prove his point as he opposes others to do the way of proof-texting. Bible is not a manual of how to do things in a church; Acts is a story which reveals to us what people did, based on their understanding of the word, and even they were wrong in few matters. In our contemporary culture, If pews were added for comfort and worship songs are added, and advanced instruments (Technology) is used in service, this is not wrong as long as the goal is to honour God. If God can use stones to make some noise, we sure can. The whole essence of worship should be that it is done in truth and spirit.

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Excellent dissection of tradition

Excellent dissection of the tradition that stifles our worship and filters our connection with God to a trickle.
So much to say, but you really just need to read this.

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