It seems that every so often a ministry book will be released that catches the collective imagination of one group of people and at the same time raises the blood pressure of another group of people.
It seems that the revised and updated edition of Frank Viola’s Pagan Christianity: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices is that kind of book.
Some have applauded it’s message while others have completely dismissed it. Some have even freaked out like tiny spider monkeys on meth attacked the book and those who have written positive reviews for it. My favorite criticism was leveled at Brant Hansen for his positive review.
I could care less, whether you “post” this on your sorry site, or not. You are an arrogant ignoramus, “approving” two others (Barna and Viol). Of course, your warm endorsement of Viol shows up on his blog. What shameless sluttery is this! It never ceases to amaze me, how one ignoramus (yourself) endorses two others (Barna and Viol), and “presto!”; instant legitimacy! I think in your “heart of hearts” you know what a joke you are, and that your “Imprimatur” of these two anti-Christs impresses no one credible.
God have mercy on you!
Pastor James Parker
Grace Gospel Church (Calgary)
Can’t you just feel the love?
So far I have enjoyed the book. I too have my criticisms but I have been trying to be fair and even handed. Having grown up in a tradition that claims to throw out any tradition that doesn’t have it’s roots in the New Testament I feel that at times the authors are throwing cold water directly in my face.
There were no “church” buildings in the NT.
There were no paid, locally-specific ministers in the NT. (I’ll ignore that one)
There were no pulpits.
There was one body per city and one set of elders for that city.
The list goes on and on. Again, I have some criticism but all my discomfort comes from traditions and practices rather than scriptural authority.
It just got interesting. More to come.
Here is a question for you:
Which current church practice do you think hinders the body of Christ from being radically effective in the 21st century?
I was raised in various Protestant churches, Baptist, Assemblies of God, non-demoninational etc., and have been a Jehovah’s Witness now for about 5 years. I have read this book recently, and although I do not agree with fully theologically speaking, it is well written, and there are some very valid points. In fact many of the points in it (for example about tithing, and paid clergy) are a major reason I was turned off to the churches I grew up attending, and thus am now part of a religious organization that does not preach tithing, or have paid clergy at that. Another thing I appreciated about the book was the section on churches having one single individual with the title “Pastor”.