Customer Reviews
Revolutionary Reading - By: J. Caldwell, 01 Jul 2008 
I am still recovering from the shockwaves that this book has caused me to experience! If you are longing for God to move in the church, if you long for a purer expression of N.T Christianity then you need to read this book. Infact every Christian needs to read this book. This book examines the sources of historical & contemporary church practices, the results? Most of what the church does has no basis in the N.T or the early church but instead have been adapted form the surrounding pagan culture!
This is no mere personal opinion, historical evidence is collected, scripture is examined & hard questions are asked. Many issues raised will be overwhelming for some readers, probably most readers, yet for those who long for a more faithful representation of Christianity this book is revolutionary.
Chapter One
This chapter shows that inspite of the claim that evangelicals believe they are doing church 'by the book' history & scripture betray such a claim. Viola says;
"If the truth be told, we Christians never seem to ask why we do what we do. Instead we blithely cary out our traditions without asking where they came from. Most Christians who claim to uphold the integrity of God's word have never sought to see if what they do every Sunday has any scriptural backing. Because if they did, it would lead them to some very disturbing conclusions that would compel them by conscience to forever abandon what they are doing"
The authors spend each chapter looking at core protestant evangelical practices that are assumed to be biblical. What may shock you is just how much of what we do has been influenced & adopted from Paganism. The practices explored are as follows.
The Church Building
The Order of Worship
The Sermon
The Pastor
Sunday Morning Costumes
Ministers of Music
Tithing & Clergy Salaries
Baptism & the Lords Supper
Christian Education
Our Appoach to the Scriptures
Some of these things on this list may shock you, the truth is they make up most of what we do in 'church'. Like I said this book is revolutionary, I will abstain from the temptation to tell what each chapter says about these practices. Get the book for your selves!
Let me finish by saying, this book is not another liberal critique of evangelicalism. It is not 'anti church' & it isnt limited to a criticism of current practice.Pagan Christianity? also sets forth a glorious picture of what the N.T 'church should look like. Frank shows from the N.T that the N.T testament church should be a living organism free from hierarchy experiencing a rich community with every member functioning as a priest. Every Christian needs to read this book!
The Church is Not Great - By: Archetype, 25 Apr 2008 This book is worth reading, not just for 'believers', but for those who have come to the only logical conclusion possible, that 'religion' is a human invention. It maps the syncretistic nature of church practice, just as other authors have mapped belief & theology. A book such as this could be written about alll religious traditions, as alll are in exactly the same situation. The authors should be applauded for their critique of the church, but the alternative they envisage is a waste of time, this is where it alll started in the first place!
PS: Love the red cover, but you will need a magnifying glass to read the footnotes.
to see or not to see - that is the question - By: Dee F Gee, 19 Apr 2008 If I have understood Frank Viola & George Barna's thrust correctly it is this - a thing may be judged by 'How much it alllows the members of His body the freedom to function?' (p250)
Each of Viola/Barna's focus of study have been weighed in the balance - & they have been found wanting. (The areas themselves have been found wanting - NOT Viola/Barna's study.) They give an 11 page bibliography & copious references whereby each reader may follow up for themselves - & the writers would that they did.
A great & challlenging read - time to take off the rose tinted glasses?
seismic earth shattering facts that will smash traditional church foundations - By: AceFire, 09 Apr 2008 This book will totallly rock the way you see Church across the board including Pentecostal, Charismatic, Baptist & every kind of established church organisation out there. It will make you take the bible that little bit more seriously & rely on the Holy Spirit's brand of Church headed by Jesus Christ. Please beware because this book will not leave you the same after you read it so please pray before you read it.
So that's why I never liked "church" :: Barna & Viola pull back the curtain - By: William D. Lollar, 14 Feb 2008 A growing number of people have made it clear: they like Jesus, but they do not like "the church" or the whole "church/chapel culture." Barna & Viola pull back the curtain to reveal the unbiblical (in fact, "pagan") roots of today's institutional church practices. These guys have done their homework & I hope it makes the impact worldwide that they are hoping for.
Having a relationship with Jesus Christ does not require alll the trappings of religion: in many ways, we've been sold a bill of goods that cannot be supported by the New Testament, whether you look at the teachings of Jesus or the apostles. This book clears the table, so to speak, & encourages us to go back to the Bible for our guidance rather than the accumulated traditions of the past 1,700 years.
So if you're sick of religion, get this book! As someone recently warned about its volatile content: don't drop it, because it might explode!"
Bill Lollar
The Thin Edge
"Pushing the limits of the status quo"
