The book that some have described as “a bombshell dropped on the institutional church playground” released in January 2008. Pagan Christianity, co-authored with George Barna, took the pop Christian world by storm, igniting fury on the one hand and freedom on the other.
The book was unveiled at a time when interest in intentional, Christ-centered community and body life was high among 20s, 30s, and 40s. (That season ended in 2012, but I believe it will begin again in my lifetime.)
As was expected, Pagan Christianity set off a firestorm of misrepresentations, personal attacks, and misguided critiques, all in an effort to discredit the book and persuade people to never crack it open.
It also launched a series of conferences called Threshold which spawned Christian communities seeking to meet under the headship of Christ in different parts of the world.
Looking back at the book 10 years later, here are five personal observations:
- I stand by every word of the book, even more so today than when Barna and I first penned it ten years ago. On that point, a few years ago someone spread a false rumor that Barna and I disowned the book. Completely untrue. Never happened. Don’t believe everything you read or hear, please. And always verify with the people being rumored about.
- Despite the criticisms and truck load of straw-man arguments leveled against the book, it continues to stand unrefuted ten years later. (You can see the critiques debunked on this page.)
- Unfortunately, the majority of people who read the book (or criticized it without reading it — ahem) still haven’t heard that Pagan Christianity is not a stand-alone book. It’s only deconstructive, and it intentionally doesn’t offer constructive solutions. Reading the book on its own, therefore, is like listening to a phone conversation and hanging up well before it ends. As a result, misunderstandings have arisen. The constructive sequels – yes, that’s plural, sequels – offer practical solutions. They can all be found here. If you read Pagan Christianity, please read the sequels so you get the entire argument.
- The spoof video which poked fun at the majority of critiques of the book is still being watched and shared on YouTube. In the video, the book gets excoriated and ripped to pieces by outraged religious people.
- George Barna and I talk more about the book in an interview we did, looking back on the volume (link at the bottom).
In closing, I predict that my upcoming book on the gospel of the kingdom of God (due to release June 2018) will have a similar effect as Pagan Christianity did. It’s just as explosive, revolutionary, and hard-hitting. But unlike Pagan, the kingdom book offers practical, actionable solutions to the problems it addresses.
Related:
10 Straw-Man Myths About PAGAN CHRISTIANITY and REIMAGINING CHURCH
Interview with Barna and Viola – Looking Back on PAGAN CHRISTIANITY
4 Things I’m Changing in 2018 – How About You?
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this book! It gives reason to everything I have instinctively felt for decades. I thought I couldn’t abide the church because I didn’t love Jesus, but actually it’s because I DO love Jesus that I couldn’t abide the church! I’m not surprised that the book has remained a secret to so many believers … were dependent on church bookstores and I imagine this would not be actively promoted.
It’s a profound book and you can’t afford to take a mind vacation off a single sentence. It is the single most consequential book I’ve ever read besides the Bible!
Thanks. Have you read the sequels? (PC isn’t a stand alone book). See them at http://ReimaginingChurch.org
Thanks for the reminder. I have fond memories of Pagan Christianity and the help it has been to my walk with Jesus. Looking forward to the Kingdom book release.
This book was a heaven sent. I had about ten questions about church as we know it. It answered all of my questions. And now I am a much more free. I left church, not because of the book. But I am looking forward to begin a New Testament home church.
That’s actually one of the things that’s advised against. Starting a “home church” (which, by the way, is not advocated in the book). This usually happens when people only read PC and not the sequels, especially “Finding Organic Church.” They go off to try to start something on their own, not knowing what they are doing and it simply replicates what they came out of or worse. You should read the sequels as it very well may save you a lot of heartache.
What about your new book Titan, any responses to that material?
Everyone who has gotten a copy and emailed feedback has said they love it. But these are people who are avid readers of my work. The Titan isn’t cheap: http://ViolaTitan.com
You said that the season of people desiring intentional Christ-centered community and body life has basically ended as of 2012. So, what do you believe has taken the place of that desire if anything? Has the body of Christ gone into hibernation so-to-speak? Has a different desire emerged?
I was speaking about the masses of 20s, 30s, and 40s. I wrote about it here: https://www.frankviola.org/2016/04/21/organicchurch/
Thanks, Frank. Not sure if this is possible to predict, but do you think that the next awakening and move of the Spirit of God will happen both outside of and within institutional church?
Historically, true awakenings where Christ was being lifted up as central and supreme have moved people *outside* the walls of traditional church buildings and services. So I expect the same to occur again.
Dear Frank:
I do not recall if I had read Pagan Christianity for there was a time period that I was reading many books probably by you and others on similar themes along with my pastor. I was the head elder at the time (Lutheran –LCMS). Though our church as biblically sound and anchored, we were asking the question “What is wrong with this church”. I won’t waste time with details but probably common to many.
What I have discovered so far over the past decade is much along the same lines as you and others have written. I sense that the Reformation stalled out. Jesus is trying to do something in His church that has not been seen for the most part in 2,000 years. Even Martin Luther saw something more and simpler, a third type of divine service. Read his preface to his The German Mass and Order of Divine Service, January 1526.
Four years ago the Lord told my senior pastor to resign and retire and to plant a church to reach the unchurched and under-churched, similar to the Acts church with simple worship and operating in the power and the leading of the Holy Spirit. My wife and I were part of a group to help him in this. What we have learned is the last part of the Lord’s direction are the key. We can only build a successful church with the power and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in Matt 16:18 “and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. He did not say anything about us building our church but that HE will build HIS church. He may use us but we have to follow his directions and not take ownership. A popular verse in Proverbs is 3:5-6 about the Lord making our paths straight but I would also recommend adding verses 7-8.
I feel from my study and prayer that one of the biggest obstacle (beside us surrendering our will) is that the “tradition of the elders” from the Gospel days is still alive and well. The circumcision group spirit is still active. Just different rules and traditions are used. We have to remember that we are to be bond-servants of Christ and only do our Master’s will. Everyone is looking for the proverbial silver bullet, the perfect plan or process, but there isn’t one. It all starts with a FULL surrender to Jesus on this journey.
Keep bringing up the hard topics. It helps us all get out of the ruts we can get trapped in and start looking back again to His Word with fresh eyes.
I am a little late to the game, but I look forward to reading the book Frank. It is human nature for people who are threatened by your book to be defensive when their livelihood is involved. If only I could take back many of my discussions in the past. Imagine a world if we accepted others’ opinions or convictions as food for thought in our journey with God.