Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church PracticesHave 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, and choirs? This ground-breaking book, now in affordable softcover, makes an unsettling proposal: most of what Christians do in present-day churches is rooted, not 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 and extensive footnotes that document the origins of modern Christian church practices. In the process, the authors uncover the problems that emerge when the church functions more like a business organization than the living organism it was created to be. As you reconsider Christ's revolutionary plan for his church—to be the head of a fully functioning body in which all believers play an active role—you'll be challenged to decide whether you can ever do church the same way again. |
Contents
1 | |
The Church Building | 9 |
The Order of Worship | 47 |
The Sermon | 85 |
The Pastor | 105 |
Sunday Morning Costumes | 145 |
Ministers of Music | 157 |
Tithing and Clergy Salaries | 171 |
Reapproaching the New Testament | 221 |
A Second Glance at the Savior | 243 |
The Next Step | 253 |
QA with Frank Viola and George Barna | 261 |
Summary of Origins | 271 |
Key Figures in Church History | 277 |
281 | |
About the Authors | 293 |
Other editions - View all
Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices Frank Viola,George Barna No preview available - 2012 |
Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices Frank Viola,George Barna No preview available - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
apostles baptism became began believers Bible biblical bishop called Calvin Catholic choir Christian Church Christian History Christian Liturgy Christian Priesthood Examined Christian Worship Church Architecture church buildings church fathers church meeting church planters Clement of Alexandria clergy congregation Constantine contemporary church Corinthians culture D. L. Moody dress early church elders Ephesians Eucharist Evangelism EVERY-MEMBER FUNCTIONING F. F. Bruce faith first-century fourth century Frank Viola gathering George Barna God's gospel Grand Rapids Greek Gregory History of Christianity Holy house church Ibid idea institutional church Jesus Christ John laity Lord Lord's Supper Luther minister Ministry in Historical Niebuhr and Williams Norrington order of worship ordination organic church pagan christianity pastor Paul philosophy prayer preaching Press priest Protestant Worship pulpit Puritans Reformation religious Roman sacred Schaff Scripture seminary Senn sermon singing songs spiritual Sunday school teaching Temple Tertullian Testament church theology tithe tradition verses word Worship and Church