Customer Reviews
Interesting information poor conclusions - By: Matthew Kottman, 06 Aug 2008 
The fact that George Barna is the co-author should be an indicator that this book is going to have problems. He was the one who wrote the book (as I remember it) "Marketing the Church". He seems to flip-flop his views quite often. He's a statistician, so his views are often more shaped by polls & statistics than Scripture.
Viola's view is that virtually the entire way that church is done is both secular & pagan & fights against church fellowship. He does bring about a few points worth looking at, but mixedin with that are proof-texts out of context to prove his points (interesting that he devotes a section of the book to the danger of prooftexting).
Allin all, although a few points worth meditation were brought out, I was very turned off by the way Scriptures were poorly quoted, for example, Viola quotes 1Co 14:26 as proof that a church meeting should be everyone teaching each other, everyone getting to leadin song (this person leads this song, that person that one), everyone speakingin a tongue. But the obvious context of the passage is Paul is rebuking the church for functioningin this way & so it actually works against his point rather than prove it, but taken out of context, it becomes a proof-text. That says to me that there is greater concernin making a point than keeping the full integrity of Scripture.
Would I recommend this book? No. Although it did make me think about some things & ask myself why I do certain things, for the most part my conclusions about body life are pretty much the same as before. I appreciate the fact that Viola wants to see the church engage more as a body than an event, & I don't mind him doing church the way he does, but he suggests Scripture is on his side (which again I cannot see any real support for this) & that if we don't see the church functioning the way he does church, we are caught upin Greek/Roman thought & paganism.
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 movein 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 basisin 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 doin '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 all religious traditions, as all arein 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 all startedin 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 allows the members of His body the freedom to function?' (p250)
Each of Viola/Barna's focus of study have been weighedin 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 & challenging 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 totally 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.
