I read the book when I was on vacation – bad idea (I was devastated by the book – kind of ruined vacation) and I almost resigned – (I should have realized when a publisher has a warning in front of the book that this was a book even they were uncomfortable with) - but i was determined to do whatever God wanted me to, even if that means that i throw away my ministry that i felt so called to - but as I wrestled things through and talked to very wise men and dear pastors I began to realize a few things but i talked to very few people about it. Then one day a young pastor confessed the same devastating effects had happened to him and i realized i needed to express some of the things i had discovered. If you are searching for answers here is a place to start but the wrestling i went through let me know that i was willing to give it all up – to put it on the altar and drive a knife through it if God desired it. I have nothing against Frank Viola and realize he is search for solutions but i simply believe he makes some jumps in logic that are faulty.
1-God has no problem redeeming pagan things – in fact I think we gentiles when pagan before the lord redeemed us – and in fact God has recaptured a number of things in our day – Christmas and Easter are two examples – they were both pagan and yet I doubt the authors avoid celebrating these “recaptured” holidays
2- Preaching may have come from Greek origins but that does not mean it is wrong – we live in a “Greek’ culture – it seems logical to use a form of communication that works well in that culture —- If I was in the middle east in biblical times I would used a different style - just like if I was in a tiny nomadic village I would use a different style (around a campfire) but in our culture this still seems to be a powerful way of communicating (look at the presidential campaigns). Jesus, in fact, used many different styles – on the sermon on the mount he seems to use a oratory style, other times parables, other times miracles. In fact, no command is given as to which style should be used.
3.– the “House” churches mentioned in the book of Acts is “descriptive” not “prescriptive”. The reason for this that a church in each culture will look different — some Indian culture lived in a giant common house called a lodge and each family had it’s own room — what about college dorm rooms? — what about nomads? — What about ancient wealthy land owner that had huge open rooms that would allow 100 people to meet? -
4- The people in biblical times had no choice but to meet in homes — there were no school gyms, college auditoriums, movie houses, lecture halls, etc. So were churches in a home out of necessity or was it part of their plan? Scripture never makes a demand that we must meet in homes or forbids us from meeting in buildings.
5– the “spirit led” meetings in the book of Acts may not look like what the Pagan book is describing – In fact the disciples set up deacons so that they could devote themselves to the word — that seems to imply that the people were coming to hear what the disciples had uncovered in scripture – I admit that interaction after the sermon would be helpful and needs to be better woven into the service or small groups, but once again scripture makes no demand for it.
6– This was the most powerful point for me. Pagan forms (preaching, buildings, pastors, etc) do not mean those forms are evil or force worship of pagan gods – Paul was ok with eating meat offered to idols – as long as you were not worshiping idols. meat is meat - buildings are buildings – sermons are sermons – the form is not sacred nor is it pagan – it comes down to the heart of those using those things.
– Interestingly I was drawn to the book because I realize that we have made certain things in the church sacred – I remember a woman mad at our church because we had no kneeing bench and did not give altar calls every week (which is another discussion) – I have had people mad when I point out in our modern culture Sunday morning is a horrible time to have church – it would be far better to meet Saturday nights – (when they have argued that Sunday is the lord’s day – I point out that technically according to the bible Sunday starts Saturday night after sunset) – so in this day and age we need as a church to re-examine all of our assumptions – most of those assumptions are not sacred – but Viola’s problem is that he labels them pagan and therefore evil. He also is guilty of replacing them with his own sacred cows.
We live in a time where a generation is searching for churches that they can encounter God – it is not about form – it is not about buildings – it is about a group of transformed people that are filled with the Holy Spirit. A building will not do that. A style of teaching will not do it – Only God will do it and nothing will hinder that. Well lets start here and see where we go from here.
