Pagan Christianity (by Frank Viola) Reviewed
"Have you ever wondered why we Christians do what we do for church every Sunday
morning?" This inquiry is the lead sentence on the back cover of a 2002 book
published by Present Testimony Ministry. The book is Pagan Christianity
by Frank Viola.
Viola writes in a style typical of iconoclasts and hyperactive reformers. He has
discovered something almost everybody else has missed and he seeks to be our
teacher. Before he lays out his agenda, you know he has one. With inflated
urgency he uncovers the apostasy he has discovered in (to name a few sins): the
order of worship, preachers and preaching, church buildings, dressing up for
services and the order of New Testament epistles. The title Pagan Christianity
reflects his thesis that all such things have no basis in the Scriptures but
were appropriated over time into the modern practice of "churchianity." The
promotional blurb makes the claim: "This book is reserved for those who are
ready to embark on an eye-opening venture that challenges every aspect of their
church experience as well as offering a better alternative." Out with the old,
in with the new.
Frank Viola is "a high school Psychology and Philosophy teacher," who in "his
spare time...plants house churches, speaks at church-life conferences, and
authors books on Christ and His church." On one of the opening pages he says
that he "left the religious system." One of his arguments against preaching is
"it suffocates mutual ministry." And as he debates the case against church
buildings, he implies the friendlier, warmer atmosphere of a house (the sofa
over the pew). So the agenda emerges. He is a destroyer of one system in the
interests of promoting another. This phenomenon (the house church movement) is
built on certain common premises: (1) smaller is better, (2) informality {though
defined by the leaders} is preferable over order, (3) spontaneous/conversational
teaching is superior to a prepared orderly presentation, (4) diversity is
celebrated, (5) breaking from "tradition," and (6) opposition to pulpits,
buildings and treasuries. All of these items (like a systematic theology) show
up in some form in Viola's book, urged upon the reader as a warmer, more
spiritual atmosphere and derived from the New Testament (not as a "manual," but
more like a love-letter hermeneutic).
Viola's proof is highly touted on the back cover and in promotional material:
"Viola proves his point by documenting every claim he makes." Well, there are
abundant footnotes. Yet proof lies not in the quantity of footnotes but the
content. Often, the author quotes himself! Or he quotes from others who have
said what he is saying. There is a conspicuous deficiency in Scripture citations
and no attempt to expound passages. He makes only passing reference to key
passages on the subjects addressed. He is heavy on what a passage does not say,
but usually silent on the real meaning. Some of his historical references bear
some scrutiny, but he falls far short of "documenting every claim he makes."
He is critical and cynical about the claim: "The New Testament is our guide for
faith and practice," but then seeks to make his case by quoting almost every
book in antiquity except the New Testament, with weighty dependence on modern
writers who also "left the religious system." What we need on these subjects is
serious, objective and prayerful exposition of Scripture. No doubt, there are
subjects and issues to be critically visited, but with Scripture in hand. That
will serve us better. (I just remembered - I was engaged in conversation with a
prominent reformer 30 years ago who was pleading for an emphasis on "grace" that
I had reason to question. When I asked him where I could find this "approach" he
was so zealous about he said, "read my books." I was really asking him for a
higher authority! I have found this characteristic of militant reformers, citing
their own writings as proof of their own writings!)
Like most reformers, Viola manages to express some valid issues that need
attention. He well states the clergy-laity distinction. He is clear about the
disastrous domination of clergymen, the official function of "pastors" who
enforce denominational creed and tradition, and even speaks with validity
against the Charismatic movement and its' impact in modern worship "styles." I
believe there is veneration of religious architecture that can cripple us both
spiritually and financially, though Viola goes way beyond questioning an
expediency. He well shows the origin of things like the altar call and choral
presentations. Likewise, he is on the mark regarding infant baptism, sprinkling
and the "sinner's prayer." These portions of Viola's work will provoke thought
and study that can have good result, even though he is lacking in providing
scriptural evidence and stuck on the claim of pagan origin.
In his firestorm against preachers and preaching he is particularly contentious
against the public sermon. Ignoring the extensive direct evidence of the role of
preaching (Acts, 1, 2 Timothy, Titus), he utters his prejudice against public
preaching. He says: "Ironically, 'the Book' knows nothing of a sermon." He lays
the blame on pagans and puritans (in that order). To make clear his resistance
he says again: "...that the sermon does not have a shred of Biblical merit to
support its existence..."
His opposition to the sermon is a function of his firmly held mutual ministry,
house church model. He argues that the sermon is a "one-way affair," that
"produces passivity," "lames the church from functioning," "suffocates mutual
ministry" and "smothers open participation." He is painting with a wide brush
here, and covering up things of value in the sweep.
Did Peter preach a sermon on the Day of Pentecost? What did that sermon about
Jesus Christ and Him crucified produce? "Then those who gladly received his word
were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them," and
"with many other words he testified and exhorted them," (see Acts 2:22-47). This
was no "one-way affair!" God's truth was presented with power and people were
persuaded to participate. The sermon generated activity in the hearts of people
who became obedient to God, who functioned without suffocation (by sermons) and
who had favor with all the people. All of that sounds good to me.
I understand the "excessive and pathological dependence on the clergy," but I'm
not willing to classify all preaching within that condemnation. (This is the
same old stuff - human abuse is cited as the reason to cast out something
legitimate when used properly.) When we tell people what the Word of God says
and challenge the right response, there is no excess or pathology in that! Let's
expose and condemn the real problem, without throwing out the legitimate.
And I'm wondering about something. Frank Viola has written a book. What is it
that lifts his book out of the condemned category? What if someone read his book
to a group of people (he does affirm his book to be needed truth)? Would the
reading of his book stifle spiritual health and create a pathological dependence
on his writings or books in general? Nonsense.
Don't overlook, Viola is a high school teacher. When he speaks to a class in a
building with attention focused on him, does he consider that to be an exercise
that is passive, tradition bound and pagan? Likewise, he "speaks at church-life
conferences!" Apparently the kind of speaking he does he values in some way. Yet
he reacts with outrage when someone stands before an audience and directs their
attention to the text of Scripture in an orderly form without interruption. This
is the excess and decoration of a militant reformer, who is in bondage to his
system while attacking another. It is gimmickry and passion born in the
contention of a reformers narrow mentality, not based on the content of
Scripture.
Behind the charm and sophistry of these reformers there is an arrogant spirit.
Mr. Viola wants us to know that "the NT is not a manual for church practice."
Yet, he wants us to be led by "the light that is within you!" When all of that
has been said, the footnote on the last page of the book is truly the bottom
line. He says in this small print entry: "If you plan to leave the institutional
church, I strongly recommend that you read the next volume in this series: So
You Want To Start A House Church? First-Century Styled Church Planting For Today
(www.ptmin.org/start.htm). It will give you the next step."
Unbelievable! He steers us away from the New Testament, then recommends his next
book as our next step. Now here is my recommendation. Don't let any man dictate
"the next step." Not Viola, Berkley or any man. Open the Bible. Read what it
says, and let God direct your steps (Psa. 37:23; 119:133).
Good Recently Published Resources To Study The House Church Movement:
"The House Church Movement," Harry Osborne; in The
Renewing Of Your Mind, 2004 Truth Magazine Lectures, GOT Foundation, 2004.
"The House Church Movement," Jim Deason; True Worship, 2205 FC Lectures.
By Warren E. Berkley
The Front Page
From Expository Files 13.1 January 2006
