The practices of the first-century church were the natural and spontaneous expressions of the divine life that indwelt the early Christians. And those practices were solidly grounded in the timeless teachings and principles of the New Testament. By contrast, a great number of the practices in many contemporary churches are in conflict with those biblical principles and teachings. When we dig deeper, we are compelled to ask: Where did the practices of the contemporary church come from? The answer is disturbing: Most of them were borrowed from pagan culture. Such a statement short-circuits the minds of many Christians when they hear it. But it is unmovable, historical fact, as this book will demonstrate. (From: Pagan Christianity? page xix)
This paragraph illustrates the frustrations I have with this book; its uncritical view of the early church and implied rejection of most of Christian history. However, its importance should not be underestimated. Many Christians are questioning the practices of contemporary churches, concluding their origins are in imperial Rome. Would that this book were called 'Imperial Christianity?'. It is hard to deny the relationship between Christianity and imperialism has had a long and complex history. Nevertheless, I would want to respond to Viola's book with a number of detailed questions; I am not convinced it is entirely reliable. It is worth reading Viola alongside In Search of Paul by John Dominic Crossan . I am attending the 2010 Hugh Price Hughes lectures at Hinde Street Methodist Church. The two lecturers, Morna Hooker and Frances Young, are planning a book on this topic in the autumn. It will cover the issues in Viola's book with a more scholarly approach, identifying the complex nature of these arguments.
Religion has always been used by imperialists, like Constantine, to control the lives and beliefs of the people. The first church was a political movement against political control of the religious order of the day. As it became more successful the imperialists bought into it. To what extent are we aware of how our faith is formed not by the spirit but by an imperialist mindset?
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