Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola

Warning do not read this book unless you want to change your beliefs and Christian practices. The book historically documents where most traditional church practices come from. Many of these practices do not come from the Bible. These practices came into the Christian faith primarily through the Roman Emperor Constantine.

Here are some areas that Frank addresses in the book. Christian’s first met in homes and then changed to meeting in buildings. Worship services became controlled by clergy instead of being lay people participatory meetings. Frank shows that the sermon came from Greek culture and how it harms the church. Sermons replaced the mutual ministry of the believers to one another. The book also shows how pastors are obstacles to every believer functioning. Constantine caused the glorification of the clergy over the laity. In the book, Frank shows that paying local clergy is not Biblical tithing. The book also advocates that the Lord’s Supper is a meal and not a ritual. Frank says in the New Testament Church every church was a seminary. He also has a good chapter of what the early church was like. The present day house church can follow this pattern.