Thoughts on Pagan Christianity

I've been reading Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola and George Barna. I have to tell you, I'm not too sure about this book. Granted, I'm only 3 chapters in, but if there premise is 100% on the mark I may as well stop going to church.

But first, a gripe. Is it evenly humanly possible to make the footnotes any smaller? I'm not as young as I used to be and I don't even try to read them. It's a shame because with the amount of footnoting that went on here it would be neat to follow the research trail.

Is church the way we do it wrong? Have we simply incorporated non-Christian (pagan) culture into our buildings and our worship services? Viola likes to use the term "organic" church. What precisely does that mean, and will I find out later in the book?

If there's one thing I've learned, there are a lot of very different and very valid forms of worship. This past weekend we were at Acquire the Fire in GR. I love ATF because it's one of the few times I have the freedom to dance in worship. It's not a pretty picture, but it's joyous freedom. Why can't I do this on a Sunday morning?

I'll continue in the book, but I am reading with reservation. I think that's fair. Just because the book makes definitive statements about the pagan origins of church doesn't mean they are right. The authors are, after all, not inspired, just good researchers. And I'll continue to worship on Sunday morning, not as a spectator, but as someone who stands in awe of being part of this communion of the saints.

Or have I been wrong all these years?

I'll keep you posted.

Mild at Heart

The church I am now attending is offering a Men's Bible study based on books by John Eldredge, the author of many books including Wild at Heart. I read that one and I have to admit something to you.
That's not me.
Not that I haven't dones enormously stupid things in my life, particularly when I was youngish. At times I took tremendous risks with little thought to the consequences, like climbing rocks in Palisades Park along the Mississippi or along the banks of Devils Lake in Wisconsin. Like straddling the edge of the waterfall in a State Park in southern Illinois, a place where later that same day someone fell and got seriously injured on the rock face below.
Great story. While traveling back down along the trail at the Palisades I found a cave in a rock that let you enter on the top, descend inside, and emerge 30 feet below. Being youngish at the time I took the short-cut and emerged out the bottom. But I was unaware that my twin brother was on the top of the rock engaging in one of those time-honored guy things, dropping stones. You guessed it, I stepped out and took a stone to the noggin.
Aynways, I'm not youngish any more and when I read John's book I thought, that is definitely not me. I don't want to whitewater raft without paddles or a canoe; I would rather swim at a local pool with lifeguards all around. I no longer have the desire to save the damsel in distress; I won my princess years ago. My battle lust has left me; I've slain enough dragons (often unwillingly) in my life and am tired of the mess.
I would rather make sure my flower garden is weed-free. I can't think of anything more enjoyable than snuggling with my new granddaughter Megs and playing "who's got the binky". I love to snuggle with my older grandchildren Em adn Luke watching a movie on a cold Michigan morning than be out snow-shoeing in this mess. I love my Saturday morning breakfast at Bob Evans with Mary. When I go fishing it's at the local quarry and I am more interested in catching some relaxation than fish.
I want to start a new movement, write a response to John Eldredge, called Mild at Heart.
Will you joing me?