Refuting "Pagan Christianity" and the organic house church movement, Part 1: Are sermons biblical?

An exposition of Nehemiah 8:1-8

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Frank Viola
• George Barna
• pagan christianity
• house church
• organic church
• Nehemiah
• Ezra
• sermons
• worship
• exegesis
• expository preaching
• pulpits

[welldoneministry]

Men inspired, program-driven "churches" are in the final days. The "last days" organized churches will either apostate, aligning themselved to antichrist, or will evolve back to the model that was established in the book of Acts. The coming trials will expedite this reality.

Be filled with The Spirt and He will guide you into all truth!

[4SmallGov]

John 4: 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

[caracasmc]

To the author of the video. You are misinformed. Viola has never been against "sermons" or "preaching of the word" in and of itself. In other books he has written he explains that there were many types of meetings in the NT and some were evangelistic, others were apostolic, where an apostle or apostolic worker would deliver the message, etc. What Viola/Barna are confronting is the sermon as the FOCAL POINT of modern christianity. You completely misunderstood the book.

[esgatch]

No doubt Constantine propagated pagan practise, but church elders and teachers will always teach and preach as they are led by the Spirit of God, whether they are standing in a pulpit or sitting in a chair. Viola and Barna are not church leadership. The apostles would ignore Viola and Barna.

[NZKiwee]

I think you'll find that Frank Viola & George Barna in the co-authored book "Pagan Christianity" aren't actually against the word being preached to an audience of listeners, but are questioning the practice of week after week, month after month, year after year to a passive body of Christ listening to a professional clergy. This oratory practice was very much a 'Pagan' Greco-Roman profession by the Sophists before the time of Christ.

[revglt]

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Acts 20:28 (KJV)

[l3ahmr1]

The people are not the pastor's flock, sir. They are the Lord's flock. There is no scriptural precedent for the pastor being the chief shepherd teaching from the pulpit while the brethren are passive. Jesus is the Shepherd and His Spirit in all believers gifts the brethren for the edification of the entire church. This duty is not supposed to be monopolized by the pastor (aided by a choir and/or a worship leader).

[l3ahmr1]

Sorry about that. My first comment submission contained an error. I had omitted the word "Not" in the second sentence.

[l3ahmr1]

virmaior and caracsmc are correct. This video does NOT accurately relate the views of the authors of Pagan Christianity. There is no scriptural foundation for having a paid pastor who preaches a sermon every Sunday. There is good evidence that the practices of the modern institutional church DO stifle the work of the Holy Spirit. I challenge all believers to read it. Never intended to stand alone. Must also read Reimagining Church!

[l3ahmr1]

virmaior and caracsmc are correct. This video does accurately relate the views of the authors of Pagan Christianity. There is no scriptural foundation for having a paid pastor who preaches a sermon every Sunday. There is good evidence that the practices of the modern institutional church DO stifle the work of the Holy Spirit. I challenge all believers to read it. Never intended to stand alone. Must also read Reimagining Church!