With the release of Pagan Christianity? and Reimaging Church in the past two years, Frank Viola's message has brought about a great deal of commotion in Western Christianity. His straight-forward manner will confront fan and critic alike with the theme of his writing. His writing style is full of informing content without being overly intellectual. Viola manages to grab the attention of the reader and keeps it until the conclusion.

In his latest book, From Eternity to Here, Frank Viola expresses his passion for, what he calls, "God's eternal purpose." Stepping out of a self-focused view of Christianity, that views all events in relation to personal benefit, Viola paints a picture of the heart of Father before the Fall. What was on the heart of God before humanity fell? What remains God's primary purpose in the scope of eternity? These questions are addressed throughout the book in a biblically-sound, narrative manner.

The Book and its Topic

Oops… Here comes trouble! Pagan Christianity? by Frank Viola and George Barna is going to cause a stir. In fact, anyone frequenting the blogosphere will be well aware of the ripples it has caused already.

So, what's the big problem? Well... Frank and George are taking on the institutional church. Much like Martin Luther did. In England a good couple of centuries ago, these two would have been facing execution for their claims.

Like many Christians today, Frank and George are tired of going to church, and sitting passively in the pews, watching “a show”. They realize that disciples of Jesus are the Church, and they want to be the Church in the way they were meant to. They are not crazy rebels spreading rumors in order to do the Body of Jesus harm...

They are revolutionaries trying to change the future and trying to get Jesus’ idea of Church and our idea of Church on the same page.

Pagan Christianity? was first released by Frank Viola in 2003. This 2nd version is revised and updated, and this time the book sports the name of Christian research heavyweight George Barna. Barna is a respected and influential voice in church conversation, and author of Revolution to which this edition of Pagan Christianity is a sequel. All good news for Viola, and for the Church at large, since Barna’s name promises to get the truths communicated here spread faster and wider than before.

The Book and its Topic

The Revolution has started. Welcome to God’s Revolution!

What a book! And what an event. I am involved in a full-scale, world-wide revolt and I didn’t know about it. Here I am feeling guilty for not getting much out of old-school church – and meanwhile it is all part of God’s design.

George Barna tells this somewhat risky and unpopular story with excellence. As always, this little book is backed by some serious research and hard work. First of all, it is interesting! Then it is informative, helpful and practical. Oh, and did I mention it is small and easy to get through? My type of book!

It sheds new light on what is going on in the world (yes, George, the revolt is spreading beyond the US borders). Barna starts by explaining this upheaval. Then he takes a look at what God expects of the church (from the Bible) and he states the seven main passions of Revolutionaries (incidentally the seven attributes that made the church of Acts so successful).

The Book and its Topic

Jim and Casper Go to Church is a different book to what you have become accustomed to. This is a conversation. A conversation between a believer and an atheist.

Jim Henderson (Jim) and Matt Casper (Casper) go on a strange mission. They visit numerous American churches to see how these congregations and their services rate in the eyes of a non-Christian. Casper rates them, and he actually sounds like someone who knows what he is talking about.

Unfortunately, his opinions are the opinions of one person. We have to take the book and the conversation as that. Luckily, the authors never claim that it is anything else, and every book out there (bar the Bible - depending on your beliefs) is someone’s opinion.

I don't want to list here the churches that they visit. That would be taking something away from your reading experience. It also makes you want to go and get the book to soothe your curiosity, doesn’t it? What I can say, is that I thought it was a good all-round mix, and I can’t think of any other churches that I wish they visited, except maybe Rob Bell’s Mars Hill.