UPDATE **BOOK REVIEW** Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices

UPDATE:

After talking with my brother about this book, I wanted to come and clarify why I think it's such an important read. Mostly, I have come to realize that I have been too often putting tradition over truth and focusing on too many of the wrong things.

One of the main criticisms I hear about Christians is that we are "blind sheep". I always lashed out at that in my heart. I have no problem being called a "sheep" in Christ's flock, but I never want to be a blind follower.

After my brother and I talked for close to 2 hours about this book, I have had to take a step back and re-examine much about myself when it comes to my faith and worship. I wish now that I could go back and re-do some conversations I have had with people who had questions about my faith.

If you are a Christian (or just an observer), you may wonder why we do what we do as far as how we worship. You would think we Christians would know the answer but I sure didn't before now. I think that I have always had questions about the "why" of Christian worship but never looked hard for answers.

1. Why do we dress up for church? In the COGIC church that I attended in my youth, dressing up was a really big deal. I remember that women had dresses that were only for Sunday. And for Easter or Mother's Day... Oh, boy.

2. Why does the clergy have special clothing - robes and collars, etc? Again, in the COGIC church, some ministers went way overboard with fancy colors and patterns. Some of them looked like college graduates with every kind of regalia known to man.

3. Why are choirs and music such a big part of most services? My late husband and many of his peers who played for the church were musicians of professional-level ability. And Whitney Houston was a slouch next to some of the singers in our choir.

4. Why do we put so much into the church building? There are many jokes among church-raised comedians about how many times money is requested in a service. There's the Building Fund, Outreach Fund, a fund for sending kids to summer camp, a fund for replacing the AC or heating or fixing the pews, one for getting the pastor and his wife an anniversary gift, and on and on. Smart congregants would separate their offerings before entering the church. 

5. Why do most of us treat our clergy as if they are not human and fallible? I clearly remember people going full fan-boy or girl when they were chosen to provide the "first family" with a between-services meal on Sundays. Some people went without or with less all week so that they could splurge on the Sunday meal for "pastor".

6. What is up with the guilt over tithing? I never understood tithing and rarely do tithe in addition to giving an offering at the church service.

After all these questions about the roots of worship, I made a list of questions to spend time thinking hard about:

1. Am I worshipping Jesus or am I worshipping traditions? In my case, I think it has been both. I left the church I went to as a young person but I fall right into the ways and conduct of whatever church I do attend. If pants are not allowed for women, I wear a dress. If communion is done a certain way, I follow along. 

2. Do I realize just how I am seen (as a Christian) by people outside my faith? And have I been honest in answering the questions of skeptics?

3. What else am I doing (as far as my faith and my Christian life) that I have not closely examined?

4. If I found the points made in this book so relatable, why have I never put much thought into them? This is a good question. I think that at the back of my mind, I did wonder about many traditions.

For a little over the past year, I have been going deep into Bible study. I didn't even think clearly about why the New Testament letters were written and to whom. As I have always done in reading the Bible, I just loved what I love about them and prayed about what I didn't understand. I realize now that I have been depriving myself of so much by not paying closer attention to context.

One thing I have done in the last few years is not attending church as a member. I occasionally attend with a friend or family member. I have not found a church that feels "right" to me. (I know. That's a lame reason not to go to church.) Mostly, though, I find that I get more from rigorous Bible study. 

The one question I am still trying to answer is how I can go forward with all the insight I got from reading this book. I know that there is a followup of sorts called 

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ORIGINAL POST

I love this book. I have questions and things to research and explore further but, basically, this book was a little bit life-changing for me.

(By the way, I got a used copy but you can find it new. It comes in different formats - audio, Kindle, paper- and hardback, and spiral.)

It's hard for me to articulate why this book impacted my way of thinking. I guess it's that the authors addressed so many of my personal concerns about the church and the way Christians behave. 

I truly think that this is a really good read for Atheists and others who currently have a problem with what they see of Christian "religion". Most of the people I know who object to or seriously question Christianity are really objecting to or questioning the behavior of the Christians they see and know.

This book covers the evolution (hah!) of many of the things we do as far as how we Christians treat the religion of Christianity. I have always said that I don't practice religion because I don't think of my faith in and reliance on Jesus Christ as a "religion". It's part of me. It's not what I do but what I am.

One of the first problems I had with the church I attended as a young person was how church was "done" if that makes sense. As a COGIC church, there was a way that services were conducted and a way that the members behaved in church, and the way that they treated the leaders of the church. It was all more worship of man and rules than worship of Christ.

One thing that was (and probably is) very common among the COGIC churches I knew is that the minister was very revered among the members. For example:

• The "first family" of the church (the minister's family) was treated as very special. Their kids were treated like dignitaries and everyone clamored to be in their orbit. If you were seen as part of their inner circle, you were envied.
• Members usually gave the minister and his wife elaborate anniversary gifts. I'm talking cars and cash and expensive jewelry. 
• In one church, the members would take turns having the first family over for Sunday dinner and they were treated like rock stars.

Another thing about the COGIC church was how members prided themselves on dressing especially well. Elaborate hats and hairdressing were popular in some churches; men wore expensive suits and cologne. And during special times or events - Mother's Day, Easter, etc - some churches looked like an Ebony Fashion Fair show. I always hated Easter service in some churches because I couldn't see anything for all the fancy hats. English ladies during Royal Ascot have nothing on black church ladies in the hat arena on Easter Sunday.

Some things that the book brings up never crossed my mind until I read about them. For instance, I never wondered about where the idea of Sunday School came from; why music is such a big part of services; why the various clergy dress the way they do; or why there is such a thing as clergy vs laypeople.

Oh, this book is an eye-opener.

Of course, my rebellious nature sprang up at the first few pages. I felt so vindicated about some things. Then I had to calm down. Because this book is not about stoking rebellion or rejection of "church". It's more about clarifying our focus on how and why we worship.

One of the more urgent things I am encouraged to do after reading this book is to find a copy of the Bible written chronologically and without chapter and verse markings.

This book wants us to worship deeper and more meaningfully without getting tangled up in the manmade inventions that have become such traditions.

So, yeah, I do recommend this book. As a matter of fact, one of my goals for 2022 is to get a copy to certain people I know. These are the people in my life who are looking for Jesus but only seeing the people who worship him in church. They don't see the church of believers because all they see are the buildings and the scandal and the complicated mess that we have made out of being followers of Christ the Savior.

We are only human and it is sometimes our nature to add so many ingredients to the dish that we can't remember what we started cooking.

Peace

--Free

Something to Study On: Age of Deceit

 There is an interesting series of videos from the Koinonia House YouTube channel called "The Age of Deceit". While watching Part 6, my brain was so flooded with questions that I had to slow down the playback speed so I could take notes.

Here is the video:

Here are some of the questions and thoughts that I noted and will be studying:

• How then should churches be set up?
• Jesus had the first "mega-church" when he was teaching thousands. He didn't need anything to "entertain" the people; he simply spoke.
• I need to check out that World Christian Encyclopedia (which I'd never heard of before now).
• Perhaps one of the things that "turn off" some seeking people from Christianity is the way we have complicated things with churches and worship.
• Is it Nicolaitan then to have Bishops and a variety of clergy - or anything other than the teachers/preachers?

I keep a notebook of questions and thoughts like these because my memory is so poor. When I am doing Bible Study, my notebook helps remind me of things I wanted to know more about. It's been a very helpful habit.

This video series is another one of the reminders that we need to always be discerning and prayerful about everything.

I just wanted to share this with you.

Peace

--Free