Darryl's Blog
Bill Kinnon on Pagan Christianity
I had lunch with Bill Kinnon yesterday. He's an amazing guy and I feel blessed to be able to enjoy a bite on the Danforth with him. Bill has finally reviewed (sort of) Pagan Christianity, but his comments apply to much more than this book:
I'm not the most gracious person on the block. It's not my strong suit - and perhaps I respond to the lack of graciousness in Viola's writings because of my own failings in that area. But I strongly believe that had an irenic spirit infused PC - starting perhaps with its title - then the many important points the book makes and the questions it asks about the present shape of the church as we know it may have been more easily received.
We are at a liminal point in the life of the church. I strongly believe that profound change is taking place. There are those folk who want to hang on to the post-war CEO-driven church model, others who firmly have their feet planted in Calvin's Geneva, others who think the only truth can be found in the magisterium and are madly swimming the Tiber and still others who want to throw it all away and return to the glorious church of the 1st Century. (Corinth? Galatia? Ephesus?)
It is a time when we need to be infused with the Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ for each other and for the broken world around us.
Len also has a good post, and a comment worth reading at Bill's: "I think at times we make a list of the ideal presentation of ekklesial reality. If you only had these things, and not those things, WOW.. we would really see the kingdom of God take shape. But it just don't work that way. God remains sovereign and free..."
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Darryl,
Was great to be with you and enjoy a good lunch together. I look forward to the next time - and the possibility of a theology pub.
My fear with the discussion around Pagan Christianity is that we will once again end up like Bond's Martini - shaken not stirred.
Hi,
I can appreciate Bill's concern for a more irenic tone, but overall, I didn't feel that PC was mean-spirited or harsh. True, there may be words or sentences that could have been better expressed. (Not sure how much editorial input was provided/exercised by the publisher) However, I think it's clear that the authors have the Church's best interests and God's glory at heart, even if you may disagree with their analysis or conclusions.
As I wrote in my review, it's important to keep in mind the book's aim and scope before criticizing it. The authors make it clear that their book was not meant to be the final or complete word on church life. It is specifically about tracing the roots of modern church practices. Within this framework, I don't think that the title is necessarily that bad, though I'm sure it was chosen to be somewhat provocative.
I think the book achieves its limited goal(s) quite well. If there are specific methodological flaws in their historical analysis and reconstruction, then fine, point them out. Whatever the shortcomings of the book, I think it serves a useful purpose in challenging the dominant status quo of how we "do church" and lead us to re-think things and creatively explore alternatives.
Surely, at least some of the criticisms they level are valid, and any careful observer of the evangelical scene would have to agree that some of these practices are potentially detrimental to vibrant body life in our churches. For example, Doug Pagitt, in his book "Reimaginng Preaching" was at least willing to explore alternatives to just the standard one-way monologue.
Anyhow, I think ultimately the book has a beneficial purpose -- in stimulating conversation at the very least.
Blessings,
Paul