"Of Plymouth Plantation is the firsthand account of William Bradford's history of the Plymouth Settlement of 1608-1650. This is no watered down, modern revisionist, cartoon version of history. This is the real thing. For many of us who remember this important part of our Christian American heritage as only a sketchy blur of names, dates, places, and events (e.g., Squanto, Myles Standish, John Alden and Priscilla), I invite you to read this 1909 modern English translation. Governor Bradford brings to life the hardships and struggles the Pilgrims endured for the cause of religious freedom. Whether we live in times of peace and prosperity, or impending disaster, it is good to pause and reflect upon the lives of those Christian brothers and sisters who faced the unknown with courage and resolve. The Pilgrims believed that God was in control and active in the lives of those who diligently sought him.Their example stands as a great testimony for us today. The nature of the persecution they endured in Europe and the details of their journey in search of freedom in the New World are clearly presented from a decidedly Protestant perspective. This book includes Bradford's 42-year historical account and numerous rare excerpts from letters and correspondence of the time." - Andreola Review
I purchased this book many years ago {while still home schooling our children} and read only a small portion before tucking it away on the shelf. Time escaped me and knowing that Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I dove back in, starting at the first page.
I am amazed at how Mr. Bradford's outlook on his surroundings is so much like where our country is today - the very thing he and many other parents were trying to evade. I have taken great pleasure in reading his own penned words, and super encouraged, anchoring in the one and only "plumline" Christ Himself. In the 41 years of my life, I have attended a number of churches. Hungering after God's word and like minded believers who's only desire is to walk with and for Him. Sadly I have experienced a great deal of "religion" sprinkled with only a little fellowship in Christ. It has been a great discouragement at times, but as I have prayed for fellowship in Christ, He has knit with in my life, believers who love Him, serve Him and live rather than preach His word.
The most authentic (I did not say perfect-because I am not perfect and I would screw it all up if left to my own devices) lovers of Christ, I have actually encountered ... outside the building called "church."
Our family has been home churching now for several months and even though we have experienced our own set of trials and challenges during this time, there has been a freedom in Christ and a blessing of fellowship in Him, that was imaginable to me before we chose this route.
Another book I am reading is :
Authors Endorsements
"Most contemporary Christians are massively ignorant as to how the church got to where it is today and of how much current church practice is due simply to accumulated tradition, with little or no roots in Scripture. This book provides a useful service in peeling back the layers of tradition, showing the origins of much that we today call "church." Christians who want to be biblically faithful, regardless of their particular tradition or church form, can learn and benefit from the book."
- Howard Snyder, Professor of History and Theology of Mission, Asbury Theological Seminary, author of The Problem of Wineskins and The Community of the King.
"PAGAN CHRISTIANITY is a landmark, a true milestone in the overall task of bringing in a new style of responsible, interactive Christianity to replace the old, severely paganized ecclesiastical forms. Frank has done us a great favor, drawing together revealing tidbits from hundreds of sources to create a continuous picture of the formation of today's institutional church. There's nothing like it in print. It is now THE book on church history from the point of view of the underground, open church."
- James Rutz, author of Megashift and The Open Church.
"PAGAN CHRISTIANITY contains a wide variety of interesting and helpful historical information of which most Christians - or non-Christians - will be completely unaware. The book identifies - in part or in whole - the pagan roots of many of our current church practices, as well as indicates some borrowed from earlier Jewish or, occasionally, more recent Customs."
- Robert Banks, New Testament scholar, author of Paul's Idea of Community and The Church Comes Home.
"This feisty book attacks the incipient paganism that has been absorbed into historic Christianity over the years. It exposes the syncretistic weak spots in what we assume to be basic in our way of doing church. Thoroughly iconoclastic, it is also at the same time a good apologetic for the house church movement which has strong restorationist impulses. My guess is that it will anger some readers and thrill others. I am one of the latter. Whatever, it won’t be too easy to dismiss as it is really well researched and substantiated. I think it is definitely worth the read even if I do think it is a tad purist in tone. Just don't drop it–it is likely to explode."
- Alan Hirsch, author of The Forgotten Ways and The Shaping of Things to Come.
"As a Christian Artist/Musician I've had a chance to experience many different kinds of churches all over the world, from huge cathedral services to bizarre charismatics and strange Third World stuff to stiff denominationals-- and good and bad "house churches". For nearly 35 years in North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia I've been involved with almost every conceivable kind of Christian expression. I've even served on staff as Worship Pastor at a large church here in the U.S. The result? I've already learned from study and experience what Frank Viola and George Barna have proven by historical documentation in PAGAN CHRISTIANITY: The traditional model of how we "do church" is very wrong -- and it's strangling Christ's Body. No matter where you are in your Christian journey, you need to read this book. It's truth whose time has come. Those who have never experienced His tangible presence as a regular occurrence when they meet will find it hard to believe that there is something more than what they know: It's very hard to walk away from what you've invested your life in when you don't know anything else. And the very grace of God Himself can be confusing: He'll fill whatever cup we lift to Him, no matter how small."
- Don Francisco, Christian musician/songwriter
"It's a great read and my copy has already been STOLEN by my neighbor who is probably just as fascinated in its contents as I was. PAGAN CHRISTIANITY by house church guru Frank Viola and researcher/author George Barna who have teamed up to give us the most thorough treatment yet of the pagan origins of many of our most cherished Sunday church traditions. Actually, Jim Rutz nailed a few of these in his book "Open Church," but Viola and Barna have gone far beyond Rutz, or anyone I know, in exposing more elements of Protestant church traditions to the scrutiny of historical research. Like dressing up for church. Pulpits and 3 point sermons. Clerical dog collars. Church steeples and seminary training. PAGAN CHRISTIANITY lets George Barna unpack his argument why the new Revolutionaries mentioned in his previous book are not rebelling against God by setting up organic house communities. And it gives Frank Viola the chance to put forward his best thinking yet in a series that has already assisted thousands of people in dealing biblically and historically with accusations of "lack of covering" or "neglecting church" or more recently, of adopting "pagan" practices in starting emerging churches. Ha! Watch as Franky and Georgy turn the tables! Controversial? Yes . . . DUH! . . and the backlash has already started. Frank has responded to questions and objections on his site. Anyway, the book is a great read.
- Andrew Jones, tallskinnykiwi
"This is an important book which demonstrates that many of the practical aspects of contemporary church life, ministry and structure have little or no biblical basis and are, in fact, inspired by a wide variety of non Christian patterns and ideas most of which are inimical to Christian life and growth. Many readers will find this book challenging in the extreme but all who are concerned with the future of the church should read it."
- Dave Norrington, Lecturer of religious studies at Blackpool and the Fylde College, author of "To Preach or Not to Preach"
I am so hungry for what is authentic and real!
" Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." -Hebrews 12:1-2
