Pagan Christianity? | What Path Are We On?

Many years ago I ready a book by Gene Edwards entitled, “Beyond Radical“. It was the first of its kind that I read regarding the historical background of many of our modern day ‘church’ practices. Unfortunately, Gene did not put too many footnotes in the book. However, this launched Frank Viola to do a thorough investigation about historical practices and provide ample notes and references. I am finally getting a chance to start this one and thus far I highly recommend for any serious Christian. More information can be found at PaganChristianity.org

“The heart of the Revolutionaries is not the question. There is ample research to show that they are seeking more of God. They have a passion to be faithful to His Word and to be more in tune with His leading. They ardently want their relationship with the Lord to be their top priority in life. They are tired of the institutions, denominations, and routines getting in the way of a resonant connection with Him. They are warn out on the endless programs that fail to facilitate transformation. They are weary of being sent off to complete assignments, memorize facts and passages, and engage in simplistic practices that do not draw them into God’s presence.

“These are people who have experienced the initial realities of a genuine connection with God. They can no longer endure the spiritual teasing offered by churches and other well-intentioned ministries. God is waiting for them. They want Him. No more excuses.” – George Barna, Pagan Christianity, pgs. xxix(29), xxx(30)

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I highly recommend the listening to this recent interview with Frank to better understand the usage of this book.

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The Calf Path

One day, through the primeval wood,

A calf walked home, as good calves should;

But made a trail all bent askew,

A crooked trail as all calves do.

Since then three hundred years have fled,

And I infer; the calf is dead.

But still he left behind his trail,

And thereby hangs my moral tale.

The trail was taken up next day,

By a lone dog that passed that way;

And then a wise bell-wether sheep

Pursued the trail o’er vale and steep,

And drew the flock behind him, too,

As good bell-wethers always do.

And from that day, o’er hill and glade,

Through those old woods a path was made.

And many men wound in and out,

And dodged, and turned, and bent about,

And uttered words of righteous wrath

Because ‘twas such a crooked path.

But still they followed—do not laugh—

The first migrations of that calf,

And through this winding wood-way stalked,

Because he wobbled when he walked.

This forest path became a lane,

That bent, and turned, and turned again;

This crooked lane became a road,

where many a poor horse with load

Toiled on beneath the burning sun,

And traveled some three miles in one.

And thus a century and a half

they trod the footsteps of that calf.

The years passed on in swiftness fleet,

The road became a village street;

And this, before men were aware,

A city’s crowded thoroughfare;

And soon the central street was this,

Of a renowned metropolis;

And men two centuries and a half,

Trod in the footsteps of that calf.

Each day a hundred thousand rout,

Followed the zigzag calf about;

And o’er his crooked journey went,

The traffic of a continent,

A hundred thousand men were led,

By one calf near three centuries dead.

For thus such reverence is lent,

To well-established precedent.

A moral lesson this might teach,

Were I ordained and called to preach;

For men are prone to go it blind,

Along the calf-paths of the mind,

And work away from sun to sun,

To do what other men have done.

They follow in the beaten track,

And out and in, and forth and back,

And still their devious course pursue,

To keep the path that others do.

They keep the path a sacred groove,

Along which all their lives they move.

But how the wise old wood-gods laugh,

Who saw the first primeval calf!

Ah! Many things this tale might teach—

But I am not ordained to preach.

– Sam Walter Ross (Taken from the book, “Pagan Christianity”)

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