Christianity for Modern Pagans In today's society, there is a growing movement towards spirituality and alternative belief systems. Many individuals are turning to paganism, a practice that celebrates nature, individualism, and ancient traditions. However, there are some pagans who find themselves searching for something more, or perhaps, something different. This is where Christianity for modern pagans comes into play. Christianity, with its rich history and diverse interpretations, offers a unique perspective on spirituality that can complement the pagan beliefs and practices. While pagan traditions emphasize the worship of multiple gods and goddesses, Christianity centers around the belief in one almighty God.
1. Candida Moss’s The Myth of Persecution: How Early Christians Invented a Story of Martyrdom is a thorough debunking of the “Christian martyr” myth. Pagans weren’t really throwing Christians to the lions, unless of course the Christians in question offered us little choice. (Seriously, there were just a lot of folks looking to be martyred.)
Traditions like Wicca were directly influenced by generally Christian groups like the Freemasons, and many of our ritual structures are re-workings of Christian Ceremonial magick which had been influenced by pagan magick prior. St Augustine remarked that when a baby is born people will wonder many things about the child, but they will not wonder if the child will one day die.
While pagan traditions emphasize the worship of multiple gods and goddesses, Christianity centers around the belief in one almighty God. This can provide a sense of unity and oneness with a higher power, which is often cherished by modern pagans. Furthermore, Christianity's emphasis on love, compassion, and service to others aligns with many pagan values.
Are many practices and traditions in Christianity actually pagan in origin?
In their 2008 book Pagan Christianity, authors Frank Viola and George Barna present the surprising origins of many of the practices commonly found in churches today. The authors of Pagan Christianity claim that many common church practices / traditions actually have their roots in paganism (non-Christian religions), not in the Bible. But is it accurate to claim that the practices of modern Christianity are pagan? Is what typically occurs in a church supported by what the Bible teaches about the church?
Many Christians recognize that some pagan ideas and practices have infiltrated the Christian church. Sadly, much of what Jesus Christ abolished by His death and resurrection, the early Christians re-established. Jesus’ sacrifice fulfilled God’s requirements, ending the need for any further sacrifices (Hebrews 7:27; 10:10; 1 Peter 3:18). The early church, due to pagan influences, warped the celebration of the Lord’s Supper into a re-sacrifice / re-offering of Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice. Jesus’ perfect sacrifice abolished the need of a formal priesthood (Hebrews 10:12-14), creating instead a “kingdom of priests” (Revelation 1:6; 5:10). The early church, again influenced by paganism, re-established a priesthood that added a barrier between the “ordinary” believer and God (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:15). These are just two of many possible examples.
Most Christians wholeheartedly agree that beliefs / practices such as these need to be rejected and the biblical truth upheld. Following are the primary issues Pagan Christianity raises.
(1) The Church Building. The New Testament records the early Christians meeting in homes (Acts 2:46; 5:42; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19). Neither Jesus nor the Apostles encourage Christians to build temples / church buildings. In John 4:21-24, Jesus declares that a time is coming where worship will not be tied to any particular location or building. For the first few hundred years of the Christian faith, church buildings were very rare. It was not until Constantine and his succeeding Roman Emperors made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire that Christians began to build temples. In some instances, Christians, with the aid of Roman soldiers, took over pagan temples and “Christianized” them into churches.
Christians building church buildings resulted in multiple problems. First, people began to think of a church building as “sacred space.” This resulted in a separation between what goes on inside a church building, and what takes place outside of a church building. Among some, blatant evil and immorality was tolerated outside of the church as long as behavior inside the church was proper. Second, some people lost the idea of God’s omnipresence. The biblical fact that fellowship with God could be had anywhere was lost, and replaced with the idea that a church building and/or the altar inside a church building was the only place one could connect with God. Third, some people lost sight of the fact that believers in Christ are the church, and instead began to think of the church as the building.
But is the idea of a church building pagan? Since the Bible does not instruct Christians to build church buildings, does that mean it is wrong to have a church building? The fact that the Bible does not command something does not mean the Bible is opposed to that something. The Bible neither encourages nor discourages the idea of Christians meeting in buildings that are specifically designed for corporate worship. The question of a church building is one where it is crucially important to recognize the difference between description and prescription. The New Testament describes the early Christians meeting in homes. The New Testament does not prescribe that Christians should only meet in homes. A church building in which the biblical truth about the church is declared is in no sense unbiblical. The building is not what is unbiblical. It is the beliefs that are often attached to the building that are unbiblical.
(2) The structure of the church. In many churches today, there is a “set in stone” structure for how a service will proceed. The structure changes somewhat from church to church, but the core items remain the same: announcements, corporate worship, meeting and greeting, prayer, the sermon, a closing song. In some churches, the order of service is absolutely unbendable. In other churches, there is some flexibility. Whatever the case, the idea of a church meeting having such a rigid structure is not presented in the New Testament. When a church has such a rigid structure, it can stifle, rather than promote, true worship and fellowship.
First Corinthians 14:40 teaches, “but everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” Order and structure are not unbiblical. Rigidity and legalism are unbiblical. While a church should ensure that its services are reasonably organized, it is unbiblical for a church service to be so structured that it prevents any participation, freedom, or moving of the Spirit.
(3) Church leadership. The Bible undeniably teaches that the church is to have godly leadership (1 Timothy 3:1-13; 5:17-20; Titus 1:6-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4). Sadly, the early church took the concept of church leadership, and due to pagan influences, molded it into a priesthood. While most Protestant and Evangelical churches do not refer to its leadership as priests, in some instances, the pastor/preacher serves in much the same role as a priest. Pastors are expected to do all, or nearly all, of the ministry work. In some churches, the re-introduction of the idea of a priest into Christianity resulted in the biblical identity of all believers being saints, ministers, and priests, being lost. In church leadership, the result can be burnt-out pastors or overly authoritative pastors. The result in the congregation can be passivity and inactivity.
The idea that a Christian can unenthusiastically sing a few songs, lackadaisically shake a few hands, inattentively listen to a sermon, and reluctantly give an offering – and thereby fulfill his/her role in the church – is completely unbiblical. The church is intended to be a place of healthy fellowship, active participation, and mutual edification. First Corinthians chapter 12 likens the church to a human body. All of the parts of the body must be functioning for the body to do what it is intended to do.
(4) The sermon. The Bible clearly declares that God’s Word is to be taught (1 Timothy 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:2). There is undeniably a place for a godly man teaching other believers in a sermonic / oratory format. One problem is that many churches fall into the trap of one man being the sole teacher. Another problem is when churches, whether intentionally or unintentionally, convey the idea that passively listening to a sermon is all that God expects. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul encourages Timothy to entrust teaching to others who are gifted by the Holy Spirit for teaching. The presence of a non-participatory sermon is not the problem. The lack of opportunities for others to teach and/or the lack of willingness to teach can be a problem. One of the goals of the church is to make disciples, not pew-warmers. Many churches could do a much better job at recognizing the gift of teaching in others and training and encouraging them to use that gift. At the same time, no one should seek the position of teacher unless he really has been gifted by the Holy Spirit, a fact which can be verified by the testimony of others who can give witness to the presence of this gift. In fact, James 3:1 warns us, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
It is undeniable that pagan ideas and practices have crept their way into the Christian church. To varying degrees, every church has practices that are not completely based in Scripture, either in the practice itself or in the understanding of the practice. But again, this does not mean these practices are pagan or wrong. Churches would do well to continually re-evaluate their methods and motivations, to make sure they are biblically solid. While no church practice should contradict Scripture, a church practice does not have to be explicitly biblical to be a viable choice. Nor does a practice not being taught in the Bible make it pagan. A practice having a pagan origin does not necessarily make it unbiblical. The key to avoiding “pagan Christianity” is comparing every belief and practice with Scripture and removing anything that contradicts what the Bible prescribes for the church. For those issues on which the Bible is silent, the church leadership should prayerfully consider whether or not to continue them.
The first step of Pascal’s apologetic (defense) is to demonstrate the consciousness of our own wretchedness. “I’m not okay.” Kreeft says that, for Pascal, this was of utmost importance, for, “Free heart surgery is good news to one who knows he has a fatal heart disease but not to one who denies it (Ps. 51:10). (pg. 28). In number 403, Pascal wrote:
Paganism celebrates the cycles of nature and the interconnectedness of all living beings. Similarly, Christianity teaches that all humans are created in the image of God and should strive to love and care for one another. This shared focus on empathy and community can create a bridge between paganism and Christianity. Christianity also offers a structured framework for spiritual growth and devotion. While paganism allows for a great deal of freedom and individual interpretation, this lack of structure can sometimes leave practitioners feeling lost or disconnected. Christianity, on the other hand, has a long-established tradition of religious rituals, sacraments, and practices that can provide guidance and a sense of purpose. One of the challenges for modern pagans exploring Christianity is navigating the complex history and religious dogma associated with it. Christianity has a diverse range of denominations and beliefs, and not all of them may resonate with pagan values. However, there are Christian communities that are open-minded, inclusive, and willing to accommodate different spiritual paths. Ultimately, the journey towards finding a spiritual path is deeply personal and individual. For some modern pagans, incorporating elements of Christianity into their practice may provide a new perspective and a deeper understanding of their spirituality. It is important for individuals to explore, question, and seek out what resonates with them personally, regardless of societal expectations or labels. In conclusion, Christianity for modern pagans offers a unique and potentially transformative spiritual journey. By blending the values of love, compassion, and community found in Christianity with the freedom, individualism, and connection to nature found in paganism, individuals can create a personal belief system that enriches their lives and helps them navigate the complexities of the modern world..
Reviews for "The Sacred in Everyday Life: Bringing Christian and Pagan Spirituality Into Daily Practice"
1. Jane Doe - 2 stars
I found "Christianity for modern pagans" to be a confusing and contradictory read. The author attempts to bridge the gap between Christianity and paganism, but fails to provide clear explanations or guidance. The book jumps between different concepts without providing enough depth or context, leaving me feeling frustrated and unsatisfied. Additionally, the author's writing style is dry and academic, making it difficult to stay engaged with the material. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. John Smith - 1 star
"Christianity for modern pagans" completely missed the mark for me. As someone who was looking for a deeper understanding of both Christianity and paganism, I found this book to be shallow and lacking in substance. The author seems more interested in promoting their own agenda rather than providing meaningful insights into these belief systems. The book also lacks any practical advice or actionable steps, leaving me with more questions than answers. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a well-rounded exploration of Christianity or paganism.
3. Mary Johnson - 2 stars
I struggled to connect with "Christianity for modern pagans" on several levels. The author's overly academic approach and use of complex terminology made it difficult for me as a layperson to grasp the concepts being discussed. Additionally, I felt that the author spent too much time discussing historical perspectives and not enough time offering practical applications for modern-day spirituality. While I appreciate the attempt to reconcile Christianity and paganism, the execution fell flat for me. This book might be better suited for those with a more advanced knowledge of theology and philosophy.
4. David Wilson - 1 star
"Christianity for modern pagans" left me feeling confused and frustrated. The book claims to offer a bridge between Christianity and paganism, but I found the arguments and explanations to be convoluted and lacking in clarity. The author's constant references to obscure texts and philosophers only served to complicate matters further. I was hoping for a book that would help me navigate my own spiritual journey, but I found this one to be more of an intellectual exercise that left me with more questions than answers. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking practical guidance or a clear understanding of how these two belief systems can coexist.