Pagan Christianity - Rebuttal #2

Viola and Barna mess up while speaking truth and then clouding over the practice in full obedience. For Him community is what matters most, at least it seems that way.

Is it training to fulfill the mission of Christ to reach the world?
Or is it training for community alone?

In the section that talks about education/training on page 218 we have some observations.

"The way Jesus Christ trained Christian workers was to live with them for a period of years. It was 'on the job' training. He mentored His disciples at close range. They also lived in community together. Jesus did the work, they watched, and then they went on a trial mission which He critiqued. Eventually, He sent them out, and they carried on the work themselves."

My comments:
1. This is how Jesus taught. He taught His purpose. He spent a great deal of time with his disciples because they were the foundation of a redemptive movement and that foundation needed to be strong enough to hold a movement of exponential disciple making growth until the end has come. Viola wants us to focus on how Jesus taught instead of focusing on what Jesus taught. The what drives the how.

2. As Jesus made disciples, those disciples were being taught how to do the same. Viola has it backwards and never addresses the Great Commission mandate "to teach them to obey all things I have commanded you." Jesus identified the WHAT we should obey and then commanded us to teach them to obey it (the HOW).

3. Viola shows us how Jesus taught, but in all the descriptions of his house church movement he never speaks of training them to go out. He always speaks of "GOING TO GATHER" and never GATHERING TO GO." He loves the Holy Huddle and it appears this may be his main thing. Instead of going to a church building they go to homes. It's like putting the Body of Christ into a different container, while continuing to do church as he has always done it.

4. Viola is biased in that He expects the Christian life to be lived only in Christian community. He says, "In community is where we learn Christ. In community we learn Him together, hear Him together, and follow Him together." On page 256-257 Viola says, "The Christian life was never meant to be lived outside of Christian community." Pardon me but Jesus didn't say that or do that.

Viola does a great job speaking truth in some places and then contradicting himself in his faith and practice. When Viola speaks biblical truth in correct context, often his application is glassed over not fully reflective of the truth mentioned.

Viola further fuels, the American disconnect between knowing the truth and then doing it. In America we know the truth and it often stops their. Why do we often find ourselves full of truth and calling that good without actually living it? Why the disconnect? Viola speaks to this head knowledge problem, but again loses it in his own faith and practice. Truth without obedience is disobedience.

Viola has a problem with his theology of God's redemptive plan to reach and disciple the lost so that they can do the same. I'd like to know how the world will be reached if they are going to live in the holy huddle of me, myself and I.

While community is for those who know Christ -our Christian lives were never meant to be lived out there.

For those who long for true Christian community with growing believers striving for holiness here this. One will never have authentic community without unconditional obedience to the "All Jesus has commanded us." Obedience to all the commands of Christ is what breeds authentic community. Counterfeit community driven by man will never take the place of authentic community given by God the result of our total obedience.