Review of Frank Viola's Finding Organic Church, part one

I read Finding Organic Church before any of Viola's other books, and it was certainly a bad first impression. Viola has better stuff, which I review here, and his public platform is worth following, if you are interested in more spiritually-focused ekklesiology.  However, I don't buy Viola's plea that all judgment be reserved till we have read his whole series of books.  Each book should be founded on solid spiritual principles and therefore be coherent with all the other books (even if we don't read the others).  Viola's series of books is more like a blended family, with some volumes from heaven and others from less promising places.  

Another general problem is that Viola seems to base his assertions and argument primarily on his experience. Sometimes he makes that clear by saying "in my experience" or "in my opinion," but other times he just states his "truths" without qualification or proof.  Now, we all do this a bit, but I found myself marking several "ex cathedra proclamations" as I read.  

But let's start with some of the things that, in my opinion, Viola gets right.  

From pg. 13, it's true that "a recovery of both church practice and church planting are needed.  And both elements must be kept together."  As Viola rightly points out, you reproduce what you are, and you can't reproduce what you aren't.  If your church practice is bureaucratic or marketing-oriented, that same poison will infect your church planting efforts.  (of course, Viola and I both agree that those things are poison)

It's also good wisdom, as Viola points out, to practice living in an organic church before trying to start one. Experience is important, and the primary thing experience teaches the genuine worker is that they should come to each church situation and meeting as a learner--learning their brothers and sisters and learning from Christ.  Most of the value of experience is the practice in listening and learning.  

I also found value in Viola's practical recommendations on congregational singing, something our group has been struggling with.  We're in the process of putting together a songbook as he suggests.  

Another valuable insight (though maybe not as key as Viola believes) is the need for itinerant workers to plant churches, visit them, and establish them.  This is a big subject that might get its own blog post (it already has chapters in my book on this site), but the larger truth it touches on is that churches need each other to make up what is missing in them.  Just as no Christian is self-sufficient, spiritually, no church is self-sufficient, spiritually.  God impoverishes us all to show us our need for one another, enabling ministry to one another, which builds love for one another.  

Apostles are part of that exchange (though so are teachers, prophets, workers of miracles, etc.).  

So, should you read this book?  It does have some good insights in it, and for certain people it might speak life, but its mixed content and fuzzy thinking made it a hard read for me to endure.  If you are one of those "18 to 22 year olds" that Viola says are looking for a mentor and a cause, read this with caution and join the cause with trepidation, lest you reject it once you are all grown up.  If you are already established in the faith, you can glean some good insights here.  

Review of Finding Organic Church, part two