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From Eternity to Here

There are many books that lay claim to God's purposes. They offer all kinds of advice and suggestions on how His purpose affects our purpose. Frank Viola's book, From Eternity to Here, is one of those books. This book is a bit different, though, in its goal. In the end, God's eternal purposes challenge us to completely rethink and then respond to how we live.
Why did God create mankind? Why is there so much suffering in the world? What reason is there for the duck-billed platypus? While this book doesn't answer all three of those questions, it does approach the first one and answers it with strong ideas backed by Scripture. The ideas aren't necessarily new, but they are approached from a new vantage point. According to Viola, God's purposes for creation include a bride for his son, a house and home for him to live in, a body to express his life through on the earth, and a family that shares the kind of relationship he has with his son. Viola does not just explain these things with language that flies over the layman's head and pretend he has an answer God has revealed to no one else. Every point is supported with scripture and applied to both the individual and the church.
That being said, the goal of this book isn't merely to encourage the individual believer on his own personal walk. While it does encourag and challenge personally, the goal is to help us see that the Christian walk is not an individual project, but a corporate experience. If you don't know, Viola is an advocate of the church in an organic expression. He has written a couple of other books on the subject: Pagan Christianity?, and Reimagining Church. Viola's purpose is to aid the church (read family, earthly expression of the body of Christ not a building or social club)in rediscovering its true identity and purpose. For this reason, From Eternity to Here will challenge our preconceived notions of what church is. For Viola, the foundation of the church is Christ and Christ alone, the goal of the church is Christ and Christ alone, the source for the church is Christ and Christ alone; and we are each living stones filled with and built upon that foundation. If we try to go it alone, we will miss Christ. In an easy-to-understand way, Viola relates our journey as a church to the Old Testament journey of the Israelites. He shows how the New Covenant was revealed and foreshadowed in the lives of David, Jacob, and the prophets.
Personally, I enjoyed this book because all the ideas presented are challenging and scripture based. I will be the first to admit that I didn't cross reference each reference for context and authenticity. I do believe that Viola knows what he is talking about, as nothing presented contradicts the foundational truths of Christian belief. As someone who wants to experience God in as much fullness as I can in this fallen world, I find the application of the truths presented practical. There is much more in the book I leave for you to discover and think about, but this is a book I would recommend for anyone longing for more in their experience with Christ, the church, and their Father.

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