Accidental Pagans

We were never meant to be afraid of God—but many of us are.

The ancient world of the New and Old Testament was saturated with this kind of fear. And as strange as this might seem to us, today’s Christians are not so different. We agonize over the exact wording of our prayers to try and make sure God responds a certain way. We push ourselves to do all the right things in the hopes that a distant, unpredictable God might be impressed enough to side with us. But this is not the God we encounter in the Scriptures and in the life of Christ. This sort of fear-driven faith is more like ancient paganism, the religious environment the Apostle Paul found in Athens. Accidental Pagans uses illustrative examples from pagan mythology to draw parallels between pagan ideas of gods and our modern-day understanding of God.

In Accidental Pagans, pastor Ryan Lokkesmoe will:

·        unpack the difference between a healthy fear of the Lord and an unhealthy fear-based relationship with him

·        illuminate the ways that we Christians accidentally view God in our theology like the ancient pagans viewed their deities

·        show how we Christians mistakenly embrace this fear-driven perspective, living like accidental pagans in the process

·        look to the Bible to remind us of what is true about God’s character and learn practical ways to live in the freedom he offers

 

Rediscover who God really is—and live in freedom and faith over fear.

Bonus resource: Five-session Bible study with video curriculum included, helping small groups, churches, or individuals practically apply lessons from the book.

 

Includes Study Guide with five video sessions:

Session 1: Origins
Session 2: A Stable God
Session 3: God’s Turf
Session 4: Getting God’s Attention
Session 5: The Understanding of God

 

Features:

·        Five teaching videos from Ryan Lokkesmoe, approximately 6-10 minutes each, available through a free digital access code with purchase of the book.

·         Group discussion questions

·         Individual study and reflection questions

 

Video Session Summaries:

o   Session One: Origins (10:45)— In this opening session, Ryan teaches how fear quietly shapes our faith, often causing us to relate to God more like the unpredictable deities of ancient paganism than the loving, trustworthy Creator revealed in Scripture. By returning to the Bible’s account of our origins, we begin uncovering the truth about who God really is and how deeply He cares for us, so that fear can begin to loosen its grip on our lives.

o   Session Two: A Stable God (9:05)— Ryan explores how our trust in God is shaped by what we believe about His character, whether He is steady and faithful or unpredictable and changeable like the pagan gods of old. Scripture reassures us that God is constant in both temperament and nature, offering a stable foundation we can rely on in every season of life.

o   Session Three: God’s Turf (7:35)— In this session, you see ways we shrink God, treating Him as if He has limited domains, responsibilities, or geographic boundaries like the ancient pagan gods. Scripture reminds us that God’s sovereignty knows no limits, His presence fills every part of our lives and every corner of the world so we can live without fear, trusting His rule over everything.

o   Session Four: Getting God’s Attention (5:40)— Ryan unpacks the subtle fear that God might be distant, distracted, or hard to reach, like a line that’s busy or unanswered. Instead, we’re reminded that God is the “Knower of Hearts,” perfectly attentive and always present, inviting us to approach Him with trust rather than anxiety.

o   Session Five: The Understanding of God (8:55)— In this final session, Ryan helps you confront two lingering fears: that God is unknowable and that He cannot truly understand us. By looking to Jesus, the exact representation of the Father, you are reminded that God has made Himself known and that, in Christ, you are fully seen, understood, and invited to live in freedom rather than fear.